Classical Modernism Exhibition Opens at Liepāja Museum
On Friday, February 20, 2026, the Liepāja Museum (Kūrmājas prospekts 16/18) launched an exhibition titled “Classical modernism in Latvia. Painting, graphics: 1911–1930,” showcasing a significant period in Latvian art history, as reported by Rasa Zālīte, the museum’s public relations specialist.
Gratitude and Collaboration
During the exhibition opening, Liepāja Museum director Dace Kārkla expressed her gratitude to those involved in its creation. She specifically thanked art scholar Dace Lamberga, the exhibition’s curator, for her careful selection and description of the artwork and scenographer Kristians Brechte for capturing the mood of the early 20th century. Kārkla noted the exhibition’s suitability for Liepāja and encouraged the public to experience Latvian art and culture, highlighting the collaboration with the Zuzeum Art Museum and the Latvian National Art Museum.
City Council and Museum Perspectives
Liepāja City Council Chairman Gunārs Ansiņš emphasized that the exhibition reflects the ambition of the Liepāja Museum, turning ideas into reality. He also highlighted the richness of the colors in the artwork, believing they can inspire various generations, including young people.
Ilze Baumane, director of the Art Museum “Zuzeum,” and Ingūna Ęegēre, head of the Zuzānu collection, also attended the opening. Baumane expressed satisfaction with the partnership and the wider audience access to the Zuzān collection. Ęegēre discussed the exhibition’s origins, noting the initial idea for collaboration arose five years prior, and emphasized the significance of the collection and the contributions of Dace Lamberga and Kristians Brechte.
Scenography and Artistic Inspiration
Scenographer Kristians Brekte shared the inspirations behind the exhibition’s design, citing artist Gederts Elias as the source for the bright tonal palette and Ludolf Liberts’ “Country Wives” as a key visual reference. He described the exhibition as patriotic and highlighted the use of concise, accessible textual material.
Exhibition Details
The exhibition features works by 50 Latvian artists, with 45 pieces from the Zuzānis collection and five from the Latvian National Museum of Art. It provides a comprehensive gaze at the introduction of modernist ideas into Latvian art between 1911 and 1930, marking a significant shift in Latvian art during the early 20th century.
The artwork is arranged thematically, showcasing stylistic trends such as moderate modernism, cubism, expressionism, Fauvism, and new practicality. The exhibition acknowledges the challenging historical context in which Latvian modernism developed, whereas also recognizing the rapid integration of European artistic trends into a unique Latvian visual language.
Visit Information
The exhibition at the Liepāja Museum is open from February 20 to April 26, 2026.