Welcome to the Art Museums of Latvia

Exhibition, Dismantling the Wall. Latvian Art 1985–1991, is on display in the left wing halls of the 2nd floor of the main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga (Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1), which tells about the processes in Latvian contemporary art during the period of socio-political change.

The Ancient Greek and Roman Art Chamber is situated on the third floor of the museum and introduces the visitors to Ancient Greek pottery, Ancient Greek and Roman coins as well as marble sculptures from the collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art.

The exhibition of works by the outstanding artist and thinker Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947) is located on the third floor of the museum. The tranquillity of this room helps viewers to delve into the Himalayan peaks created by the master with an amazingly clean tempera palette.

On the fourth floor in the former safe room, which has been transformed into the Silverware Chamber, is a display of items from the museum’s precious metals collection, covering the period from the late 17th century until the early 20th century. The items were made in the Russian Empire, including the Baltics and Europe.

The Asian Art Gallery is situated at the 3rd floor of the museum and introduces the visitors with the sizeable Asian Art Collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art.

The Ancient Egypt Chamber is located in one of the three large safes of the former Riga stock exchange. The doors decorated in neo-Gothic style have retained their original form allowing us to visualise the time when it was an important and well-guarded room.

In 2012 the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE acquired a new, permanent and internationally renowned highlight – the artwork Gondola by the world-famous Russian artist Dmitry Gutov.

The European Art Gallery is located in the most luxurious rooms of the former Riga stock exchange building on the fourth floor.

The permanent exhibition in the main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art shows the richness of the museum's collection, the history of its formation as well as the most outstanding achievements of national art from the end of the 18th century to the end of the 20th century.

World War I brought difficult challenges for the Latvian people, which inspired a strong wave of national self-consciousness in artists. Jāzeps Grosvalds was the first to take up the pressing subject of refugees and riflemen in painting. Jēkabs Kazaks, who was significantly influenced by contemporary French painting, also turned to depiction of the dramatic historical events.

During World War I, many Latvian artists ended up in Russia, but most returned to Latvia following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Latvian artists – Gustavs Klucis, Kārlis Johansons and Aleksandrs Drēviņš – chose to stay in Soviet Russia and to take part in the formation of Russian avant-garde art.

Antique and Renaissance Plaster Cast Exhibition.

The exhibition of seven granite sculptures introduces the artwork of the 2nd half of the 20th century, created by the sculptors Laimons Blumbergs, Ojārs Feldbergs, Lilija Līce, Ojārs Siliņš, Juris Zihmanis, and Zenta Zvāra.

The exhibition can be seen on the 4th floor of the museum and offers a selection of paintings that give an insight into the extensive art collection of Friedrich Wilhelm Brederlo.

Hundreds of “Rīgas audums” printed fabric patterns give us an idea about the fashion, leading art styles, technological development of the time, and tell us about textile artists’ creativeness.

Exhibition Design Process on the 3rd floor of the museum tells the story of Latvian design in the period from the 1960s until nowadays.

Exhibition Classical Values on the 2nd floor of the museum tells the story of Latvian decorative applied arts in the period from the end of the 19th century until the 1960s.

The Romans Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova Museum display looks at three aspects of the artists’ lives: creative work, social life and family.