Ričardas Bartkevičius

Place: Vilnius

Born: 1959

Biography:

is a prominent Lithuanian painter and educator, born in 1959 in Vilnius. He demonstrated artistic talent since his early childhood and began his art studies in Vilnius at the School of J. Vienožinskis. The first personal exhibition was held in 1979, and in 1986 he graduated from the Painting Department of Vilnius Academy of Arts.

Early Influences and Style

During his studies, Bartkevičius got to know and was acquainted with leading figures of Lithuanian art such as Sofija Veiverytė, Algimantas Švėgžda, Antanas Gudaitis, Augustinas Savickas, and Jonas Čeponis. He was inspired by the works of El Greco, Tintoretto, and Peter Breigel, and later became interested in German, French, and Lithuanian representatives of Expressionism.

Career and Achievements

In 1982 and 1984, Bartkevičius visited Armenia and Georgia, where he was influenced by the medieval coloring and primitive art traditions. Since 1990, he has been a member of the Lithuanian Artists' Association, and in 1994, he initiated an artists' group "E" creation. He also became a member of the group "Individualists" in 1996. In 1999, Bartkevičius was awarded the annual prize from Lithuanian Artists' Association and received the State Grant of the Highest Degree. He again earned the State Grant of the Highest Degree in 2004. From 1990, he has been teaching at Vilnius Pedagogical University (Professor) and was a Head of the Department of Fine Arts for a long time.

Artistic Style and Themes

Bartkevičius' paintings are characterized by bright, pure colors, spontaneous expressive strokes, and a mix of traditional and modern elements. His works often appear abstract but on closer observation, figures subtly emerge. He juxtaposes tradition and modernity, and his paintings have a strong affinity with those of Francis Bacon and Willem de Kooning. The most interesting aspect of Bartkevičius' work is his mixture of religious and erotic themes.

• Prominent works: Ričardas Bartkevičius has created several notable works, including "On Bravery", which can be found on https://Wikioo.org.
• International recognition: Bartkevičius has been recognized internationally, with his works being part of the "Art Meeting East Europe" project in 2008.
• Teaching and education: Bartkevičius has been teaching at Vilnius Pedagogical University since 1990 and has been a Head of the Department of Fine Arts for a long time.

Important works by Ričardas Bartkevičius can be found in various collections, including The Collection of Speyer Municipality (Germany), Zimmerli Art Museum (USA), and Lithuanian Art Museum. His works are also part of private collections in Russia, Germany, France, Israel, Canada, USA, Denmark, Norway, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, and Lithuania.