Zuzāns Collection Exhibition Opens at Liepāja Museum, Showcasing Latvian Modernism

Liepāja Museum is hosting a new exhibition featuring works from the Zuzāns Collection, offering a glimpse into the development of Latvian art between 1911 and 1930. The exhibition, which runs from February 20 to April 26, 2026, showcases the entry of modernist ideas into Latvian art and highlights a significant shift in artistic paradigms.

A Collaboration Years in the Making

The collaboration between the Zuzāns Collection and Liepāja Museum was initially conceived five years ago. Ingūna Gēgēre, head of the Zuzāns Collection, emphasized the personal significance of the exhibition, stating it reveals “one of the brightest and personally closest parts of the collection that I grab care of on a daily basis.” The exhibition concept was developed by Dace Lamberga, with scenography by Kristians Brekte.

Inspiration and Design

Scenographer Kristians Brekte, too head of the Painting Department at the Latvian Academy of Arts, drew inspiration from artist Gederts Elias for the exhibition’s tonal palette. Ludolf Liberts’ “Country Wives” served as a key visual reference point. Brekte described the exhibition as “patriotic,” emphasizing its laconic, easy-to-understand, and educational textual material.

Exploring Latvian Modernism

The exhibition features works by 50 Latvian artists – 45 from the Zuzāns Collection and five from the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMM) collection. The arrangement is thematic, highlighting stylistic trends such as moderate modernism, cubism, expressionism, Fauvism, and new practicality. The exhibition demonstrates how Latvian art rapidly absorbed and transformed European artistic movements into a unique visual language, despite challenging historical circumstances.

Liepāja Museum Information

The Liepāja Museum, a crucial institution for preserving Latvia’s cultural heritage, holds over 130,000 items and artifacts [Liepaja.Travel].

Opening Hours:

• 01.09 – 31.05: Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00 (Monday & Tuesday closed)
• 01.06 – 31.08: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00

Prices:

• Permanent exhibition: Free
• Temporary exhibitions: €1.50 – €7
• One-day ticket (all branches): €8

Contact:

• +371 22 333 723
• +371 63 422 327
• muzejs@liepaja.lv
• www.liepajasmuzejs.lv