Pēteris Martinsons: Cosmic Journeys
Pēteris Martinsons (1931–2013)
The exhibition presents porcelain works by Pēteris Martinsons from the collection of the Rīga Porcelain Museum. Created in the early 1980s, the “Rockets”, “Planets” and “Interplanetary Stations” series reveals the artist’s ability to use porcelain as a springboard for imagination. The pieces carry Martinsons’ signature sense of playful freedom, bold stylisation of form and a lasting interest in humanity’s place within a wider, cosmic scale.
In the second half of the twentieth century, space exploration left a profound mark on global culture – from philosophical reflections on humanity’s position in the universe to futuristic, minimalist forms in art and design. Technological progress in the 1970s also encouraged the rise of high-tech aesthetics.
When Martinsons created these works in 1980–1981, the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union had already come to an end. Both superpowers had turned their focus to long-term presence in the cosmos. Space stations became central, international cooperation began to take shape, and the first reusable spacecraft emerged.
The porcelain objects on view – minimalist, stylised rockets and interplanetary stations – reflect their time. Their surfaces feature underglaze painting and finely detailed overglaze drawing, lending a poetic dimension to otherwise technical forms. One of the rockets bears the title “My Time – The Age of Space Exploration”, a phrase that captures both the spirit of the era and Martinsons’ own creative drive.
The exhibition also highlights travel, another central theme in Martinsons’ practice. He travelled widely, taking part in international symposiums and workshops, teaching as a guest lecturer at several universities and contributing actively to the International Academy of Ceramics. These experiences broadened his perspective and inspired a body of work that continues to resonate today.
In 2026, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics partners with the Rothko Museum to present an exhibition series at the Martinsons House gallery to mark the 95th anniversary of the artist’s birth. The series brings together works from museum collections in Latvia and beyond, revealing the breadth of Martinsons’ creative legacy and his significance in contemporary ceramics. “Pēteris Martinsons: Cosmic Journeys” is the second exhibition in the series.
Curated by Valentīns Petjko
Organised by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics in collaboration with the Rothko Museum and the Rīga Porcelain Museum
Support: State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia and Daugavpils City Council
5 June – 30 August 2026
Publicity image: Pēteris Martinsons, “Rockets”, 1980, porcelain, glaze, overglaze, decal. Collection of the Rīga Porcelain Museum. Photographed by Gvido Kajons
