Garri Matnadze

My work is grounded in rigorous traditional training in drawing, painting, and color theory, which continues to frame how I think about image-making. These foundational methods—rooted in observation, material sensitivity, and disciplined studio practice—remain central to my approach, even as my work expands into digital processes. I see painting as both a historical discipline and an evolving language, one that can engage contemporary questions about perception, technology, and the shifting nature of visual experience.

In recent years, I have been exploring how traditional painting can transition into digital space. My studio practice often begins with hand-painted or drawn studies that are scanned, reworked, or animated using digital tools. This hybrid approach allows me to extend painterly gesture into motion, experiment with time-based composition, and challenge boundaries between fixed and dynamic imagery. I view these digital methods not as a departure from painting, but as another form of inquiry—one that opens opportunities for research, experimentation, and interdisciplinary dialogue.

This dual foundation in classical training and digital media informs both my studio work and my pedagogy. I am committed to teaching students the technical, conceptual, and historical frameworks of painting, while also encouraging them to explore new tools, materials, and contemporary practices. 

Ultimately, my goal is to create work that fosters close looking and sustained engagement—whether on canvas or screen—and to cultivate a studio environment where students can do the same: build strong foundations, ask complex questions, and expand what painting can be today.