Tamo Jugeli

Tamo Jugeli (b. 1994, Tbilisi) is a self-taught Georgian artist whose journey into painting began after completing her studies in Journalism at David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia (2013-2017). Now based in New York, Jugeli’s art is deeply invested in antirealism and intuition, marked by visually engrossing energy and a rejection of academicism.

Her palette—rich with dirty ochres, teals, vivid greens, and dark blacks—evokes a sense of raw, earthy presence, one that suggests depth and an almost primal engagement with the canvas. Jugeli’s paintings are not merely representations of the visible world; they are dynamic expressions of feeling and energy that pull the viewer into a space where the boundaries of light, dark, and form are in constant flux. The canvas becomes a terrain of exploration, where color and shape are not confined but liberated, allowing for a dialogue between figures, forms, and abstraction.

This tension between the rational and the irrational, the figurative and the abstract, is central to her work. Elements that may appear simple or fragmented are transformed into complex visual structures, constantly evolving, breaking apart, and reassembling. Each piece attains its own autonomy, creating a fluid spatial experience that challenges our perception and engages us in a deeper conversation about the boundaries of representation and abstraction.

Her approach mirrors the Apollonian and Dionysian forces that captivated the imaginations of her spiritual predecessors, embodying a refusal to be paralyzed by negativity. Her work, like that of Hitchcock’s famous quote, is about finding clarity amidst darkness. In an interview from 1964, Alfred Hitchcock defined happiness as 'a clear horizon,' describing the importance of creative freedom unfettered by negativity. This philosophy resonates deeply with Jugeli’s art, which embodies a pursuit of emotional and existential clarity. The play of light and shadow in her work becomes a meditation on overcoming pessimism, the idea that art—like life—can be a space for escape, transformation, and clarity, even in moments of uncertainty.