Celebrating the 100th anniversary of artist Valdis Bušs, a new exhibition of the painter's works, organized in collaboration with the "Art Platz" Gallery, will be on display from 29 October to 5 January at the Mežaparks Great Bandstand Exhibition Hall.
Bušs is one of the most prominent Latvian landscape painters who firmly established himself in the history of Latvian art. Deeply influenced by early 20th-century French art and local authors, the artist developed his own expressive style. Each of his paintings is a vibrant expression of his emotional state, captured through virtuoso brushstrokes, a rich colour palette, and dynamic textures. His works are not just expressive and dynamic, they are alive with energy and captivate the viewer.
"I must admit, to my satisfaction, that I am moving into a new quality... painting has become safe, the relationship is strong, and the colouring has changed for the better. Yes, I have to paint freely, with a broad scope, take the relationships unerringly, make the most of the colours." – Valdis Bušs.
Bušs loved what he depicted in his paintings – enthusiastic landscapes, the creation of his vision of the splendour of Latvian nature. He also painted flowers and still lifes, less frequently turning to figurative compositions and nudes. Since childhood, he has been charmed by the beauty of nature – the sun, the blossoming birch trees, the greenery of spring, the gloominess of winter, and the colourful autumn. Bušs referred to nature as his constant model.
"Valdis Bušs enters painting with a special personal vision of the landscape – bright, brilliant, very personal. It could be said that with his painting, he seems to have a renewal of colour and space. He confidently uses the findings of abstract painting in his art and more than anyone else accustoms the viewer to see nature through Bušs' eyes." – Džemma Skulme.
Valdis Bušs (1924–2014) was born in Latgale, near Viļaka. In 1945, he began studying at the Latvian Academy of Art but did not graduate as he followed his beloved bride to Siberia. In 1955, the artist returned to Latvia with his family and lived in Jūrmala until the end of his life. Bušs turned to active creative work in the 1970s, during which he painted around 5,000 works and sketches, held over 40 solo exhibitions, and participated in 120 group exhibitions in Latvia and abroad. His works are featured in private and public collections worldwide, including the Jūrmala Museum (Jūrmala, Latvia), the Art Platz Gallery (Riga, Latvia), the Viļaka Regional Museum (Viļaka, Latvia), the Swedbank Contemporary Art Collection (Riga, Latvia), and the Dahlmann-Roth private collection (Brussels, Belgium).