About

Data Chigholashvili, photo by Giulia Noli

Data (David) Chigholashvili works at the intersection of social anthropology and contemporary art. Their research, curatorial practice, and art projects explore topics around visual and urban anthropology, ethnography, socially engaged art, natural and built environments, public space, migration, foodways, memory, queering, archives, and/or museums. Data’s projects are strongly related to the specificities of contexts and often include collaborative, educational, and/or participatory aspects.

Currently, Data Chigholashvili is the Curator of Residency Unlimited (Brooklyn, NY), and has also worked in arts and culture independently, was the Curator of International Programs at the State Silk Museum, and was a team member of an artist-run organization and residency, GeoAIR (both in Tbilisi, Georgia).

Data has participated in many residency programs, including Residency Unlimited (Brooklyn, NY, 2024); Prater Galerie (Berlin, Germany, 2022); MeetFactory (Prague, Czechia, 2019 & 2017); TRAFO (Szczecin, Poland, 2019); Melitipol Municipal Museum of Local Lore and Open Place (Melitopol, Ukraine, 2015); and received prestigious fellowships such as Art Prospect Fellow (CEC ArtsLink, NY, USA, 2018); Black Sea Link Fellowship / BSL and alumni return research stay (New Europe College, Bucharest, Romania, 2014 & 2016); South Caucasus Regional Scholarship (The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2013).

They have presented at conferences and events internationally, written for various platforms, and edited publications. Their research and practice have been shared across classes, seminars, and public programs — including guest speaker roles at universities in the US, BA and MA courses taught at universities in Tbilisi, as well as visual anthropology workshops for international educational programs.

Chigholashvili holds The Degree of Master of Science in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, and The Degree of Bachelor of Humanities in History, Politics and Culture from the University of Georgia.

Please email for more details or CV/resume

Work Experience

2024 – present

Residency Unlimited

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Curator

Working at the intersection of public programming and residency management — curating exhibitions and public programs, supporting international and local artists and curators, organizing studio visits, and building community through field trips, gatherings, presentations, and discussions.

2021 – 2024

Independent

Curator, researcher, writer, and educator

Working at the intersection of social anthropology and contemporary art – researching for and developing exhibitions, managing international projects in arts and culture, and creating educational programming through workshops, seminars, and writing across platforms.

2018 – 2021

The State Silk Museum

Tbilisi, Georgia

Curator of International Programs

Working at the intersection of international curatorial practice and museum administration — curating exhibitions, programs, and residencies, developing global partnerships, and managing applications and open calls, as well as nominating and selecting artists and curators.

2012 – 2018

GeoAIR

Tbilisi, Georgia

Artist residency coordinator, researcher, and project member

Working at the intersection of residency coordination and international cultural programming — hosting artists, curators, and researchers from around the world, researching for and curating projects and programs, developing global partnerships, and managing applications and open calls to nominate and select participants.

Education

2011 – 2012

The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh, UK

The Degree of Master of Science in Social Anthropology

OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Edinburgh Scholarship | Dissertation with distinction: Thinking Through Contemporary Visual Art: the Case of Tbilisi’s Urban Transformation

2005 – 2009

The University of Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia

The Degree of Bachelor of Humanities in History, Politics and Culture

Recipient of Georgia’s state scholarship

2007 – 2008

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC, USA

Third-year student in education

Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the United States Department of State

Portfolio