Gia Gogishvili, owner and master silversmith of Atlanta-based Estes-Simmons Silversmiths, Inc., began his career at the age of 14 when he entered Tbilisi M. Toidze Art College. He continued his education at Moscow National Art University in 1985 where he participated in restorational workshops at the Moscow and Leningrad Art Museums. He did personal exhibitions in 1985 and 1988. In 1988 he exhibited 300 of his pieces in two months. From there, the Union of the Artists of the Republic of Georgia (Gogishvili’s home) chose him to participate in the 1991 Georgia-to-Georgia Festival in Atlanta. Richard Mafong from Georgia State University’s School of Art and Design hosted this. He worked directly with students to further develop their metal work skills. In 1992, he began working with expert silversmith Dawson Childress who had more than 55 years of experience with the company. In 2006, Gogishvili accepted an opportunity to purchase Estes-Simmons Silverplating, Ltd. from long-time mentor, Mark Antebi.

His father, Jemal, who is an artist in jewelry and metals and a silversmith in the Republic of Georgia, inspired Gogishvili. His grandfather, Vano, was a blacksmith.

Estes-Simmons repairs, plates and restores family treasures and antiques made from a variety of precious and semiprecious metals.