International Ceramics Symposium Kicks Off in Daugavpils with Exhibition Opening
The 13th International CERAMIC LABORATORY Symposium kicks off in Daugavpils at 1.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 April, with a group exhibition featuring artists from seven countries at the outdoor gallery 4METRI.
Since its establishment in 2013 by the Rothko Museum and the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics, the Ceramic Laboratory symposium has grown into a globally recognised platform. Today, it continues to bring together artists from around the world to push the limits of ceramic art, exploring clay as a medium for deeply personal expression, shared cultural narratives and timeless artistic themes. The Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics provides an exceptional working environment open to a range of technologies, from traditional wood firing to cutting-edge experimental techniques, attracting the world’s leading ceramic artists. The programme is enriched by artist presentations, the opening exhibition at 4METRI gallery, and a concluding showcase at the Rothko Museum.
This year, fifteen artists from seven countries are taking part. The team includes Viktória Maróti (Hungary), Brit Dyrnes and Eyvind Solli (Norway), Theodora Tsirakoglou (Greece), Narankhuu Sukhburen (Mongolia), Giedra Petkevičiūtė (Lithuania), Leena Kuutma (Estonia), as well as Ojūna Batbajara, Dainis Lesiņš, Inese Margēviča, Lilija Zeiļa, Una Gura, Ilona Abdulajeva, Nellija Dzalba, and Kristīne Nicmane (Latvia).
The symposium will open at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 April, with a group exhibition showcasing the artists’ earlier works at the outdoor gallery 4METRI, located at 8 Hospitāļa Street in the Daugavpils Fortress.
At 3 p.m. on Thursday, 8 May, the Rothko Museum will host a public meeting with the symposium artists, where they will present their creative portfolios.
The symposium will conclude with an exhibition of new pieces created during the residency, to be unveiled at the Rothko Museum at 4 p.m. on Friday, 16 May.
All events are free and open to the public.
Established over a decade ago, CERAMIC LABORATORY has redefined the traditional ceramics symposium set-up. Breaking away from conventional boundaries and event formats, its very first instalment transformed Daugavpils Fortress into a vibrant experimental space, where historic architecture and local material traditions inspire bold new approaches. For international artists, it has become a place of creative discovery; for local artists, a springboard to broader horizons.
The symposium is supported by the Daugavpils City Council, Keramserviss, and the State Culture Capital Foundation’s target programme towards historical Latvian lands.
Publicity images: Ceramic Laboratory Symposium photographed by Didzis Grodzs
