Irakli Tchrelashvili (Ika Trey)

Irakli Tchrelashvili (Ika Trey) was born in 1997 in the Republic of Georgia. Even though his family had a close relationship with art, the consideration of art as a career for him wasn’t even an option in a post-Soviet, crippled country. Immigration to the United States became a pivotal point in his life where Ika decided to devote his life to art. He finished his BFA program at Rutgers University specializing in sculpture and photography. Through his time at Rutgers he has created and taken part in multiple gallery performances as well as engaged in teaching activities at Rutgers University. He has received a gallery award from Mason Gross School of the Arts in the show “Above and Beyond” (2019) and participated in a group exhibition “LOVE 2020” at Columbia University alongside Jon Kessler, Edward Mapplethorpe, and others.

In March of 2022, Ika moved back home to the Republic of Georgia where he continues his artistic practice to this day. Since 2022, he has participated in multiple exhibitions such as “Kolga 2023”, “House Plants” in Arhouse Gori, solo exhibition “Mitsa” at “Cube in Context” and more. Ika has also participated in the Tbilisi Art Fair in 2022. Most recently, Ika created an art space “Zevit” which holds exhibitions and workshops for local and international artists and visitors. His latest group exhibition “Don’t they know: Art in a burning house” was in Vienna on March 12, 2026 where he showcased his work “Turtle Lake Road” and his photo book “Mitsa”.

Artist Statement

We all played games growing up. We didn’t understand why, but many of the ones that drew us in revolved around conflict and war—on computer screens, in yards with sticks, and in fights with kids from neighboring buildings, where we threw rocks at each other for no reason other than “fight for territory”.

This series allows childhood imagination, with its game-like characteristics, to merge with the real spaces that surround us. Through characters and situations from those early games seeping into everyday environments, these paintings attempt to trace the narrow, fragile line between childlike innocence and curiosity, and the unsettling awareness of war’s presence.

Exhibitions

SOLO

“Mitsa” | Cube in Context, 2023 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

Tbilisi Art Fair  | Expo Georgia, 2026 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

“6th Bi Auction” | IArt, 2026 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

“Dont they know: Art in a burning house” | Grossraum, 2026 (Vienna, Austria)

“Dont they know: Art in a burning house” | ItsTheGallery, 2025 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

“Country Remains” | Cube in Context, 2023 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

“Kolga 2023” | Kolga Awards, 2023 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

Tbilisi Art Fair | Expo Georgia, 2023 (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

“House Plants” | Arthouse Gori, 2022 (Gori, Republic of Georgia)

“Indoor Songs” | Rutgers University (Online), 2020 (Rutgers University Thesis exhibition)

“Love 2020” | Columbia University, 2020 (New York, NY, United States)

“Visions for the Future” | Rutgers University, 2019 (Mason Gross Gallery, NJ, United States)

“Co-Curate Shows | Rutgers University, 2019 (Mason Gross Gallery, NJ, United States)

“Happy Trails” | Rutgers University, 2018 (Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center, NJ, United States)

“Above & Beyond” | Rutgers University, 2018 (Mason Gross Gallery, NJ, United States)