Opening of the Exhibition “Riga. Autumn. Stars.”

On September 4th at 6:00 PM, artist Anita Paegle's solo exhibition “Riga. Autumn. Stars.” will be opened at the Ojārs Vācietis Museum, located at Ojārs Vācietis Street 19, Riga. The exhibition features illustrations for Māra Cielēna's book “The Smile of Sphinx Albert”, Juris Zvirgzdiņš's books “Winter Tale” and “Sleep Tale”, Inese Zandere's book “Cat on the Piano”, as well as personal and cherished items of the artist that have served as inspiration in her work.

“The exhibition will be a conversation with the viewer, both in thought and in person. It's like a walk through the city—from Ziedoņdārzs, along Čaka Street, past the mysterious houses on Alberta Street to the quiet streets of Pārdaugava. The first stars can be seen in the illustration with Māra's pond from Juris Zvirgzdiņš's book “Sleep Tale” and in the illustration for Inese Zandere's book “Cat on the Piano.” These are memories, adventures, desires, because in the illustrations time has stopped,” explains the artist.

Anita Paegle is a classic in Latvian illustration, beloved by more than one generation of readers. Born in 1956 in Riga, she graduated from the Janis Rozentāls Art High School in Riga and the Graphics Department of the Latvian Academy of Art. Since 1981, when her collaboration with the publishing house “Liesma” began, and later with publishers “Sprīdītis”, “Garā Pupa”, “Jāņa Sēta”, Anita Paegle has consistently cultivated her unique and inimitable style of illustration. She has illustrated more than 35 books for both children and adults, among which the original works of Māra Cielēna and Janis Baltvilks hold a significant place. Anita Paegle is one of the founders of the Janis Baltvilks Prize and has illustrated beloved children's magazines “Zīlīte” and “Ezis”. She has participated in the III and IV International Book Graphics Triennials in Vilnius, the Bratislava Illustration Biennials in 1999 and 2001, the European Illustration Biennial in Japan (2001), and the I, II, and III Tallinn Illustration Triennials in Estonia, where in 2003 she received a diploma for her illustrations for M. Cielēna's book “When the Queen Was in Riga”. The artist has had solo exhibitions in Latvia, France, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Russia. Anita Paegle has designed the graphic layout for two coins issued by the Bank of Latvia – the “Cradle Coin” (Latvian Coin of the Year 2013) and the “Fairy Tale Coin I. Five Cats” (Latvian Coin of the Year 2015).

For her illustrations in children's books, Anita Paegle has received numerous accolades and awards – the Spring Prize and the Pastariņš Award, the 1st prize in the Book Art Competition Golden Apple Tree 2005, and the Indriķis Zeberiņš Award, as well as prizes in the Baltic Most Beautiful Books competition. In 2000, for her illustrations for Māra Cielēna's book “The Night Watches of Clocks”, Anita Paegle was included in the IBBY Honor List of World Illustrators. For her contribution to the development of children's book art, she received the Baltvilks Award in 2005. She has been nominated for the highest international award in children's literature and illustration – the Hans Christian Andersen Award (2012, 2016), and received the Latvian Academy of Arts Award for Excellence (2014).

The exhibition is on view at the museum from August 4th to October 25th.