Uta Bekaia
Uta Bekaia is a Georgian-born multimedia artist currently based between Brooklyn and Tbilisi. His work centers on the speculative reimagining of ancestral rituals through a queer utopian lens. Drawing inspiration from traditional crafts, Bekaia creates elaborate wearable sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, and objects, which he incorporates into immersive installations, films, and live performances.
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Bekaia moved to New York in the late 1990s and has spent much of his adult life immersed in its vibrant art scene. He now divides his time between Tbilisi, New York, and cities across Europe, actively participating in international artistic collaborations.
Bekaia began his creative journey by studying Industrial Design at the Tbilisi Mtsire Academy, an education that shaped his conceptual and material practice. His career has been marked by key milestones, including residencies at ART OMI, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York, and the Garikula Art Residency in Georgia.
Blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary narratives, Bekaia’s work has been showcased at a wide range of venues—from the Window Project in Tbilisi and the “Pickle Bar” in Berlin to the Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi and the Istanbul and Kyiv Biennials.
His exhibitions have been hosted by notable art institutions and galleries, including ERTI Gallery (Tbilisi), the Silk Museum (Tbilisi), The Lodge Gallery (New York), Marisa Newman Projects (New York), and the Center for Contemporary Art (Batumi).
Bekaia also works extensively in performance. He has organized public parades for Tbilisi City Hall’s Tbilisoba Festival, participated in the opening ceremony of the UNESCO World Book Capital in Dubai, and performed at festivals such as Turn Park and Art Park in New York, engaging diverse audiences beyond the gallery setting.
In 2019, he co-founded Fungus, a creative collective in Tbilisi that provides a collaborative platform for LGBTQ+ artists, fostering visibility and empowerment within Georgia’s cultural landscape.
https://utabekaia.com/
https://www.instagram.com/utabekaia/
