Biography
Latvian painter and watercolourist Valters Uzticis was born on 19 July 1914 in Daugavpils into a working-class family but spent most of his life in Liepāja. From 1932 to 1936, he studied at the Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art, and Design, while also working as a decorator at the Liepāja City Drama and Opera Theatre. He later continued his education at the Art Academy of Latvia, graduating in 1943 from the Figurative Painting Masterclass led by scenographer and painter Ludolfs Liberts (1895–1959).
After completing his studies in Riga, Uzticis returned to the Kurzeme region, where he worked as a teacher at the Kuldīga Secondary School of Fine Arts (1950–1952) and the Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art, and Design (1952–1989). During this time, he also worked as a scenographer at the Liepāja Theatre (1962–1967) and as a book illustrator.
The artist died on 8 December 1991 in Liepāja.[1]
Artistic style
Uzticis began participating in exhibitions in 1943, the year he graduated from the Art Academy. He organised solo exhibitions in Jelgava, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Saldus, and Tukums, and also took part in several group exhibitions of watercolourists.[2] A realist in his artistic approach, Uzticis worked in both oil and watercolour. He primarily focused on landscapes and historical scenes but also produced portraits, nudes, and figurative compositions. His works depict Latvian nature, rural life, and – true to his identity as a resident of Liepāja – numerous views of the port and the sea.
Interesting Facts
Although he initially studied architecture, Uzticis preferred art and chose to continue his education at the Art Academy of Latvia.
The Liepāja Museum holds the largest collection of Uzticis’s works, which were once presented to the museum by his daughter.[3]
The author was included in the selection of The most prominent Liepāja artists of the 20th century by the newspaper Kurzemes Vārds.[4]
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[1] Uzticis, Valters // Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās, III / Atb. red. A. Vanaga. Rīga: A/S Preses nams, 2000.–249.lpp.
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://irliepaja.lv/kultura/valtera-uztica-100-jubileja-muzejs-piedava-akvarelu-izstadi/ (sk. 15.03.2025.)
[4] https://irliepaja.lv/liepajnieki/pirms-100-gadiem-dzimis-gleznotajs-valters-uzticis/ (sk. 15.03.2025.)
