Esma Oniani

Esma Oniani (1938-1999) was one of the most recognized poet and artist.

 

In 1963 she graduated from Tbilisi Academy of Fine Arts. Her graduation work The School-Leavers was highly praised and was sent to the student exhibition in Moscow.

 

She participated in numerous all-Union, Caucasian and republican exhibitions, also worked as an artistic director in the State TV Company and taught painting in the Academy of Fine Arts.

 

She illustrated many books, among them Erlom Akhvlediani’s book for children THE STORY OF A LAZY MOUSE.

 

Her poems and essays were published in various periodicals since 1966, the main published books being: POEMS (1978), BIRDS SOARING QUIETLY (1982), WHITE VISITORS (1986), WHAT I DON’T FORGET (1998), 100 POEMS (2010), FROM OLD NOTEBOOKS (2011), IT'S ME AGAIN! I AM BACK! (2015).

 

Artanuji published two sets of postcards which contains 16-16 paintings and graphical works of her.

 

In 1982 she was awarded the medal of the ARTISTS’ UNION for Davit Kakabadze’s Portrait. In 2000 she posthumously received the Georgian State Prize.