Until April 26 of this year, the Angel Museum – Center of Sacred Art (11 Vilniaus St., Anykščiai) invites you to visit an exhibition showcasing sketches, drawings, and paintings created by artist Adomas Galdikas (1893–1969) during the 1950s–1970s in exile. The works are part of the collection of the Samogitian Museum ALKA.
Adomas Galdikas (1893–1969) was one of the most prominent figures in modern Lithuanian art – a painter, graphic artist, and set designer – and among the first to strive for a synthesis between folk art and the achievements of modernism. His versatility is evident in the breadth of his creative work: he was a prolific painter throughout his life, engaged deeply in graphic arts (including printmaking, book illustration, posters), and designed postage stamps and Lithuanian banknotes. He also created scenography for more than 15 productions at the State Theatre and was actively involved in art education. His creative repertoire included still lifes and large-scale panels for Lithuanian pavilions at international exhibitions in Paris and New York. While landscape painting was his primary focus, he also explored portraiture and figurative compositions to a lesser extent.
Galdikas’ artistic evolution was shaped by numerous 20th-century modernist movements. His innate curiosity and keen interest in the international art scene – fostered through travel and frequent visits to exhibitions abroad – led to a range of stylistic shifts throughout his career. He continually sought a personal style by fusing modern and folk art traditions. Starting with realism, symbolism, and impressionism in his early work, his painting later evolved into a form of neo-romantic expressionism, enriched with elements of cubism, fauvism, and art deco.
This exhibition is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late cultural patron Beatričė Kleizaitė-Vasaris. A rare figure among Lithuanian émigré cultural leaders, she returned to Lithuania during the years of national revival and dedicated herself to revitalizing its cultural life and supporting the arts. During this period, she became acquainted with and befriended distinguished Lithuanian artists such as Adomas Galdikas, Vytautas Ignas (Ignatavičius), Vytautas Kašuba, Kazimieras Jonynas, and others, taking a deep interest in their work as an art historian. Thanks to her efforts, many works by Lithuanian artists living abroad were brought back to Lithuania. As a devoted émigré cultural advocate, she returned thousands of artworks to Lithuanian museums. The vast art collection she personally assembled—over 400 pieces—was gifted to the art gallery that now bears her name.
