From left: Dzintars Zilgalvis and Kriss Zilgalvis
The oeuvre of artists Dzintars Zilgalvis and Kriss Zilgalvis (father and son) could be compared to that of scientists for whom the research and creative process are equally as important as the end result. The instruments employed in their creative work are often comparable to those of other sectors, e.g. architecture, engineering and science. They have collaborated in working on several works of art and series. They have recently completed work in sculpture for Riga Cathedral, which is dedicated to Latvia’s independence and is made from one of the world’s biggest glass alloys of this type. Dzintars Zilgalvis’ (1956) works have been included in the collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art and in several collections around the world. Parallel to his regular involvement in exhibitions, Dzintars Zilgalvis runs the Arts Centre NOASS, the Latvian Video Art Database and Latvian Museum of Naïve Art (www.noass.lv).
Kriss Zilgalvis was born in Riga (1985), where he graduated in 2005 from art college as a video artist. He started his professional career as an artist with active works of performance art and using multimedia and installations in his creative work. Challenging himself in his visual art, Kriss studied and learned the fundamental principles of architecture and engineering in New York and London where he currently lives. This visibly influenced his creative output and the approaches he used in his works of art. Kriss Zilgalvis uses the knowledge he has acquired to execute inter-disciplinary works of art and to create works of art in the urban environment.
In creating individual projects and group shows, the artists actively collaborate with the University of Westminster, Fabrication Laboratory London, University of Latvia, the Technical University of Latvia, the engineering company ARUP (London) and the architecture firm GBA (London).
Follow: @krisszilgalvis
CV (SHORT)
DZINTARS ZILGALVIS
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & ART PROJECTS
2017 Rīga Cathedral’s New stained glass, A symbol of the restoration of Latvian independence (Riga, Latvia)
2015 “Stories told by water” (Riga, Latvia)
2011 “European Culture Canon” , in cooperation with Aigars Bikše (Riga City Council, Riga)
2010 “Paintings in Latvia 1950. -1990. from collection of The Artists’ Union of Latvia” (Riga Art Space, Riga)
2009 “From de facto to the iure” (The Latvian National Museum of Arts, Riga)
2004 “The Portrait of Blouse” (Vagnera Hall, Riga)
2003 “One night” (Talsi Museum, Talsi, Latvia)
2001 “Postmodernism” (Exhibition hall Arsenāls, Riga, Latvia)
1996 “Wallpaper Roses for The Beloved Girl” (Museum of Art Arsenāls, Riga, Latvia)
1995 “Monument”, 3rd Annual Soros Center for Contemporary Arts-Riga Exhibition City space of Riga, Latvian Museum of Photography (Riga, Latvia)
1994 “Autum ‘94” (Exhibition Hall LATVIJA, Riga, Latvia)
1993 “Peintures Lettones du Xxeme Siecle” (Paris, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, France)
1993 “Wedding” (Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia)
1990 “Latvian Painting” (Museum of Art Arsenāls, Riga, Latvia)
ACTIVITY
Since 2008 Director of Naïve Art Museum of Latvia
Since 2007 Cofounder of the Association of Non-Governmental Contemporary Culture Organisations.
Since 2006 Founder and chairman of the Board of Naïve Art Museum of Latvia
Since 2000 Director of International contemporary and video art festival “Waterpieces”
Since 1998 Founder and chairman of the Board of Culture and Arts Project NOASS
Since 1988 Member of Latvian Artist Union. Field of activity: painting, objects, installations
CV (SHORT)
KRIŠS ZILGALVIS
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & ART PROJECTS
2020 “STORIES TOLD BY THE NORTH SEA” (The North Sea, Aberdeen, Scotland)
2018 Rīga Cathedral’s New stained glass, A symbol of the restoration of Latvian independence (Riga, Latvia)
2015 “Stories told by water” (Riga, Latvia)
2011 “I N” (Swindon, UK)
2010 “Lighthouse” (Tallin, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Vilnius)
2009 “Survival Kit” (Riga, Latvia)
2008 “The Hole” (Seul, South Korea)
“I am here, the time is now” (Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
“The Holy White Cow” (Riga, Latvia)
2006 “Fin Fin Finlandia” (Lahti, Finland)
“The Factory AUSEKLIC/USINS” (Riga, Latvia)
“The Brain” (New York, USA)
2004 “The Incomer” (Paide, Estonia)
“The Princess, Diver and Dad” (Ventspils, Latvia)
EDUCATION
2016 – 2018 University of Westminster – Department of Architecture (March), London, UK
2008 – 2011 London Metropolitan University – Department of Architecture (BArch), London, UK
2007 Cornell University – Department of Architecture, Ithaca, USA
2001-2005 Art College – Visual Arts, Riga, Latvia
Website uses publicity materials from NOASS, ASCENDUM, personal archive and other friends.