Opening of the exhibition “I am going to be an artist. Kārlis Lakše.”

On Thursday, February 26, at 6 p.m., the Latvian Museum of Photography will open an exhibition entitled “I Will Be an Artist. Kārlis Lakše.” It will reveal the years of the talented photographer’s life spent at the Latvian Academy of Art, studying painting. While also pursuing photography, he richly documented the academy’s environment, students, and artistic processes in the 1920s.

After being expelled and re-enrolling several times, Kārlis Lakše (1892-1949) never managed to graduate from the Latvian Academy of Art. Never giving up his love of painting, he spent the rest of his life in Koknese, realizing his talent in photography. He photographed both commissioned works and for his own pleasure – portraits, architecture, landscapes. The collection of more than three thousand photographs has been acquired by the Latvian Museum of Photography and is gradually being catalogued and researched. The photo museum is now housed in the building of the Latvian Academy of Art.

The relentless spirit of art and curiosity that runs through Lašes’ photographs lives on. What does it look like today, 100 years later? Fifteen students from the Art Academy of Latvia bring this to the exhibition, offering a glimpse into their everyday lives, colored by creative chaos, emotions, and youthful energy.

The exhibition will feature Kārlis Lakše’s photographs, paintings and early graphic works. Visitors will also be able to take a look behind the scenes at the creation of the ceiling paintings at the Splendid Palace cinema, where Lakše was present. The exhibition’s artistic design was created by Antra Augustinoviča.

The exhibition will be on display in the public space of the Latvian Museum of Photography at Kronvalda bulvāris 4 from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.