Keta Tavartkiladze

Lives and works in New York, NY

Artist statement

Since childhood, I’ve always felt the pressure to be emotionally more mature for my age and to be able to handle my emotions well. Political events surrounding my country and the way I was raised to handle my feelings have played a big part in shaping me into a very self-aware and self-reflective person. With all that comes overthinking, which is not easy to deal with as a very sensitive and guarded person who doesn’t express her feelings and emotions freely, and struggles to be vulnerable with others. I have always believed myself to be an emotionally strong and stable person, but this year I found myself completely lost, unimaginably hurt, and unable to fully confide in anyone around me. It was a completely new experience that left me entangled in a web of hundred opposing emotions, but I found escape and relief in art. For this show, I’m putting My Feelings Under a Microscope. The work is an exploration of my feelings and emotions, the chaos in my head, the confusion, and the constant inner battle that I’ve been experiencing for the past months. In these artworks, I’m utilizing art as a tool of expression of my inner world. Where I find language having limitations, I see art coming to a rescue. Through color and shape, I aim to establish a visual vocabulary to communicate the feelings that words are unable to describe. I’m inviting you to observe my feelings under a microscope, handing you a magnifying glass to look at the tiny particles that make up my vast inner...

Artwork