Rīgas Galerija

RITUMS IVANOVS

RITUMS IVANOVS: "inspiration from unknown , depth of human life, secret and consciousness of a moment, beauty of light, imprint of self-consciousness, analysis of collective memory, exploration of colourful universe, poetry of existence"

Ritums Ivanovs (b. 1968) is the most popular Latvian painter of the new generation. He studied for one academic year at the prestigious Humboldt University (USA) after the graduation from the Latvian Art Academy (1994).

In his works he integrates precise, Hyperrealist depiction of reality, effects of magnified views of particular frames and Op Art techniques. Working in his self-invented linear technique, he paints portraits and nudes on especially large-size canvases (“1/24” – 145 x 250 cm, “She is Sleeping” – 145 x 250 cm). To develop the idea of a painting, the artist uses camera but the painting itself is hand-made.

The main subjects of Ritums Ivanovs’ works are human emotions, different emotional moods. His images are real people from his life (solo show “Girl”), photographic images from printed stuff – from art history books (solo show “Heroes”) or from show business advertisements (portraits of the “Depeche Mode” participants), even from erotic magazines (solo show “Erotic film”).

The artist’s first solo exhibition “To Be and to Look” took place at the Riga Gallery in 1999 (catalogue). The next solo show “Girl” was in 2000 (catalogue) and then “Heroes” in 2001 (catalogue).
Ivanovs’ exhibition “Erotic film” took place at the Riga Gallery in October 2002. This exhibition was demonstrated as part of the Riga Gallery project “Masks” at the 7th International Exhibition of Contemporary Art “Art Moscow 2003”.
One of these works "Frame 05" has sold in internacional auction house Sotheby`s sale at June 09 Year 2009 in London.

Ritums Ivanovs' latest solo exhibition "Optical Diffusion" took place at Galerie Eva Poll, Berlin.
The artist had solo shows at galleries in Paris (1993, 2001), California (1995). His works had been included in notable group exhibitions – in the international art project "Gallery Tour of the Ten" in Berlin and Munich (2004); in the show of Latvian art “New Reality. Identification” at the 5th International Exhibition of Contemporary Art “Art Moscow” at the Central Artists’ House in Moscow (2001); in the multi-media exhibition of Latvian art “Nothing Personal” at the Bremen Municipal Gallery (2002), in the young artists’ exhibition “Fresh Art” at the Business Design Center in London (2002, 2003), at the Gallery Stairs & Co in London (1998). etc.

Ritums Ivanovs’ works are included in collections of Latvian National Museum of Art, State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, private museum in Munster, The Würth Collection in Germany, private collections in Latvia and abroad.

EXHIBITIONS

DREAMERS
EXPOSED
OPTICAL DIFFUSION
STARS. LIGHTS ON
IZLASE / SELECTION
AMY, KATE, GAGA...
GAGA DANCE...
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE