Franceska Kirke
Painting is a field of surreptitious fortuity. It is a choice. Supposition. A game in which I set the rules and violate them. Painting means adventures, losses, discoveries. Gradually, bit by bit, discarding all superfluous matter, emerges the image, shade, line, light, silhouette, pieces of texture, containing a paraphrase of some thought. The tragic and grotesque situations recur. The image of a hero multiplied and reproduced many times becomes a travesty; a ridiculous small man may turn into a tragic image. I like to take a classical plot and turn it inside out, see what will become of it. To play the persecutor instead of the victim. Thus, I can entertain myself; I would willingly make a series from each of my works. The number of variants is infinite: one excluding the other, reducing the theme to absurdity. /KIRKE/
Curriculum Vitae
Born in 1953 in Riga, Latvia
EDUCATION
1985 - 1987 Latvian Academy of Art. Eduards Kalnins workshop
1972 - 1978 Latvian Academy of Art. Riga, Latvia
1965 - 1972 Jānis Rozentāls Riga secondary school of Art. Riga, Latvia
EXHIBITIONS
Major solo:
2019 FRAGILE, Art Museum RIGA BOURSE
2018
Transform, Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Somebody, Art XO gallery, Riga, Latvia
2017
REVISE,Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Revise, Gallery Raab, Berlin, Germany
2015
MODERN FAIRY TALES, Gallery BASTEJS, Riga, Latvia
2014
LA FIESTA. Gallery Maksla XO, Riga, Latvia
2013
Digging the past. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
2012
New works. Gallery Sacchetti, Ascona, Switzerland
Looking at 60ies. Mimi Fertz Gallery, New York, USA
2011
FACE CONTROL. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
2007
Dedication to the Hermitage. Gallery NOMИ, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Museum Transit. Uldis Pilens`Office, Liepaja, Latvia
2006
Private Mythology. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2004
One. Gallery TT, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003
The Vanishing. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Applied Art`. Gallery Daugava, Riga, Latvia
New and Old Works. Gallery Sachetti, Ascona, Switzerland
2002
Museum. Mimi Ferzt Gallery, New York, USA
Museum. Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia
2000
Appropriated Images. Mimi Ferzt Gallery, New York, USA
1998
Impossible Meetings. Mimi Ferzt Gallery, New York, USA
1997
Restoration. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
1995
InSearch of Lost Time. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Trajectory of Angels. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
1988
Dieter Hildebrandt Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
Dieter Hildebrandt Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
Selected group exhibitions:
2018
Language, Mukusala Art salon, Riga
2017
Hyperrealism subject in Latvia, LVNM, Exhibition hall Arsenal, Riga
ART New York, Context Art Fair, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, New York
SCOPE Basel Art Fair, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Basel, Switzerland
Art Zurich, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Zurich, Switzerland
2016
START Art Fair at Saatchi gallery, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, London
The SOLO PROJECT, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Basel, Switzerland
International Art Fair Warsau, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Warsaw
2015
SCOPE NEW YORK Art Fair. Represented by Gallery Bastejs, New York, USA
SCOPE BASEL Art Fair. Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Basel, Switzerland
ART FAIR BUDAPEST, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Budapest, Hungary
IMAGO MUNDI” LUCIANO BENETTON COLLECTION, CINI FOUNDATION, VENICE,Italy
PARAPHRASES. Latvian Culture projects, Gallery Vartai, Vilnius, Lithuania
Self-Portrait. Gallery XO, Riga, Latvia
2014
SCOPE BASEL Art Fair, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Basel, Switzerland
SCOPE MIAMI BEACH Art Fair. Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Miami, USA
Humor. An exhibition of visual Wit. Mimi Fertz Gallery, New York, USA
Money Design. PIN Code. The Bank of Latvia, Museum of Ventspils Latvia
2013
Pink. Art XO Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Deceptive Silence. Uldis Pilens` Office, Museum of Liepaja, Latvia
Ls 20. Years of National Currency Art. The Bank of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
2012
Berliner Liste, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Berlin, Germany
Women.Space. Exhibition marking the anniversary of the Santa magazine,Riga, Latvia
2011
St-Art fair, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Strasbourg, France
Hybrid Flights. Arsenals Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga, Latvia
Thick Space. Collection of Dr.Guntis Belēvičs. Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga, Latvia
Red. Mimi Fertz Gallery, New York, USA
2010
Red Dot Art Fair New York. Gallery Bastejs, New York, USA
Golden Works. Latvian National Museum of Art Exhibition Hall Arsenals, Riga,Latvia
Figure. Painting, Sculpture, Graphic. Gallery Daugava, Riga, Latvia
Art Moscow. Riga Gallery, Moscow, Russia
The Synergy Effect. Riga Gallery, the Museum of Jūrmala, Latvia
By the Amber Sea:1990-2010. Arsenal Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga, Latvia
2009
Scope Miami Art Show. Gallery Bastejs, Miami, USA
Paintings. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Painting on Wood. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Berliner Liste. Gallery Bastejs, Berlin, Germany
Tuareg Blue. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Artist. Portrait. Self-portrait. ARSENĀLS Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga, Latvia
2008
Contemporary Painting of Latvia. Organized by Gallery Daugava, Moye Museum, Vienna, Austria
Art Moscow. Gallery Riga, Moscow, Russia
Beauty. The Cēsis Art Festival, Cēsis, Latvia
Artemy Troicky's collection. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
2007
Echoes of Fauvism. Latvian National Art Museum Exhibition Hall Arsenals, Riga, Latvia
Art Moscow. Gallery Riga, Moscow, Russia
2006
Painting from Latvia “Visions & Reality”. Publichi Studio, Hague, Netherlands
Art Moscow. Gallery Riga, Moscow, Russia
Project "The Force of Body ". Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Mexico Annotations. XO Art Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Public Mirrors. Posters. 1863-2006. Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Rīga
2005
Dispute. XO Art Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Art Moscow. Gallery Riga, Moscow, Russia
Art Nocturne Knocke. Gallery Bastejs, Knocke, Belgium
Museum Time. LNMM, Riga, Latvia
2004
Still Life. Arsenals, The 20th-21th centuries. Arsenals Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Rīga
Women Painting Women. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Art Moscow. Gallery Riga, Moscow, Russia
Line Art Gent. Gallery Bastejs, Gent, Belgium
Art Nocturne Knocke. Gallery Bastejs, Knocke, Belgium
Challenge the Nail Exhibition 2004. Salon des Arts with imperial College, London, England
2003
Abstractionism in Latvian Painting. Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga, Latvia
Wild Photographers. The Sapņu Fabrika centre for contemporary culture, Riga, Latvia
Art Nocturne Knocke. Gallery Bastejs, Knocke, Belgium
Line Art Gent. Gallery Bastejs, Gent, Belgium
2002
Latvia. Surprising Art from 20th Century. Zwolle City Museum, Zwolle, Netherlands
9th Rauma Biennial Basic Elements. Rauma, Finland
Witnesses of an Age.LNMM, Riga, Latvia
Small Works. Mimi Ferzt Gallery, New York, USA
2001
Interval. LNMM, Riga, Latvia
Mask. Represented by Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Drawing. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
Line Art Gent. Gallery Bastejs, Gent, Belgium
Metropolis. Riga. Riga Stock Exchange House, Riga, Latvia
Latvian Contemporary Art. The Office of Günter Verheugen, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
1999
World Premiere. Baltic Arts Exhibition. Contemporary Painting and Sculpture. National Arts Club, New York; Internationa Monteray Fund Gallery, Washington, USA
Past- Present- Feature. Three Painters from Riga. Gallery Egelund, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Joy of Being. State Art Museum, Riga, Latvia
Line Art Centre. Gallery Bastejs, Ghent, Belgium
1998
Exhibition of Latvian contemporary art. Gallery Daugava. Newcastle, Edinburgh, London, UK
Nude. Mimi Ferzt Gallery, New York, USA
Line Art Gent. Gallery Bastejs, Gent, Belgium
2nd All-Latvian Art exhibition, Latvia Exhibition Hall, Riga, Latvia
1997
Latvian Contemporary Art. Grande Salle de l'Aubette, Strasbourg; Maison du Danemark, Paris, France
Celebrating Still Life. Mimi Ferzt Gallery. New York, USA
Line Art Gent. Gallery Bastejs, Gent, Belgium
Ballet. Riga Stock Exchange, Riga, Latvia
John, Hulio, Juris and Villijs. Club “Slepenais eksperiments”, Riga, Latvia
Opera.5thual Exhibition of the Soros Centre for Contemporary Art Rīga, Dailes Theatre, Rīga
Melancholy. Contemporary Painting from the Baltic States. Friedrich-Ebert–Stiftung Galerie, Bonn, Germany
1996
Baltic Days. UNESCO Exhibition Hall, Paris, France
Women Painting Women, Mimi Ferzt Gallery, New York, USA
Stockholm Art Fair. Gallery Bastejs, Stockholm, Sweden
23 Latvian artists. Gallery Daugava, Sala Millares, Madrid, Spain
Art After a Century. Art Nouveau in Baltics Conference. Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia
1995
Monument. 3rd Annual Exhibition of the Soros Centre for Contemporary Art Riga. City environment. Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga
Stockholm Art Fair. Gallery Bastejs, Stockholm, Sweden
Art Frankfurt International Art Fair. Gallery Bastejs, Frankfurt Main, Germany
1994
State. 2nd Annual Exhibition of the Soros Centre for Contemporary Art Riga. Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of LNMM, Riga, Latvia
Europ Art. Gallery Bastejs, Geneva, Switzerland
Stockholm Art Fair. Gallery Bastejs, Stockholm, Sweden
Contemporary Art from Latvia. Gallery Morphy, Limassol, Cyprus
Artists Help Artists. Art from Riga. Alborg Kunstpavilion, Husets Gallery, Aalborg, Denmark
Art Frankfurt, Gallery Bastejs, Frankfurt Main, Germany
1993
20th Century Latvian Painting. Paris, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, France
20th Century Latvian Painting. Paris, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, France
Stockholm Art Fair. Gallery Bastejs, Stockholm, Sweden
Art Frankfurt. Gallery Bastejs, Frankfurt, Germany
The Art Myth Art Fair. Gallery Bastejs, Moscow, Russia
1992
Latvian Painting. Salzburg, Austria
Group Exhibition of painters. Factura Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium
1991
Russian and Latvian Artists. Granovsky Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Soviet Russian Artist, Granovsky Gallery, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Hong Kong Chi
1990
1st All- Latvian Art Exhibition. State Art Museum, Riga, Latvia
Group exhibition by Latvian Artists. Neuss City Gallery, Neuss, Germany
Art Hamburg International Art Fair. Dieter Hildebrandt Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
Gallery Express. Avant-Guarde: Painting. Sculpture. Sovavangard Art Gallery, Moscow
1989
Cleveland International Drawing Biennial. Cleveland, UK
Lāčplēsis. Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of State Art Museum, Riga, Latvia
Contemporary Soviet Painters from Riga. Eduard Nakhamkin Fine Arts Gallery, NewYork, USA
Exhibition of Latvian Art. Express Avangard Gallery, Vienna, Austria
The Nude in Latvian Painting. LSSR State Art Museum, Riga
1988 Moscow on Alster. Five Soviet Painters in Hamburg Hamburger Hof, Hamburg
Moscow on Alster. Five Soviet Painters in Hamburg Hamburger Hof, Hamburg,Germany
Post-Traditionalism. Group exhibition of Young Latvian Painters. Central House of Artists, Moscow
1987
7th Poster Triennal of the Baltic Republics. Latvia Exhibition Hall, Riga
1986
7th Watercolour Exhibition of the Baltic Republics, Latvia Exhibition Hall, Riga
1985
Youth. 3rd Exhibition of Young Baltic Artists. State Art Museum of the Lithuanian SSR
Youth. 3rd Exhibition of Young Baltic Artists. State Art Museum of the Lithuanian SSR
3rd International Drawing Triennal. Kunsthalle Nurnberg, Nurnberg, Germany
2nd Exhibition of Young Artists from GDR and the USSR. Neuen Berliner Galerie im Alte Museum, Berlin, Germany
Exhibition of works by Francisks Varslavāns, Večella Varslavāne, Gunārs Kirke and Frančeska Kirke. Rēzekne Local History Museum, Rēzekne, Latvia
Exhibitionof the Department of Monumental Painting of the State Academy of Art of the LSSR. The Artists House, Riga
1984
6th Poster Triennal of the Baltic Republics. Exhibition. Tallinn, Estonia
6th Republican Book-Art Exhibtion. The Artists House, Riga
The Art of Soviet Latvia. Central House of the Artist, Moscow
Incident No. 1.The Eduards Smiļģis Theatre Museum, Riga, Latvia
Nature. Environment. Man. St. Peter’s Church, Riga, Latvia
1983
The Art of Soviet Latvia. Leningrad, Russia
1980
Portrait and Self – Portraits. State Museum of Arts of the Latvian SSR, Riga, Latvia
PROJECTS AND EXHIBITIONS (AS CURATOR)
2021 CONTEMPORARY ATR RUHR. CAR, Represented by Gallery Bastejs, ESSEN, Germany
2000
Centenary of Francisks Varslavāns Birt. Gallery Daugava, Riga, Latvia
2001
Mask. Gallery Bastejs, Riga, Latvia
Metropolis. Riga. Riga Exchange Building, Riga, Latvia
2003
Wild Photographers. Dream Factory, centre for culture, Riga, Latvia
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Latvian National Museum of Art. Riga, Latvia
Latvia Artists' Union Museum. Riga, Latvia
Collection of the Bank of Latvia
The Swedbank Art Collection, Riga, Latvia
Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA
The State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow, Russia
Collection of Māris Andersons
Collection of Ainārs Gulbis
Collection of Artemy Troitsky
Collection of Guntis Belēvičs
Collection of Luciano Benetton
Collection of Uldis Pīlēns
Collection of Guntis Rāvis
Collection of zuzāns family
AWARDS
2001
Gold Medal of the Latvian Artists Union for Museum solo exhibition at the Latvian
National Museum of Art
2002
Annual Latvian Artists Union Award for outstanding curators work on the Metropolis.Riga, Latvia