ArtVilnius is an annual event bringing together art lovers, critics, and professionals. Its 14th edition will be held at the Exhibition and Congress Centre LITEXPO in Vilnius on 13-15 October 2023. This year, the fair will see 67 galleries from 18 countries presenting specially selected works while exploring this edition’s leading theme – performativity. Below is a selection of nine galleries that visitors to ArtVilnius ’23 shouldn’t miss.
5 Malūnai
Based at the New building of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, 5 Malūnai is an experimental gallery which aims to promote VAA students’ artistic, social, and interdisciplinary projects and give them space to explore their ideas. The gallery’s location is also significant; anyone visiting the VAA New building cannot help but pass though, or participate in, the current exhibition. During ArtVilnius ‘23, 5 Malūnai will present the works of four artists – Česlovas Lukenskas, Laima Kreivytė, Dainius Liškevičius and Monika Dirsyte – who are all lecturers at the VAA and whose creative practices either focus on or include elements of performance art. The idea for the gallery’s stand, “Four Corners”, was conceived by a VAA professor and artist, Marija Marcelionytė-Paliukė, who also curates it.
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Dainius Liškevičius PIETA Performance photo documentation 2013 The performance was was carried out on 11 March 2013, dedicated to the non-existent Antanas Gudaitis Museum in Žemaitė Square. Photo. Gintautas Trimakas -
Monika Dirsytė PODIUM Performance 2023 Photo. Laura Orlova -
Laima Kreivytė Waiting Performance and mashrabiya 2018 Photo. Aurelija Maknytė -
Česlovas Lukenskas DADASKLAIDA Performance 2013
Māksla XO
Māksla XO is a contemporary art gallery based in the Latvian capital, Riga. It hosts around fifteen exhibitions each year, including solo shows by artists represented by the gallery as well as annual group shows. Māksla XO puts the spotlight on contemporary Latvian artists – both established and emerging – whose trademark styles are recognisable not only in Latvia, but also on the international art scene. The gallery also regularly organises special exhibitions of works by 20th-century Latvian artists and collaborates with foreign museums and cultural institutions to produce ambitious international projects involving artists from Ireland, the Netherlands, and other countries.
Tütar Gallery
Founded in May 2023 in Tallinn, Tütar Gallery exists to represent young Estonian artists both in Estonia, where the public can visit all its exhibitions for free, and on the international scene by participating in art fairs and collaborating with other cultural institutions. In addition to creating a vibrant programme of events and exhibitions, Tütar Gallery is also on a mission to raise the standards of professional art management in Estonia. During ArtVilnius ’23, they will be presenting the works of Katrin Piile – a young Estonian artist known mostly for her paintings, drawings, and performance art.
Meno Niša
This contemporary art gallery based in the old town of Vilnius offers exhibition opportunities to young, emerging artists as well as to recognised creators. Most exhibitions tends to be built around installations, performance, and new media. Meno Niša frequently organises projects in collaboration with international artists, galleries, and cultural institutions and is a regular presence at various European art fairs as part of its mission to popularise contemporary Lithuanian art on foreign markets and help Lithuanian artists gain international recognition. During ArtVilnius ’23, Meno Niša will be presenting works by Gustas Jagminas, Rūta Katiliūtė, Jolanta Kyzikaitė, Monika Plentauskaitė and Jurgis Tarabilda.
Kaunas Photography Gallery
Founded in 1979 by the Lithuanian Photographers Association, Kaunas Photography Gallery is one of the largest and most highly regarded exhibition spaces in the Baltic region. Its primary focus is on exploring the art of photography and examining the borders between traditional and conceptual camera-based art. Its rich programme of exhibitions introduces Baltic photographers to both local and international audiences, as the Gallery often participates in various industry events both in Lithuania and abroad. Apart from producing exhibitions, the Gallery also conducts photography-related research, publishes books and catalogues, and produces a variety of events such as lectures, artist residencies, and workshops.
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Zenonas Bulgakovas, Be pavadinimo _ Untitled, 1985 -
Rimantas Dichavičius, Be pavadinimo, Untitled, 1973 -
Evaldas Butkevičius, Pasisveikinimas Greeting, 1992
Baroti Gallery
Founded in 1992, the Baroti Gallery is a well-established cultural institution in Klaipėda and one of the first private art galleries in Lithuania. Today, it organises around fifteen exhibitions each year and curates a rich programme of events ranging from art performances to chamber concerts and book presentations. Though Klaipėda’s art market may not be as vibrant as in larger cities, the Baroti Gallery enjoys excellent reputation and having one’s works exhibited here is an important career step for many artists. The Gallery regularly collaborates with foreign cultural institutions and participates in European art fairs in order to present contemporary Lithuanian artists to a wide, international audience.
Artifex
A small gallery and studio affiliated with the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Artifex focuses on broadly-understood contemporary textile and wants to rediscover this medium in new and unexpected forms and contexts. The gallery’s name reflects the notion that an artist is simultaneously a creator and a craftsman, and Artifex seeks to present artistic practice as a dialogue between new ideas and learned craftsmanship while searching for new forms of creative expression. An active participant in the Vilnius arts and culture scene, during the Art Fair Artifex will present sculptures and installations by Marija Šnipaitė, Indrė Milašiūtė, and Aurelija Maknytė.
Shcherbenko Art Centre
The Shcherbenko Art Centre in Kyiv aims to promote social changes using art and dismantle stereotypes around current socio-political artistic practices. Its programme focuses on interdisciplinary projects by Ukrainian artists exploring themes relevant to today’s society, such as ecology, gender, or self-identification. The Centre also conducts research and organises numerous discussions, presentations, and workshops to further the dialogue between the art world and the general public. By presenting exhibitions not only in its Kyiv venue but also in various galleries abroad, Shcherbenko Art Centre is helping to introduce contemporary Ukrainian culture to the international audience. During ArtVilnius ’23, they will be displaying paintings, photography and sculpture.
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Ruslan Tremba, “I’m Home”, sculpture, pressed paper, varnish, acrylic, h-35 cm, 2023 -
Yevheniia Laptii, “Eden Drowning in Thickets”, photography, digital printing on paper, 21 x 29,7 cm, 2023 -
Савченко Василь, «Поєдинок 02», із среії «Борці», Льняне полотно, вугілля, лак, 210 х 210 cм, 2023
Georg Kargl Fine Arts
This contemporary art gallery operates across three separate locations in Vienna, and so usually hosts three different shows at the same time. The exhibitions aim to promote innovative international artists working with a variety of media; works shown in the galleries include performances, installations, and 3D-generated art. Georg Kargl Fine Arts uses all its exhibition spaces to support the artists’ visions and encourage dialogue with art collectors, critics, and curators; the gallery is also a frequent presence at art fairs and biennials. The project they will present at ArtVilnius ’23 is “Two-Headed Horse” – a collaborative video made by Sam Samiee and Agnieszka Polska.
