During her lifetime, architect Ketevan Sokolova-Kurdiani (1905 – 1988) enjoyed an esteemed career, and as a pioneer in her field, she earned the designation of the “first female Georgian architect.”  Many of her buildings still stand and are memorable for their stately elegance and “national character.”  In my presentation, I will provide the architect’s biographical details and attempt to interpret her stylistic choices.  Close examination of Sokolova-Kurdiani’s work reveals a strong connection to an earlier historical revivalist strain that emerged in architecture in Georgia in the late nineteenth century.

About Mariam Otkhmezuri Charlton:

I’m a graduate student in art history at Hunter College, CUNY.  My research interests include cross-cultural encounters in European art from the Early Modern era to the present; the print culture and practices of image-making; construction of national identity through art and imperialism; socio-political aspects of architecture; and the history of museological practices.  Additionally, I am passionate about contemporary artists from my native Georgia and engage with them in curatorial and exhibition projects.