The debut auction of Hessink’s Auction House Tbilisi generated more than €1.3 million in sales, including the buyer’s premium and state taxes, marking a strong entry for the international auction house into the Georgian market.
The April 27 auction drew thousands of participants from around the world, with bidders joining in person, by phone, and online. The auction house reports that 362 participants were from the United States, 177 from the Netherlands, 90 from Belgium, 43 from Australia, 24 from Spain, and 20 from Switzerland.
All 90 lots were sold, with final prices exceeding estimates by an average of 129.6%, reflecting strong demand for Georgian modern and contemporary art.
The highlight of the evening was Aleksandre (Shura) Bandzeladze’s 1989 painting ‘Noah’s Dream’, which sold for €250,000 (€338,000 including buyer’s premium), setting a record for the artist and for an abstract work by a Georgian artist at auction. Another of his works, ‘Untitled’ (1988), sold for €150,000.
Other top results included Mamuka Tsetskhladze’s ‘The Tiger’, which fetched €130,000, and Zautashvili’s work, sold for €65,000.
Works by Gela Tsuladze, Merab Kopaleishvili, and Lia Bagrationi also drew attention, selling for €13,000, €10,000, and €30,000 respectively.
One of the most unexpected moments came with Gela Tsuladze’s ‘The Chair’ (Lot 86). Initially estimated at €3,000–€5,000, the piece sparked intense bidding between a Swiss collector and a Georgian buyer, ultimately selling for €13,000.
“The new international records set by Bandzeladze and other outstanding artists once again highlight the global interest in Georgian contemporary and modernist art,” Hessink’s Auction House said. The company also thanked its partners, including Bank of Georgia’s ‘Velis Management’ and ‘Solo,’ as well as insurance company ‘Aldagi.’
Yashar Ajami, founder and managing partner of Hessink’s Tbilisi, said total turnover reached approximately €2 million, underlining the success of the first international auction held in Georgia. “The evening was very successful – total sales reached approximately €2 million, which is a first for Georgian art,” Ajami noted.
The auction also attracted buyers from Italy, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic. While online and telephone bidding dominated, in-person participation remained strong. One notable in-room sale was Merab Kopaleishvili’s ‘Deer’(2024), which sold for €10,000.
Thea Goguadze-Apfel, co-founder of the Art Foundation Anagi, told Georgia Today that the initiative carries broader symbolic meaning for Georgia’s cultural space:
“This is practically Georgian sovereignty, and we are dealing with the independence and sovereignty of the artistic space. When we participate in events abroad, it is also brilliant, but when something like this happens in your capital, it becomes recognition in itself. This and the following auctions are important, because you cannot cover the Georgian market with one auction. There are many Georgian names that must be properly appreciated and evaluated.”
The organizers say the auction is not only a cultural milestone but also an economic opportunity. Hessink’s plans to hold several more auctions in Georgia this year, including events focused on wine and design.
“It’s good for business, it’s good for international trade,” Hessink’s noted. “We want Georgia to spread its wings and compete in the global market.”
