Permanent exhibitions

Museum gallery room with paintings in gilded frames on white walls, a wooden floor, a sculpture on a pedestal, and a padded bench in the foreground.

Latvian Art 1780–1915

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.

A large stone bear sculpture stands in the foreground of an art gallery room, with several framed paintings hanging on the white walls behind it.

Latvian National Museum of Art

Latvian Art 1915–1940

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.

Izstādes zāle ar 20. gadsimta mākslas darbiem — gleznām, fotomontāžām un konstruktīvisma iedvesmotām telpiskām instalācijām, eksponētām uz baltām sienām un koka grīdas fona.

Latvian National Museum of Art

Latvian Modernists in Russia in the 1920s and 30s

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.