Exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the Ceramics Workshop of the Latvian Academy of Arts at the Riga History and Shipping Museum

The exhibition of items from the museum collection dedicated to the centenary of the Ceramics Master Workshop of the Latvian Academy of Arts (LMA) (1924–1944) is integrated into the hall of the Riga History and Shipping Museum (RVKM) permanent exhibition “Rīga vēstūras: Rīga – Capital of the Republic of Latvia (1918–1940)”. The art ceramic works of master workshop manager, ceramist Rūdolfs Pelša (1880–1942) and his students are exhibited in the exhibition, with special emphasis on the artistic legacy of the outstanding ceramist Viļas Vasariņš. Photo materials in the exhibition – from the collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design.

The LMA Ceramics Workshop, founded in 1924, was the beginning of professional ceramics education in Latvia. Its manager, the first professional ceramist in Latvia – Rūdolfs Pelše – created the workshop not only as a place of study, but also as a research center and a technically well-equipped art ceramics production facility. During its twenty years of operation, the master workshop trained a number of professional ceramic masters – Vili Vasariņa, Arvīda Dzērvīti, Andreja Pormali, Georga Kruglov, Marija Rinki, Teodora Pucirius, Viktorina Zost, Ludvig Kalniņa, Roberta Vītoliņa, Zinaida Kripēna, Marta Gūtmani-Gulbi, Izaka Vovsi, Ella Martinson. , Hermini Vanagu, etc

Vilis Vasariņas (1906–1945), a student of Rūdolfs Pelše, one of the most visible authors in art ceramics in the interwar period, has an important place in the development of Latvian professional ceramics. Vilis Vasariņš, a graduate of the workshop, became its acting director in 1941, but already in 1944 the artist was drafted into the Latvian Legion, and in March of the following year, the talented artist’s life ended when he took part in a battle near Tukum. Viļas Vasariņas’ original ceramic works are made of various materials: porcelain, faience, stone mass and clay. Among the products are various dishes, vases and cups, candlesticks, decorative plastic, also building ceramics – fireplaces and tombstones.

In 1933, Vilis Vasariņš started making sketches for the products of the Kuznetsov porcelain and faience factory. In 1936, after the artist threw, a unique porcelain service was created in the factory – a gift from the city of Riga to the Minister of War of Latvia, General Jānis Balodi, which can now be seen in the museum’s permanent exhibition.

The productivity of the LMA Ceramics Workshop was impressive – it offered almost a thousand different artistic ceramic works per year: vases, cups, fruit bowls, decorative plates, tableware and decorative figures. The workshop could also order large quantities of architectural and interior building ceramics – fireplaces, stoves, fountains and panno.

The comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the Ceramic Master Workshop of the Latvian Academy of Arts (LMA) confirms the high level of Latvian ceramics in the 20s-30s of the 20th century. years.

Author of the exhibition: Vivita Buividas, custodian of the collections of porcelain, glass and ceramic objects of the RVKM Collection Department, artist of the exhibition: Antra Augustinoviča.

The exhibition will be open until September 30, 2024.