Imagining Ourselves: Self-portraits of Lithuanian Artists from the 19th-Century to the Present Day 

The self-portrait is a distinct art genre that came into its own in the 15th century, with the advent of the Italian Renaissance, symbolising the emerging notion of the artist as an individual independent from their guild. The leap from a rule-bound artisan to a member of the societal elite and the dizzying creative freedom that followed formed the foundation of the artist’s legend. Even today, this legend continues to inspire artists enticing them with the power of rebellion, change and influence. 

 

The exhibition starts with classic examples of the genre, where artists depict themselves as representatives of this unique profession. However, these works also hold additional layers of meaning. For instance, Vytautas Kasiulis declares self-sacrifice, while Marija Cvirkienė (following the death of Petras Cvirka) expresses a reclaimed sense of self-worth. Meanwhile, Algimantas Švėgžda, emphasises the importance of studying nature. 

 

With the advent of photography and the diversification of artistic practices, the concept of the self-portrait has undergone significant evolution, itself becoming an object of interpretation. Works are considered to be self-portraits or adjacent to this genre when the artist’s identity plays a significant role in their semantic structure. This identity is constructed through repetition, otherwise it would not be recognisable. As a result, the self-portrait often emerges not merely as an expression of individuality, but rather as a role being rehearsed and experimented with. We would like to invite you to see the diverse expressions of artist identity in Lithuanian art, ranging from the dignified pose of Franciszek Smuglewicz to the contemporary interpretations by present-day artists. 

 

 

Curator Monika Krikštopaitytė 

Coordinator Dalia Tarandaitė 

Architect Sigita Simona Paplauskaitė 

Designer Loreta Uzdraitė 

 

Organizer: Vilnius Picture Gallery, Lithuanian National Museum of Art 

 

Artists: Elena Antanavičiūtė, Žygimantas Augustinas, Jurga Barilaitė, Konstantinas Bogdanas, Violeta Bubelytė, Boleslovas Buika, Marija Cvirkienė, Cooltūristės, Kostas Dereškevičius, Barbora Didžiokienė, Vincas Dilka, Pranas Domšaitis, Vladas Eidukevičius, Monika Furmana, Laura Garbštienė, Napoleonas Ylakavičius, Donatas Jankauskas-Duonis, Lina Jonikė, Agnė Jonkutė, Vytautas Kairiūkštis, Aleksandra Kasuba, Marcė Katiliūtė, Leonas Linas Katinas, Leonardas Kazokas, Vytautas Kasiulis, Geistė Marija Kinčinaitytė, Vincas Kisarauskas, Vitas Luckus, Česlovas Lukenskas, Vytautas Mackevičius, Donata Minderytė, Vladislovas Neveravičius, Edvardas Bonifas Paulavičius, Audronė Petrašiūnaitė, Igoris Piekuras, Andrei Polukord, Karolis Rafalavičius, Petras Repšys, Eglė Ridikaitė, Marija Teresė Rožanskaitė, Boleslovas Mykolas Ruseckas, Jonas Rustemas, Šarūnas Sauka, Mindaugas Skudutis, Liudomiras Slendzinskis, Vincentas Slendzinskis, Raimundas Sližys, Pranciškus Smuglevičius, Sofija Urbonavičiūtė-Subačiuvienė, Laisvydė Šalčiūtė, Vadim Šamkov, Arvydas Šaltenis, Veronika Šleivytė, Algimantas Švėgžda, Virgilijus Šonta, Domicelė Tarabildienė, Laima Oržekauskienė, Sofija Veiverytė, Gintaras Zinkevičius. 

 

Artworks lent by: M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Lithuanian National Museum, Šiauliai Aušros Museum, MO Museum, Lewben Art Foundation, MTR art foundation, Kupiškis Ethnographic Museum, Lithuanian Artists’ Association Archive, Lithuanian Photographers Association, Lithuanian Culture Research Institute, Lithuanian Archives of Literature and Art, Creators of the artworks and private individuals: Edvinas Bartkus and Laima Natkevičiūtė-Bartkė, Juozas Budraitis, the family of Vincas Kisarauskas, Laima Kreivytė, Ieva Pleikienė, Boris Symulevič 

 

Media sponsor 7md 

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