In 1963 the Picture-gallery was created in Sukhum as a branch of Abkhaz state museum n.a. D.I.Guliya. The official opening of the picture-gallery was conducted in 1964.

The greater part of the collection of the doctor I.L Fishkov, which he collected since the end of the twenties, became the bases of the fund and the exposition of the gallery. He donated part of his house to the city, where the art pieces were initially exhibited. Paintings, graphic art pieces and easel sculptures of Russian, Soviet, Abkhaz and Georgian artists of elder and middle generation of that period became part of the initial exposure of the gallery.                                                  

During the following years the gallery was enlarged with new works, that were bought form annual autumn and spring exhibitions of the artists of Abkhazia. Fishkov gave as a give the first 50 art pieces from the private collection. His daughter F.I. FIshkova presented 30 art-pieces. The family of the national poet of Abkhazia D.I. Gulia presented three works of the son of the writer G. Guliya – the laureate of the state prize of USSR – “Not a step back”, “the Portrait of a father”, “The dance”.

A lot of the artist also presented their best art pieces: M. Eshba – portrait of F. Iskander, Ch. Kukuladze – portrait of E. Eshba, A. Krainiukov – the portrait of I. Akirtava, O. Brendel – “Fishermen”, etc.

In the end of 50-s the famous Abkhaz artists A.K. Chachba-Shervashidze being in Europe sends more than 500 of his works to his Motherland. More than half of those art pieces establish residence in Tbilisi, where they currently remain. The smaller part (around 200 works) is sent to Abkhazia in the end of the 60ies and kept in the fund of the museum.

The works of the artists of the end of XIX and XX centuries are also kept in the funds of the gallery. In 1994 the art gallery acquires the status of the National picture-gallery (NPG) of the Republic of Abkhazia.

Today more than 400 000 art pieces of painting, graphic art, easel sculptures, ceramics is stored in museum funds. The works of such artists as A.K. Chachba-Shervashidze, B.L. Petrov, V.S. Kontarev, V.D. Bubnova, G.D. Guliya, M.E. Eshba, O.V. Brendel, H.T. Avidzba, T.A. Ampar,  Z.K. Ivanba, V.I. Khurkhumal, V.V. Gamgia, J.V. Chkadua, V.A. Tsvizhba,  etc are represented. Under the will of the wife of A.I Pisarchuk 312 paintics and graphic art pieces of the artist were presented.

The chair of the National picture-gallery is Suram Sakaniya.