Ritums Ivanovs' painting is hyperrealistic yet unique. His focus is always on the interplay between the spectator, the portrayed person, and the artist. The captured emotions, which arise by looking at the finished artworks, are powerful testimonies of our time. Ivanovs lines up his scenes and portraits just like film sequences. By taking fragments of an indefinite reality, a new reality is emerging that casts a spell on the spectator like an untamed dream in a twilight sleep that you think you can influence. In the end you have experienced everything, uncertain about what is dream and what is reality. Ritums Ivanovs is a well-known Latvian painter who mostly works on large portraits based on photographs, using Photorealism and his self-invented linear technique. He most often uses a photo as a basis, yet sketches and paints his works completely freehand. The main subjects of Ritums Ivanovs’ works involve human emotions, in both dramatic and subtle styles. His images contain real people from his life (solo show “Girl”), photographic images from print material – from art history books (solo show “Heroes”) or from showbiz ads (portraits of the “Depeche Mode” musicians), and even from erotic magazines (solo show “Erotic film”). Ivanovs has twice been selected to paint Latvian Presidents for the Latvian Official State commission: in 2012 he painted Mr. Zatlers and in 2017 Mr. Berzins. The artist’s first solo exhibition took place in Riga Gallery in 1999, he has had 28 solo shows in Latvia and abroad, numerous group exhibitions and he regularly participates at art fairs. In 2009, a Ritums Ivanovs painting "Frame 05" was sold at the Sotheby's auction in London, verifying the quality of his oeuvre and paving the way to international success. Works are included in collections of Latvian National Museum of Art, Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, distinguished private collections in Latvia and abroad.
Born
October 17th, 1968 in Cesis, Latvia
Education
1980 – 87 Janis Rozentals Art School
1987 – 94 Latvian Art Academy
1994 – 95 Humboldt State University, CA, USA
1996 Master of Arts, Latvian Art Academy
1999
– now Member of Artists' Union of Latvia
Select personal exhibitions
2025 Mark Rothko Museum, Daugavpils, Latvia
2024 Gors, The Embassy of Latgale, Rezekne, Latvia
Make More Art. Bastejs Gallery, Jurmala, Latvia
2023 Contemplating Portraiture. Kuldiga Art House, Latvia
2022 Contemplating Portraiture. Art Station Dubulti, Jurmala, Latvia2018 White Light. Bastejs Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Andris Bērziņš. State commission of President's portrait. Presidential Castle, Riga, Latvia
2017 Insights. Feld+Haus Gallery, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2016 Galerie Kohler, Geneva, Switzerland
Connect. Bastejs Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2013 Symbol of Illusion, Bastejs Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Symbol of Illusion, Rietumu Bank Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2012 Public and Private. Valdis Zatlers. State commission of President's portrait. Gallery Riga, Latvia
2012 GAGA DANCE. Gallery Riga, Latvia
2011 AMY. KATE. GAGA. Gallery Riga, Latvia
2011 LIGHTS ON. Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Doha, Qatar
2010 STARS. LIGHTS ON. Gallery Riga, Latvia
2008 Dreamers, Gallery Riga, Latvia/Catalogue
2005 Exposed, Gallery Riga, Latvia/Catalogue
2004 Optical Diffusion, Gallery Eva Poll, Berlin, Germany /Catalogue
Retrospektive, Gallery Centrs, Riga, Latvia
2003 Paintings, Warsaw National Library, Poland
Picasso+ Ivanovs+ Amelkovics, Gallery Pedants, Riga, Latvia
2002 Erotic Movie, Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia/Catalogue
Depeche Mode paintings, L’Artiste, Tallinn, Estonia
2001 The Heroes, Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia/Catalogue
Optical Energy, Gallery Cite des Arts, Paris, France
Paintings, Tsink Plekk Pang, Tartu, Estonia
1998 Renaissance 2000, Gallery M6, Riga, Latvia
1997 Solo show, Daugava Gallery
1996 The First, Gallery Rīgas Vīni, Riga, Latvia
Select group exhibitions
2023"ROTKHO. Made in Latvia". Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre in cooperation with the Daile Theatre, Riga
2022
Painting exhibition "Plein Air", Cesis Exhibition Hall / Latvia
Casein painting workshop celebrating Vilhelms Purvītis, Cesis /Latvia
2021
Paper Positions, Basel, Switzerland with Bastejs Gallery, Rīga / Latvia
ArtVilnius, Lithuania with Bastejs Gallery, Rīga / Latvia
2020
Spezifikation #39. Curator’s Choice. Feld+Haus Gallery, Frankfurt am Main / Germany
Karosta Water Tower, Karosta festival, Liepāja / Latvia
Painters' workshop, Cesis / Latvia
2019
Carrying Light, XV Latvian Song Festival in Canada, Hilton Toronto / Canada
Transformation, large-scale works of the Cesis Plein Air, forest near Rūcamavots, Cesis / Latvia
Zīmējums, Kuldīga Artists' Residence / Latvija
2018
Portraiture in Latvia. 20th century. Latvian National Museum of Art, Rīga / Latvia
Luxembourg Art Fair, Bastejs Gallery, Riga / Latvia
Man in Art, XO gallery, Riga / Latvia
Kiev Art Fair, gallery ArtPromotion02 / Ukraine
2017
Hyperrealism. LNMM Arsenāls, Riga / Latvia
Top In Formation. The Zuzāns' collection. Latvian National Museum of Art, Rīga / Latvia
From Head to Toe. Human figures in the Würth Collection. Museum Würth Erstein / France
Scope Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland with Bastejs Gallery, Riga / Latvia
Context Art Fair, New York, USA with Bastejs Gallery, Riga / Latvia
Luxembourg Art Fair, Luxembourg with Bastejs Gallery, Riga / Latvia
Heritage, Cesis Exhibition hall / Latvia
Wind of Wind, Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku / Azerbaijan
Experimental sidestep, Putti Gallery, Riga / Latvia
2016
Scope Art Fair, Miami, USA with Bastejs Gallery, Riga / Latvia
2013
NordArt, Kunstwerk Carlshütte / Germany
Interaction, art centre cARTc, Budapest / Hungary
Values. Best artworks of 2012, Gallery Riga, Riga / Latvia
From Head to Toe, Wurth Collection, Schwäbisch Hall / Germany
2012
Riga airport VIP centre, Riga / Latvia
Summer Exhibition, Gallery Riga, Riga / Latvia
Art Takes Times Square, NY / USA
"Is it that he does not seek the truth, but does want to influence?", Riga Art Space, Riga / Latvia
2010
14th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
International art exhibition BUDAPEST ART FAIR 2010 Heroes Corner Section, Budapest / Hungary
Territory of Art, Volkhonka Fine Art Centre, Moscow / Russia
Effect of Synergy, Jurmala City Museum, Jurmala / Latvia
2009
13th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Sotheby’s exhibition-sale, 5th - 9th June, London / UK
Scope Art Fair, Basel / Switzerland
Scope Art Fair, Miami / USA
2008
12th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Art Now, New York / USA
2007
11th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Europart, Geneva Palexo / Switzerland
Drawings, Jurmala City Museum / Latvia
Innsbruck International Art Fair / Austria
2006
10th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Visions and Reality, Pulchri Studio, The Hague / Netherlands
Power of Body, Riga Gallery / Latvia
2005
Patient Bureau, 9th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
8th International Print Biennale, Kaliningrad / Russia
No Painting, Tallinna Kunstihoone, Tallinn / Estonia
Now art now future, Print, Edsvik Konsthall / Sweden
Travelling exhibition, Essen / Germany
New Life, Palazzo Reale, Napoli / Italy
Salt of life, Gallery Vartai, Vilnius / Lithuania
Art on paper, Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia
Miniature, Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia
2004
Line Art Fair, Gent / Belgium
Fresh Art Fair, Business Design Centre, London / UK
Extension is More Fine Arts, project "Gallery Tour of the Ten", International Club of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Berlin / Germany
Art of the Ten, project Gallery Tour of the Ten, City Hall Gallery, Munich / Germany
8th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Rape of Europe, Eskilstuna Art Museum, Eskilstuna / Sweden
Adaption! Latvian Art Now, Estonian Art Museum, Tallinn / Estonia
Latvian Art Invasion, Art House, Tartu / Estonia
Painters, Latvian embassy, St. Petersburg / Russia
2003
Masks, 7th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of the Artists, Moscow / Russia
Adaptation, Exhibition Hall Rotterman Salt Storage, Tallinn / Estonia
Line Art Fair, Gent / Belgium
Fresh Art Fair, Business Design centre, London / UK
Latvian Art Invasion, Art House, Tartu / Estonia
2002
Nothing Personal, Städtische Galerie im Buntentor, Bremen / Germany
Latvia. Surprising Art from the 20th Century, Zvolle City Museum, Zvolle / The Netherlands
Fresh Art, Business Design Centre, London / UK
2001
Identity, Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia
New Reality. Identification, 5th International Contemporary Art Exhibition ART MOSCOW, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Interspace, State Museum of Art Exhibition Hall Arsenals, Riga / Latvia
2000
Baltic Art. Contemporary Paintings and Sculptures, National Art Club, New York; International Monetary Fund
Gallery, Washington / USA
Awards
2020 Winner of Latvian Authors' Society AKKA/LAA "Copyright Infinity Award 2020"
Winner of "Cesis Art Prize"
2013
Painting of the Year, organised by Agija Suna Gallery and Swedbank Private Banking (Riga, Latvia)
2003
Estonian Ministry of Culture, letter of acknowledgement from Urmas Paet
2000
Ministry of Culture, Latvia, Residence Grant
1998
Exhibition Art Nouveau in Riga, Gallery Riga, Latvia / 1st prize/
1995
Juried Exhibition Reese Bullen Gallery, Arcata, CA / USA
Select Collections
Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga / LatviaState Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow / Russia
Estonian National Museum of Art, Tallinn / Estonia
Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, Riga / Latvia
Private Museum, Münster / Germany
Funcke Collection, Frankfurt / Germany
Würth Collection, Germany
Linnar Viik Collection, Tallinn / Estonia
Matti Milius Collection, Tartu / Estonia
The Zuzāns' Collection / Latvia
The Leiškalns Collection / Latvia
The Plaudis Collection / Latvia
LMT Corporate Collection / Latvia
Swedbank Corporate Collection / Latvia
Valerijs Kargins Collection / Latvia
Trubek Collection, Houston / Texas, USA
Artist catalogues
RITUMS IVANOVS. CONTEMPLATING PORTRAITURE. Riga: 2023
RITUMS IVANOVS. LIGHTS ON. Riga: 2011
RITUMS IVANOVS. DREAMERS. Riga: Riga Gallery, 2008
RITUMS IVANOVS. EXPOSED. Riga: Riga Gallery, 2005
RITUMS IVANOVS. THE HEROES. Riga Gallery, 2001
RITUMS IVANOVS. A GIRL. Riga Gallery, 2000
Residencies
2000 Artist residency at Cité International des Arts, Paris / France
2015 Artist Residency in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Select Editions
"Portrait in Latvia. 20th century. Facial Expressions", Latvian National Museum of Art, 2018 From Head to Toe. Human Images in the Focus of Würth Collection. Germany: 2012
Creaent: Creative Industries of Latvia. SSE Riga, Latvia: 2012
ART MOSCOW catalogue. Moscow: 2004
No Painting, catalogue. Tallinn: 2005
Galerienrundgang der Zehn catalogue. Berlin: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Kultur im erweiterten Europa e.V., 2004.
The Rape of Europe catalogue. Riga: Riga Gallery, 2004.
Latvian Art, 20th century. Riga: Neputns, 2002.
Nichts Persönliches (Nothing Personal) catalogue. Riga: Riga Gallery, 2002.
Identity catalogue. Riga: Riga Gallery, 2001