Art Academy of Latvia

Art Academy of Latvia
Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija
Established1919; 107 years ago (1919)
RectorKristaps Zariņš
Address
O.Kalpaka bulvāris 13 LV - 1050
,
Riga
,
Latvia
Websitehttp://www.lma.lv
Building on Krišjānis Valdemārs Street.

The Art Academy of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija) is a higher education and scientific research institution in art, located in Riga, Latvia. The neo-Gothic brick building is located on Krišjānis Valdemārs Street, next to the National Museum of Art.[1][2]

In autumn 2021, the LMA, together with the University of Lapland in Finland, planned to enroll students in the two-year international master's program "Service Design Strategies and Innovation". The study process will take place internationally both in Kuldīga and Rovaniemi, Finland.[3]

History

Foundation and Early Years (1919–1940)

One of the most impressive architecural pearls of the Riga city - the Art Academy of Latvia was designed and created by the famous "architect and art historian Wilhelm Bokslaff (1858-1945)", while another prominent Latvian architect August Voltz was "the author of the sand stone columt chapiters and other sculptural parts" [4]. The building was established in 1902 and finished in 1905[4] [5]. One of the most precious elements of the building are the huge stained glass windows designed with Art Nouveau motifs and provided by E.Tode. Initially it carried the name of Commercial School of the Stock Exchange and functioned as business school[4].

The Art Academy was founded in 1919 by the world known Latvian painter and "the first rector of the Academy Vilhelms Purvītis (1872-1945)"[6]. The origins of the academy date back to May 4, 1919, when the Soviet Latvian government published a report regarding the opening of a "proletarian art workshop." The term "academy" was initially avoided as it was seen as a symbol of the old, conservative regime. However, following the fall of the Soviet government, the Provisional Government of Latvia formally decided to establish the Art Academy of Latvia on August 20, 1919.

The founding faculty included prominent Latvian artists such as Vilhelms Purvītis, Teodors Zaļkalns, Rihards Zariņš, and Jānis Kuga. The academy was officially inaugurated on October 12, 1921. After initially operating on Kronvalda Boulevard, it moved to Gogoļa Street 3 in 1922. The first constitution (Satversme) was adopted by the Saeima on February 7, 1924, and proclaimed by President Jānis Čakste. Between 1921 and 1940, the academy produced 229 graduates.

Soviet and Occupation Periods (1940–1988)

Following the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, the institution was renamed the State Art Academy. In 1944, it became the State Art Academy of the Latvian SSR. During the Soviet era, the academy's administrative oversight shifted frequently between the Ministry of Culture and various state committees for higher education.

From 1973 to 1988, the institution was named the '''Teodors Zaļkalns State Art Academy of the Latvian SSR''' in honor of the sculptor and former faculty member.

Organization

Faculties

The Academy has 5 faculties:[7]

  • Faculty of Visual Arts (2D)
  • Department of Painting
  • Department of Graphic Art
  • Department of Textile Art
  • Department of Drawing
  • Faculty of Visual Plastic Arts (3D)
  • Department of Sculpture
  • Department of Ceramics
  • Department of Glass Art
  • Faculty of Design
  • Department of Functional Design
  • Department of Environmental Art
  • Department of Metal Design
  • Department of Fashion Design
  • Faculty of Audio-Visual Media Art
  • Department of Visual Communication
  • Department "Motion. Image. Sound"
  • Department of Stage Design
  • Faculty of Art History
  • Department of Art History and Theory
  • Department of Restoration
  • Department of Humanities

Latgale Branch

The Academy has a branch in Latgale located in Rēzekne.

Notable alumni

  • Graduation photo of the Landscape Workshop in 1942. Seated in the middle of the front row is Professor Vilhelms Purvītis. To the left of him is Mārtiņš Krūmiņš.
    Graduation photo of the Landscape Workshop in 1942. Seated in the middle of the front row is Professor Vilhelms Purvītis. To the left of him is Mārtiņš Krūmiņš.
  • Sculpture art outside the Academy.
    Sculpture art outside the Academy.
  • Dainas Skadmane's art installation "Vēja egle" next to the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga 2015.
    Dainas Skadmane's art installation "Vēja egle" next to the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga 2015.

References

  1. ^ "OUR STORY". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  2. ^ Lana Kazlauskiene (27 August 2013). "Mākslas potenciāls Kuldīgā" (in Latvian). Diena (laikraksts). Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  3. ^ "Māksla / Diena". www.diena.lv. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  4. ^ a b c Kolbergs, Andris (1999). The Story of Riga. Rīga: Jāņa sēta Publishers and Printers Ltd. pp. 95–97. ISBN 9984-07-141-3.
  5. ^ Krastiņš, Jānis; Strautmanis, Ivars. Lielais Rīgas arhitektūras ceļvedis [Big Riga City Architecture Guidebook] (in Latvian). Rīga: PUSE, a/s" Preses nams" poligrafijas grupa Jāņa sēta. p. 120. ISBN 9984-527-61-1.
  6. ^ Wrong, Echo Gone (2013-12-12). "Art Academy of Latvia". Echo Gone Wrong. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  7. ^ "Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija: Faculties". Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2017-11-17.

56°57′17″N 24°06′39″E / 56.9547106°N 24.1109562°E / 56.9547106; 24.1109562


allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_Academy_of_Art