ABOUT GENA LAKOBA

My name is Gennady Lakoba. I was born on August 11, 1948, in Sukhumi, Abkhazia (Georgia).

In 1962, I enrolled at the Sukhumi Art School, where I had the privilege of interacting with prominent figures who significantly influenced my artistic growth, such as the renowned Russian artist Varvara Bubnova (who spent 40 years living in Japan and whose niece is Yoko Ono), art critic Pyotr Kulchitsky (a close associate of Pavel Filonov), sculptor Merab Tsintsabadze, and artist Tatiana Shalamberidze.

From 1969 to 1975, I studied at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts under distinguished mentors. My drawing instructor was Vasili Shukhaiev, an accomplished artist who collaborated with Sergei Diaghilev in Paris during the 1920s. At the Academy, I also studied sculpture under the guidance of Shota Mikatadze, Nicholas Kandelaki, Gogi Ogiauri, and Merab Tsintsabadze.

In 1976, I joined the Union of Artists of the USSR. In 1978, I further expanded my artistic education by continuing my studies in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg).

Throughout my career, I have been honored to become a member of several prestigious art institutions, including the International Association of Artists (UNESCO), the Moscow Union of Artists, and an Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Arts.

Since 1992, I have lived and worked in various countries, including Belarus, Russia, and Spain. Currently, I reside and work in Spain, focusing on a series of sculptures crafted from bronze and marble and creating drawings for a tapestry series.