Tavadze was born on February 6, 1911 in the village Tkhilagani, Kutais Governorate; at that time, Tkhilagani was part of the Russian empire. In 1926, he graduated from the secondary school of Kutaisi. During his apprenticeship, he took up drawing lessons together with Petre Otskheli  at the art studio under the guidance of Vano Tcheishvili. In 1926, Tavadze entered Tbilisi State Academy of Arts  majoring in painting. His teachers included Ioseb Sharleman, Gigo Gabashvili , Evgeni Lansere.
Starting in 1927, Tavadze began working at the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre, first as an assistant producer (1927–1930), then as an artist (1930–1948). Subsequently he was appointed to the position of the chief artist (1948–1976). In 1932, Tavadze made his artistic debut at the Rustaveli Theatre in O. Samsonidze's play, "The Hoop", directed by Sandro Akhmeteli  and Shota Aghsabadze. In 1933, he made his first artistic appearance outside of Georgia in Shakespeare's "Othello " in the Kirovabad Theatre, Azerbaijan .
In 1933, the painter Lado Gudiashvili  dedicated a complimentary letter to Tavadze: "Dimitri Tavadze, a young artists was distinguished for consciousness and discretion; he, from the beginning owned the mystery of painting only feasible for rather experienced painters". 
Tavadze illustrated over 150 plays in 20 different theaters. He collaborated renowned directors such as Sandro Akhmeteli, Dimitri Aleksidze, Mikheil Tumanishvili , Robert Sturua , and Irina Molostova. The majority of Tavadze's projects were staged at the Rustaveli Theatre (57 plays). Fletcher's comedy "The Spanish Curate " and Pavel Kohout's  play "Such Love" won special recognition and success. Tavadze's last project was "Do not Abandon the Fire, Prometheus" (Kirovabad – 1983). Dimitri Tavadze died on March 6, 1990 in Tbilisi.
Tavadze was awarded the "Honored Art worker" (1950), the "Laureate of the State Prize" (1951), and the "People's Painter of Georgia" (1967). Starting 1933, Tavadze participated in a number of exhibitions. Tavadze's works were displayed numerous times in Tbilisi, as well as in Moscow  (1937, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1971, 1979), in Leningrad (1937), in São Paulo  (1967) and in the German Democratic Republic (1968). He had personal exhibitions in Tbilisi (1964, 1975 ["Shakespeareana"], 1982) and in Moscow (1971).
Tavadze's works are preserved in the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Moscow, the National Pushkin Museum , Saint Petersburg, the Georgian  State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography, Tbilisi, and the Museum of Rustaveli Theatre. In addition, some works are preserved in theatres and private collections around the world.
1932 – P. Samsonidze, "The Hoop" (Georgian : "სალტე"  1933 – G. Shatberashvili, "The Enemy" (Georgian: "დუშმანი"  1936 – S. Kldiashvili, "The Autumn Gentry" (Georgian: "შემოდგომის აზნაურები"  1937 – G. Mdivani, "Alkazar" (Georgian: "ალკაზარი"  S. Kldiashvili, "The Generation of the Heroes" (Georgian: "გმირთა თაობა"  1938 – G. Mdivani, "The Motherland" (Georgian: "სამშობლო"  1939 – S. Mtvaradze, "Upon the Mountain Range" (Georgian: "მთაგრეხილზე"  1940 – S. Kldiashvili, "The Widow of an Earl" (Georgian: "გრაფის ქვრივი"  1941 – S. Kldiashvili, "The Last Knight" (Georgian: "უკანასკნელი რაინდი"  F. Wolf, "Professor Mamlock". Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1946 – C. Goldoni, "Servant of Two Masters" (Italian : "Il servitore di due padroni"  G. Berdzenishvili, "Beginning of the End" (Georgian: "დასასრულის დასაწყისი"  B. Chirskov, "The Winners" (Russian: "Победители"  1947 – Ar. d'Usseau and J. Gow, "Deep Are the Roots". Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze N. Pogodin, "The Man with a Rifle" (Russian: "Человек с ружьём"  O. Goldsmith, "She Stoops to Conquer ". Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1948 – S. Dolidze, G. Berdzenishvili, "The Aerie" (Georgian: "არწივის ბუდე"  W. Shakespeare, "Othello". Dir.: Akaki Vasadze, Shota Aghsabadze V. Mass, M. Chervinsky, "To Friends, to Comrade" (Russian: "О друзьях-товарищах"  1949 – I. Mosashvili, "The Sunk Stones" (Georgian: "ჩაძირული ქვები"  V. Pataraia, "Ucha Uchardia" (Georgian: "უჩა უჩარდია"  V. Karsanidze, "Evergreen Ridges" (Georgian: "მარად მწვანე ქედები"  K. Simonov, "Alien shadow" (Russian: "Чужая тень"  1950 – Sh. Dadiani, "Out of Sparks" (Georgian: "ნაპერწკლიდან"  V. Vishnevski, "Unforgettable 1919" (Russian: "Незабываемый 1919-й"  1951 – G. Mdivani, "People of Goodwill" (Georgian: "კეთილი ნების ადამიანები"  1952 – P. Kakabadze, "The Forge of Happiness" (Georgian: "ბედნიერი სამჭედლო"  D. Kldiashvili, "The Adversity of Darispan" (Georgian: "დარისპანის გასაჭირი"  N. Gogol, "The Gamblers" (Georgian: "Игроки"  I. Vakeli, "The Steel" (Georgian: "რვალი"  I. Chavchavadze, G. Berdzenishvili, "The Widow of Otar" (Georgian: "ოთარაანთ ქვრივი"  1953 – A. Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin, "The Betrayal" (Russian: "Измена"  1954 – I. Dubois, "Haiti". Dir.: Akaki Vasadze, Mikheil Tumanishvili V. Kandelaki, "The Weed" (Georgian: "სარეველა"  J. Fletcher and Ph. Massinger, "The Spanish Curate". Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1955 – L. Kiacheli, "Tariel Golua" (Georgian: "ტარიელ გოლუა"  1956 – I. Vakeli, "A Busy Man" (Georgian: "საქმიანი კაცი"  1957 – A. Pushkin, "Boris Godunov" (Russian: "Борис Годунов"  1958 – G. Sevastikoglu, "Angela". Dir.: Leila Varsimashvili, Otar Zautashvili Al. Apkhaidze, "The Aragvians" (Georgian: "არაგველები"  1959 – P. Kakabadze, "Kvarkvare Tutaberi" (Georgian: "ყვარყვარე თუთაბერი"  P. Kohout, "Such Love" (Czech : "Taková láska"  V. Kandelaki, "Once Dead" (Georgian: "ერთხელ დახოცილები"  1960 – A. Arbuzov, "The Irkutsk Story" (Russian: "Иркутская история"  K. Senderbiu, "The Revolt of Women". Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1961 – V. Kandelaki, "The Lights of Kartli" (Georgian: "ქართლის ჩირაღდნები"  G. Khukhashvili, "The Sea Children" (Georgian: "ზღვის შვილები"  1962 – L. Sanikidze, "The Kutaisians" (Georgian: "ქუთათურები"  C. Goldoni, "The Mistress of the Inn " (Italian : "La locandiera"  O. Ioseliani, "Once a Person is Born" (Georgian: "ადამიანი იბადება ერთხელ"  1963 – W. Gibson, "The Miracle Worker". Dir.: Sandro Mrevlishvili V. Rozov, "Before Dinner" (Russian: "Перед ужином"  1964 – ,W. Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream ". Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1965 – I. L. Caragiale, "The Lost Letter" (Romanian : "O scrisoare pierdută"  N. Aziani, "The Last Masquerade" (Georgian: "უკანასკნელი მასკარადი"  1967 – L. Kiacheli, "Gvadi Bigva" (Georgian: "გვადი ბიგვა"  1969 – O. Ioseliani, "Until the Ox-Cart Turns Over" (Georgian: "სანამ ურემი გადაბრუნდება"  1930 – P. Samsonidze, "Director" (Georgian: 
"დირექტორი" )1931 – I. Kantaria, "Cholipa" (Georgian: 
"ჭოლიფა" )1933 – I. Kantaria, "Berikaoba" (Georgian: 
"ბერიკაობა" )1946 – G. Eristavi, "Separation" (Georgian: 
"გაყრა" )1952 – A. Lipovsky, "Mayakovsky" (Russian: 
"Революцией призванный" )1959 – P. Kakabadze, "Kvarkvare Tutaberi" (Georgian: 
"ყვარყვარე თუთაბერი" ; Not implemented version)
1958 – R. Tabukashvili, "The Secretary of the Regional Committee" (Georgian: "რაიკომის მდივანი"  M. Baratashvili, "Marine" (Georgian: "მარინე"  1957 – S. Shanshiashvili, "The Mountain Law" (Georgian: "მთის კანონი"  1961 – O. Chidjavadze, "A Lucky Loser" (Georgian: "ბედნიერი უიღბლო"  Gr. Abashidze, "A Journey into Three Epochs" (Georgian: "მოგზაურობა სამ დროში"  1964 – L. Chubabria, K. Chavchanidze, "The First Step" (Georgian: "პირველი ნაბიჯი"  1965 – K. Buachidze, "Story of Love" (Georgian: "ამბავი სიყვარულისა"  M. Mrevlishvili, "Destiny of the Poet" (Georgian: "პოეტის ბედი"  K. Buachidze, "Remember our Youth" (Georgian: "გავიხსენოთ ჩვენი ახალგაზრდობა"  1966 – G. Mdivani, "Your Uncle Misha" (Georgian: "შენი ძია მიშა"  1969 – V. Ejov, "Night of the Nightingale" (Russian: "Соловьиная ночь"  Tbilisi Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama State Theatre 1949 – V. Cagareishvili, "Arsen Odzelashvili" (Georgian: "არსენა ოძელაშვილი"  1950 – Fr. Lehár, "The Merry Widow " (German: "Die lustige Witwe"  G. Cabadze, "The Love Song" (Georgian: "სიმღერა სიყვარულზე"  R. Lagidze, "Friends" (Georgian: "მეგობრები"  N. Gudiashvili, "Meeting at the Cottage" (Georgian: "შეხვედრა აგარაკზე"  1951 – G. Cabadze, "A bright Future" (Georgian: "ბრწყინვალე მომავალი"  V. Cagareishvili, "The Queen of Tsani" (Georgian: "ცანის დედოფალი"  Sh. Milorava, "Once in Spring" (Georgian: "ერთხელ გაზაფხულზე"  N. Gudiashvili, "Gift" (Georgian: "საჩუქარი"  1956 – I. Jarkovsky, "Love Knot". Dir.: Shota Meskhi A. Kereselidze, "Three Brides" (Georgian: "სამი პატარძალი"  1957 – Sh. Milorava, "Dali" (Georgian: "დალი"  Sh. Azmaiparashvili, "The desirable Groom" (Georgian: "ნანატრი საქმრო"  R. Lagidze, "Komble" (Georgian: "კომბლე"  1958 – G. Kakhiani, "Bastard" (Georgian: "ნაბიჭვარი"  1960 – A. Kereselidze, "Arriving from the Moon" (Georgian: "მთვარიდან ჩამოფრენა"  Sh. Milorava, "Strange Guests" (Georgian: "უცნაური სტუმრები"  1966 – Sh. Azmaiparashvili, "It will never be the same again" (Georgian: "რაც გინახავს ვეღარ ნახავ"  1967 – A. Shaverzashvili, "Nino" (Georgian: "ნინო"  1968 – Sh. Milorava "The Fatal Operation" (Georgian: "საბედისწერო ოპერაცია"  1951 – Z. Paliashvili, "Abesalom and Eteri" (Georgian: "აბესალომ და ეთერი"  1952 – S. Rachmaninoff, "Aleko" (Russian: "Алеко"  N. Rimsky-Korsakov, "The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga " (Russian: "Боярыня Вера Шелога"  1953 – P. Tchaikovsky, "Eugene Onegin" (Russian: "Евгений Онегин"  Ch. Gounod, "Romeo and Juliet ". Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1954 – G. Rossini, "The Barber of Seville " (Italian: "Il barbiere di Siviglia"  1957 – G. Verdi, "La traviata ". Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1959 – R. Gabichvadze, "Nana" (Georgian: "ნანა"  1937 – G. Berdzenishvili, "In the Mountains of Adjara" (Georgian: "აჭარის მთებში"  E. Schwarz, "Red Riding Hood". Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili 1938 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "The Line of Fire" (Georgian: "ცეცხლის ხაზზე"  B. Gamrekeli, "Hero" (Georgian: "გმირი"  Molière , "Scapin's Deceits" (French: "Les Fourberies de Scapin" V. Balaban, "Green Valley". Dir.: Giorgi Darispanashvili 1939 – A. Tsereteli, "Patara Kakhi" (Georgian: "პატარა კახი"  1940 – K. Gogodze, "Kadjana" (Georgian: "ქაჯანა"  1941 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "Achakune" (Georgian: "აჩაკუნე"  Sh. Kutshava, "Blue Carpet" (Georgian: "ცისფერი ხალიჩა"  1950 – G. Gogichaishvili, "Bright Path" (Georgian: "ნათელი გზა"  1952 – G. Berdzenishvili, "Old Wound" (Georgian: "ძველი ჭრილობა"  1953 – S. Mtvaradze, "Surami Fortress" (Georgian: "სურამის ციხე"  1954 – E. L. Voinitsh, "The Gadfly ". Dir.: Iuri Kakulia 1956 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "Little Warriors" (Georgian: "პატარა მეომრები"  1963 – V. Kataev, "A White Sail Gleams" (Russian: "Белеет парус одинокий"  1964 – W. Shakespeare, "Twelfth Night ". Dir.: Sergo Chelidze 1965 – A. Chkhaidze, "When Childhood Ends" (Georgian: "როცა მთავრდება ბავშვობა"  1970 – A. Kuznetsov, "The Moscow Holidays" (Russian: "Московские каникулы"  1956 – M. Mrevlishvili, "Avalanche" (Georgian: "ზვავი"  1956 – M. Japaridze, "Fellow Countryman" (Georgian: "ჩვენებურები"  1958 – A. Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin, "The Betrayal" (Russian: "Измена"  Dumanoir  and A. d'Ennery, "Don César de Bazan ". Dir.: Tamaz Meskhi1959 – K. Lortkipanidze, "The Dawn of Colchis" (Georgian: "კოლხეთის ცისკარი"  1960 – V. Daraseli, "Kikvidze" (Georgian: "კიკვიძე"  D. Kldiashvili, "Irina’s Happiness" (Georgian: "ირინეს ბედნიერება"  L. Sanikidze, "The Kutaisians" (Georgian: "ქუთათურები"  P. Kakabadze, "The Farmer's Wedding" (Georgian: "კოლმეურნის ქორწინება"  1962 – G. Mdivani, "Millions of Guga and Gigo" (Georgian: "გუგასა და გიგოს მილიონები"  P. Kakabadze, "The Wheel of Life" (Georgian: "ცხოვრების ჯარა"  G. Taktakishvili, "A White Bat" (Georgian: "თეთრი ღამურა"  1963 – M. Japaridze, "Bughara" (Georgian: "ბუღარა"  1965 – Sh. Dadiani, "Yesterday's People" (Georgian: "გუშინდელნი"  1937 – G. Mdivani, "The Blind" (Georgian: "ბრმა"  1938 – S. Mtvaradze, "Tevrath" (Georgian: "თევრათ"  S. Shanshiashvili, "Arsena" (Georgian: "არსენა"  P. Kakabadze, "The Farmer's Wedding" (Georgian: "კოლმეურნის ქორწინება"  1953 – G. Mdivani, "Bagration" (Georgian: "ბაგრატიონი"  M. Mrevlishvili, "Baratashvili" (Georgian: "ბარათაშვილი"  1954 – H. Fast, "Freedom Road ". Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1963 – L. Milorava, "Curved Staircase" (Georgian: "მრუდე კიბე"  1970 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "Ali Baba". Dir.: Otar Aleksishvili 1966 – G. Nakhicrishvili, "Shaithan Khikho" (Georgian: "შაითან ხიხო"  1970 – A. Getsadze, "Saba Sulkhan" (Georgian: "საბა სულხანი"  1974 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "Komble" (Georgian: "კომბლე"  1975 – L. Kiacheli, "Tariel Golua" (Georgian: "ტარიელ გოლუა"  1976 – Lope de Vega , "The Gardener's Dog" (Spanish: "El perro del Hortelano" Molière, "The Doctor in Spite of Himself" (French: "Le Médecin malgré lui"  1971 – P. Kakabadze, "The Farmer's Wedding" (Georgian: "კოლმეურნის ქორწინება"  1968 – Sophocles ,"Oedipus Rex " (Ancient Greek: "Οἰδίπους Τύραννος"  1955 – G. Kelbakiani, "The Young Teacher" (Georgian: "ახალგაზრდა მასწავლებელი"  1954 – M. Baratashvili, "Dragonfly" (Georgian: "ჭრიჭინა"  1972 – N. Dumbadze, "Do not worry, Mom" (Georgian: "ნუ გეშინია, დედა"  1977 – N. Hikmet, "The Legend of Love". Dir.: Alesker Sharifov 1933 – W. Shakespeare, "Otello ". Dir.: Shota Agsabadze 1968 – N. Mamedov, "Tariel". Dir.: Yusuf Bagirov 1972 – W. Shakespeare, "Otello". Dir.: Yusuf Bagirov 1973 – A. Mamedov, "When the Stars are Meeting". Dir.: Yusuf Bagirov 1976 – Sophocles, "Antigone". Dir.: Yusuf Bagirov 1980 – W. Shakespeare, "Richard III". Dir.: Yusuf Bagirov 1983 – M. Karim, "Do not Break the fire, Prometheus!". Dir.: Yusuf Bagirov Avar Music and Drama Theatre 
1960 –
K. Zakaryaev, M. Daudov, "Along the Mountain Roads". Dir.: Archil Chkhartishvili R. Gamzatov, "The Mountain Girl". Dir.: Archil Chkhartishvili 1978 – D. Kldiashvili, "Adversity of Darispan" (Georgian: "დარისპანის გასაჭირი"  1963 – W. Shakespeare, "Macbeth " 1965 – W. Shakespeare, "Otello" 1970 – W. Shakespeare, "King Lear " 1974 – W. Shakespeare, "Hamlet " W. Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar" W. Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet" 1985 – H. Ibsen, "Peer Gynt "