SELECTION
Latvian Graphics in the Rothko Museum Collection
Since its inception, the Rothko Museum has been committed to expanding its Contemporary Graphic Art Collection and maintained a dedicated focus on the work of Latvian artists. The evolution of this collection has been shaped by the museum’s annual graphic art symposium and generous donations or strategic purchases after successful solo exhibitions by graphic artists.
In the exhibition’s conceptual framework, selection is more than just an act of choice. It’s a profound and stirring revelation of what is deemed essential and endowed with lasting value. The curatorial selection is an interpretative lens, a window into the artistic vision, value systems, and even existential contemplations of the graphic artists collected by the Rothko Museum. Much like the creative process itself, the very act of selection emerges as a form of meditation, with equal emphasis on what’s included and what’s left out.
The exhibition’s layout unfolds a contemplative narrative about the represented artists in terms of their creative views and technical prowess. It also shows where they are situated in the ongoing tradition of Latvian graphic art and outlines their engagement with the broader international dialogue on the medium’s potential. Thus, the selection celebrates some of the most distinguished figures in domestic graphic art, featuring Baņuta Ancāne, Sigurds Vīdzirkste, Vladislavs Grišins, Gunārs Krollis, Aija Meistars, Ausma Šmite, Māris Subačs, Mārīte Kluša, Nele Zirnīte, Jānis Murovskis, Ieva Caruka, Ilze Lībiete, Inese Lieckalniņa, Diāna Adamaite, Agnese Bule, Lāsma Pujāte, Ieva Nagliņa, and Dārta Hofmane. By bringing together established masters and the younger cohort of the medium’s practitioners, the exhibition opens the space for a meaningful dialogue across generations.
Ultimately, the exhibition throws a metaphoric bridge from past to present, with each selected piece a testament to the enduring timelessness of genuine artistic value. More than a simple compilation, this carefully curated set is both an intellectual statement and emotional decision highlighting the unmistakable creative voice of every featured artist while inviting viewers to explore the rich and stunningly diverse collective landscape of Latvian graphic art. In doing so, it shines a spotlight on the Rothko Museum’s collection and celebrates the individual creative spark of every featured artist.
Curator of the exhibition: Māris Čačka
Exhibition duration: 07.03.2025–18.05.2025
Publicity image: Nele Zirnīte, “Autumn Shadows”, etching and linocut on paper, 50 x 65 cm, 2015
