Born in 1952 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Avtandil “Avto” Makharoblidze was always a performer, performing dances and songs from the age of three years old. At seven he was accepted into a regional school ensemble based off an open audition. When the head of the National Dance Ensemble witnessed his talent, Makharoblidze began touring the country as the nation’s youngest dancing star. It was during these tours that he stumbled into the world of painting at the home of Guram Kutateladze. Expressing his desire to be an artist, Makharoblidze was only encouraged in his endeavors when Kutateladze told him, “Paint is not something you decide to do. It is something that is alwas with you, and you can’t at will change your life and become an artist.” Makharoblidze pursued the matter and by the time he was seventeen was both performing as a soloist in the National Dance Company and having his first exhibition.

Impressed by the work Makharoblidze presented, the rector of the Academy of Fine Art of Georgia offered him a position at the academy and Makharoblidze retired from his dancing career. He also received a position as an apprentice teacher to his old art instructor, Kutateladze and quickly became known as the “art doctor” for his talent at improving and correcting the ill-made paintings of other “artists.”

Makharoblidze graduated from the Academy in 1975 and began working in diverse fields of art, including theater, film, sculpture, graphic design, monumental art, religious paintings, and fine art. His work was widely acclaimed and in 1989 he received the first prize at the Sister Cities Juried Art Exhibition; Makharoblidze cites this year as his rebirth as an artist. He immigrated to the United States and continues to amaze the art world today. His work is collected and exhibited worldwide and can be found in such impressive collections as those of the United States Ambassador to Georgia, Governor of the Republic of Adjaria, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Russian Federation, Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, President of International Lyons Club, and many more.