Niko Pirosmani - wanderer between worlds

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A wider public discovery of the Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani (1862–1918) is long overdue. Known as a significant representative of naïve art, his remarkable story includes painting for inns and pubs. While largely unknown outside Georgia, his work was exhibited alongside notable artists like Natalia Goncharova, Mikhail Larionov, Kazimir Malevich, and Marc Chagall in the 1913 exhibition Mischén (Target) in Moscow, where he earned the title “Rousseau of the East.” Pirosmani’s unique visual vocabulary features consistently reduced formal elements: set against a black background, the primary colors of red, blue, yellow, green, and white create refined effects that immediately engage viewers. The Albertina in Vienna is hosting a significant retrospective of Pirosmani, marking the first major examination of his paintings in the heart of Europe in a long time, exploring his work within the broader context of art history. This exhibition runs from October 26, 2018, to January 27, 2019, at the Albertina, followed by a display at the Fondation Vincent van Gogh in Arles from March 2 to October 20, 2019.