Esma Oniani

Esma Oniani (; 20 July 1938 – 31 January 1999) was a Georgian poet, essayist, and painter.

Biography Esma Oniani was born 20 July 1938. A Tbilisi native, she studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of her native city from 1957 until 1963; The School-Leavers, which she produced upon her graduation, was sent to a student exhibition in Moscow. She participated in numerous exhibitions during her career while working as an artistic director for the state television company. From 1968 she held a position teaching painting at her alma mater. She illustrated many books as well, such as Erlom Akhvlediani's children's work The Story of a Little Mouse. Oniani began publishing her writing in 1968; she dealt with such taboo topics as religion and erotic subjects, and soon caused a sensation with her work. Nevertheless, although several collections of her work were published, she was publicly noted more for her artistic endeavors than her writing, which circulated mostly privately; it was only after her death that her poetry began to receive wider attention.