From Tbilisi to Paris: Tatuna Asatiani’s Path to Art World
When Tatuna arrived in Paris at the age of 17, she did not have a plan, just possibility. What followed was not a straight path but an unfolding – photography, film, corporate work, citizenship, MBA, and finally art.
She started her studies in a liberal-arts program because it allowed room to explore, to postpone the decision of who she was supposed to be.
“I had no idea what I wanted. I was not ready to choose. When the time came, I still was not sure, so I ended up in marketing, which I later regretted because I was not passionate about it.”
While studying, Tatuna discovered photography and became deeply involved in it, later expanding into Film Studies as a minor. After graduating, she was eager to find an internship in the sector of film or photography, however, an unexpected opportunity presented itself and Tatuna took it – a software company offered her a full-time position, where she eventually grew into a Product Marketing Manager over five years. Even though it was not her dream path, this opportunity offered her safety and a possibility to apply for French citizenship. It was the pandemic period that shifted her routine and allowed her to pursue what she loved – she took art history courses at the Louvre, completed additional training programs, and volunteered at galleries. After receiving citizenship, she left her corporate job and enrolled in an MBA, focusing on the international art market. Following an internship in a gallery, she was offered a full-time position, where she continues to build her career in the art world. Today, Tatuna is where she wants to be.
Tamara (Tatuna) Asatiani is a Sales and Marketing Assistant at the Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, a contemporary art gallery with locations in Paris, Chicago and Mexico City, known for championing global, diasporic, and under-represented artists. Her role sits at the intersection of sales and client mediation – a place where the corporate skills she once leaned on meet the creative ambitions she always carried.
Her story begins here.
Introduce yourself – name, age, place of birth, and how long have you lived in Paris?
Tatuna Asatiani, I am 28 years old, I was born in Tbilisi, and I have been living in Paris for 11 years.
Did you always know you wanted to study in France?
No, not at all. At first, I wanted to go to the U.S. Later, we decided on Europe instead. I didn’t specifically aim for France, it happened naturally. I didn’t know if I would end up studying here or living here. It wasn’t something I had planned.
When did you realize you wanted to stay in Paris?
At first, I did not know what I wanted. Then I started exploring myself – what I liked, what interested me. I was spending a lot of time in museums and exhibitions, especially at Palais de Tokyo. When I started thinking seriously about what I enjoyed, I realized I did not want to go back, not because I loved Paris more than Tbilisi, but because I wanted to test myself. In a foreign country, you push yourself more.
Were you scared?
I was never scared to stay here. However, I was definitely worried when I quit my job of five years. I knew I was starting something new, leaving a stable corporate job and going back to studies is a big step. What worried me was whether I would find the right job afterward. The art world in Paris is competitive, and good positions are limited. When you invest in a new field, you want it to lead to something that fits you. In the end, everything worked out exactly as I hoped.
You found a great balance – marketing and art complement each other.
Exactly. My role at the gallery is polyvalent: sales, communication, press, marketing, and events. And I think that whatever professional experiences you have before, and the skills you acquire over time, you can always apply them when you move into a new field. They don’t disappear just because the environment changes. You bring them with you.
How do you see the art market now? What is the biggest challenge?
One of the main challenges today is the strong influence of large galleries and auction houses. They play a major role in which artists become visible and how quickly value can shift. At the same time, smaller and mid-sized galleries work hard to support artists in a long-term, thoughtful way, through exhibitions, institutional relationships, and steady development. Finding a balance between these dynamics is difficult. For emerging artists, the challenge is finding sustainable support; for galleries, it’s staying stable and committed in a competitive environment.
Was being non-French a problem in your job sector?
No, not at all. The gallery is international, and diversity is part of its identity. Being from a different background is seen as something positive.
When did you realize you were fluent in French?
After finishing university, around 21. My first full-time job was entirely in French.
Did you have trouble adapting to French culture?
Not really. In Georgia, we grow up surrounded by art, literature, cinema, and cultural conversations. My grandparents talked about French films and painters, so many things already felt familiar when I arrived.
Did you ever experience homesickness or doubt?
Never doubt, I always felt good here. I did miss my grandparents a lot and sometimes felt guilty about being far from them. But I have never regretted coming.
Do you see yourself moving back to Georgia someday?
For now, I see myself here. But I stay very connected to Georgia. I visit twice a year, and my family also comes to Paris. Maybe one day I will return.
Do you carry any Georgian rituals or habits with you?
The love of music. Our traditions of celebration and connection we have with people. But also going to the theater, going to the theater/opera really feels like a ritual I have brought from home. I remember being very young when my grandparents took me to Rustaveli Theatre to see The Caucasian Chalk Circle directed by Robert Sturua. It was very emotional for me. It really struck me. The dramaturgy, and the energy of it all. I still remember the feeling. We would never miss a good play, opera or a concert and we would always go together. So now, going to the theater in Paris feels like a little tradition that connects my past with my present.
Was it easy to build a social circle here?
I was lucky because a lot of my Georgian friends were already in Paris when I arrived. However, after Covid, many left, and I had to start over. But new friendships came naturally through school, work, and people I met along the way. I have amazing friends here in Paris as well as in Tbilisi.
Did you ever feel lonely?
Only a little during Covid, because I couldn’t go home. Otherwise, no. I have people here who feel like family.
What does “home” mean to you? Is Paris home?
Paris is where my passion finds space to grow and where I continue building myself professionally. Home is where you feel anchored, through the people around you and the life you’re creating. I feel good here, so yes, Paris is home for now. But Georgia will always be my home because it is where my passion was born! It will always remain the dearest to me, the place where I feel truly at peace and at ease.
When do you feel sense of belonging in Paris and when do you feel its absence?
I feel a sense of belonging when my work, my environment, and my goals are aligned. Entering the art world strengthened that feeling. Belonging comes from purpose, from self-realization.
Places you always return to in Paris?
It depends on the moment in my life. When I was very into photography, I always went to Palais de Tokyo and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Now I enjoy walking in the 6th and the Marais. I have cafés and corners I return to regularly. My favorite places change as I change and grow.
Is there anything you carry with you emotionally or creatively from Georgia?
My personality. Everything I am is shaped by where I grew up. I will always be Georgian in spirit.
Something that surprised you about the French?
Their attention to detail. Over time, I naturally became more precise and organized.
Okay let’s do some rapid fire questions. Favorite film?
Bicycle Thieves.
Favorite place?
Home.
Favorite artists?
Henri Matisse, Egon Schiele, Nan Goldin, Alice Neel, and Peter Doig.
Favorite music?
Pink Floyd.
Your ideal day?
Waking up early, having a calm morning, good weather, visiting an exhibition I love, and ending the day with meeting friends for dinner.
Did you have to reinvent yourself in Paris?
I think I am still the same person, but we are constantly reinventing ourselves. I try to stay curious, ask questions, learn, and challenge my own thinking.
What parts of yourself feel more alive in Paris?
My curiosity and my openness to new experiences.
What would you name this chapter of your life?
I’m where I want to be, but I’m aiming higher (laughs).
One piece of advice to yourself?
Wake up earlier (laughs). Don’t rush. Things fall into place with time. Don’t limit yourself and think bigger.
We would like to thank Tatuna for sitting down with us and opening up. Her story shows that we do not always begin with a defined plan. Direction comes from trying things, changing course, and paying attention to what feels right.