My name is Irina Mekhuzla and my art lives in the space where daylight interacts with dreams - a quiet, intuitive realm where the familiar is gently reshaped by memory, emotion and imagination.
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, into a family of winemakers and artists, I carry the pulse of my heritage within me - vibrant colors alongside conservative minds, complex folk songs juxtaposed with quiet grief, and striking landscape contrasts. These elements naturally weave into the fabric of my work.
In a time marked by speed, noise, and constant distraction, I see painting as an act of resistance, an invitation to pause. My work is a place to return to yourself. I create not just to express, but to hold space: for feeling, for remembering, for simply being. Through each piece, I seek to ground both myself and the viewer, offering a moment of quiet in an overstimulated world.
Every painting is a window into something tender and timeless - echoes of childhood, feminine energy, sensuality, and the natural world. These elements converge in dream-like narratives that invite not just observation, but presence. I want the viewer to hear my work as much as see it, to feel texture, silence, softness, and emotional resonance.
More than anything, I hope my paintings give something lasting: a sense of steadiness, intimacy, and gentle connection. A reminder that within stillness, there is power - and within beauty, a place to come home to yourself.
I create from lived experience, honoring both my Georgian roots and my own evolving identity. My work reinvents memories and traditional motifs with emotional sincerity.
Art for me is a bridge - to others, to oneself. I strive to create space for viewers to reflect and engage, to feel seen, or to meet something hidden within themselves.
Drawing from both Georgian and European traditions, I bring up timeless themes and convey emotions through nature, the human body and every day items around us communicating directly with viewers beyond words.
Though I always painted, I spent over 15 years working in brand marketing for wine and spirits -staying close to the cycles of nature and the craft of creation. This experience taught me patience, attention to detail, and how deeply care can be felt in the final product.
My turning point came through formal studies in art history, where I discovered the wild freedom of the Fauvists. Their boldness and emotional clarity deeply resonated with me, and I embraced that expressive freedom in my own work.
Since then, I’ve grown into an artist who balances instinct with thought, heritage with a continuous exploration.
Georgian artists like Gudiashvili, Kakabadze, and Pagava inspire me with their blend of mysticism, color, and memory. I’m equally moved by O’Keeffe’s sensuality, Matisse’s purity, Rothko’s depth, and Redon’s dream-worlds.
I primarily work on canvas, mixing media and focusing on color to create immersive, tactile experiences. My palette and textures aim to carry feeling directly to the viewer - without need for explanation but open to various interpretations.