PAINTER. TBILISI, GEORGIA.
ALEXANDER VARVARIDZE STEPS AWAY FROM URGENCY THROUGH HIS WORK, WHICH SLOWS THE GAZE AND DEMANDS CONTEMPLATION FROM A PLACE OF STILLNESS. THE PIGMENT, ONCE HEAVY, TRANSFORMS INTO MIST. THE LINE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BURST. A CONSCIOUS PRACTICE OF EMPTYING, WHERE POWER RESIDES NOT IN WHAT IS ASSERTED, BUT IN WHAT ALMOST FADES AWAY. FEATURED BY @ALEXANDER.VARVARIDZE — WWW.ALEXANDERVARVARIDZE.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALEXANDER VARVARIDZE.
“Could you define your work? Where are your latest paintings heading? Tell us a little about your style.“
My style lives at the intersection of abstract expressionism and emotional figuration. Visually, it is defined by a heavy interplay of matte surfaces, organic patterns, and rich textures. My latest paintings are heading toward expanding the boundaries of my compositions.
“What do you like to look at when you need to refresh your eyes?“
I look at the sky or the scenery around my countryside studio. I try to avoid my phone to give my eyes a true rest, but unfortunately, the phone wins the battle sometimes! It’s a constant work in progress.
“Is there any color you avoid using, and why?“
When I was a student, there were definitely a few colors I avoided using. However, as my work evolved, I realized that every color has its place. I believe the most crucial element isn’t the color itself, but the environment you create for that specific color.
“How do you feel when you see your work hanging on a wall that isn’t yours?“
It brings me an immense sense of joy. Seeing my work on a wall that isn’t mine makes me feel that all my effort was not in vain.
“Which piece would you like to recover or see again?“
It would probably be an early piece from my Thought-forms or Human on a Sofa series, from my student period. Those paintings are currently in private collections that I don’t know, and I haven’t seen them since they left my studio.
“How do you think you will see yourself in ten years as an artist?“
In ten years, I see myself continuing to create within my signature style, but with entirely new and expanded approaches to composition.
“¿What has been the hardest thing for you to learn in your craft?“
The hardest thing to master has been perfecting the natural patterns I use in my backgrounds. I spend a lot of time and have tried many different techniques to achieve exactly what I want to see as the background in my work. Along with that, learning when an artwork is actually finished is a constant challenge.
“Is there any material you have recently discovered that has excited you?“
I haven’t discovered any brand-new materials recently, but I am always pushing myself to use my existing mediums differently.
“What do you do with the leftovers, scraps, or test pieces from your work?“
I don’t really have leftovers or waste in my studio. Because my style relies so heavily on rich, built-up surfaces, I am always finding ways to use every bit of material.
“What song or sound would best define your current creative state?“
I would say my current creative state is best defined by a mix of jazz and meditation music.
Alexander Varvaridze is a visual artist (painter) with a distinctive approach to his art consisting of figurative shapes and colors. His portraits show him as an emotional painter rather than a realist, which gives him a lot of room for interpretation. Alexander’s abstract work mobilizes the tensions and harmonies between matte surfaces, natural patterns, textures built with layered surfaces of oil paint and additional mediums.
Piece with Artist Magazine. AUGUST 2026. © www.piecewithartist.com
@piecewithartist
@ALEXANDER.VARVARIDZE
