Beyond the past: The Lithuanian gaze

A glance behind the former iron curtain reveals truths that transcend political boundaries. The borders in our minds may often remain trapped in the past, but art in Lithuania offers a very special mirror, one that reflects not only the nation's complex history but also its vibrant contemporary spirit.

© Tadas (Truchill) Trucilauskas "Wing Altar: Storyteller and the Parts of the Time Machine" – Young Painter Prize winner 2024

Where ancient runes meet modern canvas

Lithuania's artistic DNA is wonderfully complex, woven from threads that span millennia. From ancient pagan traditions with their mystical runes and shamanic nature worship to the cultural imprints left by Germany, Poland, and the former Soviet Union, this Baltic nation has absorbed influences like a cultural sponge. Add a dash of Scandinavian minimalism as well we innovation and the result is an artistic landscape that's both depply rooted and refreshingly contemporary.

The geographical canvas itself tells stories. Vilnius, with its UNESCO-listed old town, serves as the beating heart of the contemporary art scene. Kaunas, the former interwar capital, brings its own modernist legacy, while the coastal city of Klaipeda and the ethereal Curonian Spit offer artists endless inspiration from Baltic winds and shifting dunes. Even the mystical Hill of Crosses, a site of pilgrimage and resistance, makes a stance.

The underground resistance

"To preserve their creative freedom, artists whose practices were deemed subversive – particularly women, who faced double exclusion – often worked underground or cloaked their art in metaphors, myths, and biblical allegories," explains Migle Survilaite on the occasion of the Lithuanian exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in 2024. "Bringing Lithuanian art to international prominence is a testament to the nation's resilience and its relevance in contemporary discourse. Their contributions are invaluable, and this exhibition serves to highlight the voices that have long been forgotten and marginalized."

This spirit of creative resistance has evolved into something remarkable. The legacy lives on through established masters such as Stasys Eidrigevicius, whose surreal illustrations and posters earned him international acclaim and now have a dedicated museum in Kaunas bearing his name. The Stasys Museum stands as testament to how Lithuanian artistic vision can transcend borders while remaining deeply rooted in local mythology and folklore.

Today's Lithuanian artists – including Egle Ulicickaite with her conceptual installations, Zilvinas Landzbergas' unexpected installation explorations, the collective Pakui Hardware's digital interventions, Anastasia Sosunova's performance art, Emilija Skarnulyte's haunting video works, Elena Balsiukaite-Brazdziuniene's textile narratives, and Ona Grigaite's contemporary interpretations – are no longer hiding in metaphors. They are boldly reimagining what Baltic contemporary art can be, building on the foundation laid by pioneers like Eidrigevicius (yes, Stasys).

The republic of creative freedom

Perhaps nowhere is this artistic liberation more evident than in Vilnius' Uzupis district, a bohemian quarter that declared itself an independent "republic" in 1997 – reminds us of Christiania in Denmark but avoiding the drug drama. Complete with its own constitution written in multiple languages on a wall, president, and mock border crossings, Uzupis embodies the free spirit that characterizes Lithuanian creativity. It's here that the country's artistic soul feels most palpable, where galleries, studios, and cafés create an ecosystem of cultural exchange.

Market quiz: Best Lithuanian art deal?

The international art market has taken notice. While Chaim Soutine's "Les gorges du loup" achieved € 1,046,862 at auction (excl. buyer's premium) – the highest price for a Lithuanian-connected artist – contemporary voices are steadily building their own market presence. This commercial recognition validates what insiders have known for years: Lithuanian art deserves global attention.

Where Lithuania is heading to

As this beautiful country continues to establish itself on the international art stage, events such as Art Vilnius are creating new platforms for discovery. The fair represents more than just commercial opportunity, it's a statement of intent from a nation ready to showcase its creative capital to the world.

For art collectors and cultural enthusiasts, Lithuania offers something increasingly rare: authenticity without pretense, depth without darkness, and innovation rooted in genuine tradition. In a globalized art world often criticized for homogenization, Lithuania's contemporary artists provide a refreshing reminder that the most compelling art emerges from specific places, particular histories, and individual voices that refuse to be silenced.

The iron curtain has long since fallen, but what remains is perhaps more valuable: a creative spirit forged by adversity and now flourishing in freedom. Lithuania's contemporary art scene isn't just catching up with the West: in many ways, it's showing the way forward.

Fancy travelling with us to "non-trodden" paths? Let us know where we shall stop next.

Yours truly,

Margot

MD'A sidenote: Art Vilnius will take place 3.-5. October 2025. The 16th edition will feature 8o contemporary art galleries and art institutions, showcasing more than 320 artists from 16 countries. Sadly, we cannot make it this year, but may our spark have leapt across nonetheless. We highly recommend Meno Parkas Gallery, which we discovered just at this year's Vienna Contemporary.