In 2020, it may well have been that many doors all over the world were closed. Both metaphorically with the legal obligations connected to the coronavirus, and literally, as many people chose to go ‘within’, in a period where they couldn’t really get out. All this didn’t stop the doors of the new international street art destination in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, opening to street artists both nationally and internationally for the TBILISI MURAL FESTIVAL 2020.

Georgia opens its doors again to world-class street art

Established in 2019 with the support of the cities of Berlin, Tbilisi and Montana Cans, the festival in its second year brought in enough manpower to create 24 large scale murals. Entering the university spaces for the first time, the newly opened Kutaisi International University and the Tbilisi Academy of Arts played host to many of the artworks which included the works of artists like CASE MACLAIM, who returned for the second year in a row.

The festival which aims to bring as much international and local street art talent together as possible putting Georgia on the world street art map. To date, it has included names such as INNERFIELDS, CASE MACLAIM, APHE & NOAH, ARTEZ, INO, HVRB, EL BOCHO, COLLIN VAN DER SLUIJS, MATTHIAS MROSS, KERA, DANTE, GIORGI MASKHARASHVILI, MUSYA, LUKA JAPARIDZE, V45 and IRAKLI KADEISHVILI. All who bring the vibrancy of the Montana GOLD and BLACK range cans to life in stunning glory. Founded by Besik Maziashvili, the photos taken by local photographer Gia Gogatishvili, show a bright present with an even brighter future that has proven it can overcome any challenges that 2021 has to throw at it.