MARTINSONS AWARD 2025
International Juried Exhibition of the 5th Latvia Ceramics Biennale
The fifth edition of the Latvia Ceramics Biennale has once again transformed the country into a global magnet for ceramic artists and enthusiasts. Its rich and thoughtfully curated programme presents the latest artistic achievements in the field and paints a striking picture of the medium’s vitality and extraordinary breadth.
At the heart of the Biennale lies its principal event – the international juried exhibition “Martinsons Award”, a tribute to the legacy and impact of Pēteris Martinsons (1931–2013), the distinguished Latvian ceramicist, innovator, and educator. This year’s call drew 941 submissions from 69 countries. From these, an international panel of experts selected 80 outstanding pieces representing 30 nations, including 23 by Latvian artists. The exhibition embraces the entire spectrum of creative expression – from technically sophisticated compositions that impress with superior craftsmanship and mature conceptual depth, to more experimental forms where clay itself dictates character and rhythm, revealing the poetic qualities in human skill and the material’s organic nature.
The Biennale theme, “From Stardust to Lush Sprouts”, evokes our common origins in cosmic matter and the unending path of transformation – from the universe’s earliest primordial elements to life and culture. In ceramics, this creation story resonates with particular force as clay, one of humanity’s most ancient materials, becomes a lasting testament to the aesthetics, knowledge, imagination, and artistic vision of our time.
Curated by Aivars Baranovskis and Valentīns Petjko
Aivars Baranovskis (Latvia)
curator of the Latvian Ceramics Biennale, artist
Claudia Casali (Italy)
director of the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza
Kristine Michael (India)
independent curator and researcher
Leeji Choi (South Korea)
curator at the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art
Weronika Surma (Poland)
artist and educator, organiser of the ICST Triennial
International artists
Agnė Šemberaitė (Lithuania), Aliona Kryshtofik (Poland), Andrii Kyrychenko (Ukraine), Anne Türn (Estonia), Asta Volkensfeld (Germany), Chen Xiao (China), Cheng Chung Yu (Taiwan), Daria Kowalewska (Poland), Denny Gerwin (United States), Eglė Einikytė-Narkevičienė (Lithuania), Ellen van der Woude (Luxembourg), Emre Can (Türkiye), Eveline Kieskamp (The Netherlands), Eyvind Solli (Norway), Fania Kolaiti (Greece), Guglielmo Maggini (Italy), Hajnalka Tarr (Hungary), Hanna Miadzvedzeva (Poland), Heide Nonnenmacher (Germany), Henna Nuutinen (Finland), Huang Zheng (China), Hyojung Yun (South Korea), Hyunjin Kim (South Korea), Ihor Kovalevych (Ukraine), Bon Solin (South Korea), Johana Hnizdilova (Czechia), Juliette Clovis (France), Kála Kovács (Hungary), Karin Putsch-Grassi (Italy), Kauri Kallas (Estonia), Keshari Nandan Parsad (India), Kimie Ino (Brazil), Krisaya Luenganantakul (Thailand), Kwan Hei Myron Lai and Silvester Mok (Hong Kong), Lena Majsiak (Poland), Leonardo Bartolini (Italy), Liu Kim (South Korea), Mahesh Jagtap (India), Makiko Nagai (Japan), Malwina Kowalewska (Poland), Michael Rice (Ireland/UAE), Michał Żesławski (Poland), Miglė Janušaitė (Lithuania), Nathalie Kehrli (Switzerland), Neringa Akcijonaitytė (Lithuania), Olga Simonova (Germany), Rima Leipuvienė (Lithuania), Rūta Šipalytė (Lithuania), Silvia Tagusagawa (Brazil), Sofia Beça (Portugal), Sofiia Horbachevska (Ukraine), Suzy Balkert (Switzerland), Valdas Kurklietis (Lithuania/Sweden), Velimir Vukicevic (Serbia), Viktória Maróti (Hungary), Yuan-Shan Chen (Taiwan), Zhang Fei (China).
Artists representing Latvia
Agate Kalcenaua, Ainārs Rimicāns, Astra Šēnberga, Dace Grīnberga, Dace Blūma, Diāna Boitmane, Eleonora Pastare, Elīna Titāne, Eugenia Loginova, Inese Brants, Jānis Kupčs, Juta Rindina, Kristīne Niedrāja, Laima Lauriņa, Līga Skariņa, Lilija Zeiļa, Maira Karstā, Rūdis Pētersons, Tatjana Jersova, Una Gura, Valda Podkalne, Vita Valdmane, Zahars Ze.
Gold Award
Lilija Zeiļa (Latvia), Inese Brants (Latvia), Daria Kowalewska (Poland)
Silver Award
Hanna Miadzvedzeva (Poland), Hyunjin Kim (South Korea)
Honourable Mention and Residency Prize
Elīna Titāne (Latvia), Guglielmo Maggini (Italy), Michał Żesławski (Poland)
Honourable Mention and Keramserviss Prize
Agate Kalcenaua (Latvia), Laima Lauriņa (Latvia)
Honourable Mention
Kimie Ino (Brazil), Valdas Kurklietis (Lithuania/Sweden), Eglė Einikytė-Narkevičienė (Lithuania)
The Biennale is organised by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics in collaboration with the Rothko Museum.
Supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia, Lighton International Artist Exchange Program and “Keramserviss” Ltd.