Biography
Latvian painter Pēteris Postažs was born on February 24, 1940, in Jelgava. His father was an agricultural machinery specialist, and his mother worked as a cook. His wife, Lilita Postaža (1941–2011), was a textile artist, and both of their children – Inguna Postaža (born 1970) and Paulis Postažs (born 1976) – are artists as well.[1]
Postažs received his art education at the Janis Rozentāls Art School, graduating in 1958, and then studied painting at the Art Academy of Latvia, graduating in 1964.[2] He continued to improve his skills at the Art Academy of St. Petersburg and the Art Institute of Tallinn, as well as studying the works of old masters and contemporaries in museums in Europe and the USA.[3] In 1965, Postažs began working as an art teacher at the Janis Rozentāls Art School[4], and until 2019, he was an associate professor at the Art Academy of Latvia.
Artistic style
Postažs is considered one of the classic figures of Latvian painting in the second half of the 20th century. His art is marked by a multifaceted approach – his works demonstrate not only exceptional drawing technique and a refined sense of color but also thematic and stylistic diversity, embodied in compositions rich in symbolism. Postažs works in oil, tempera, gouache, and pastel. Drawing on the style of the Renaissance, he depicts the female body, landscapes, and still-lifes that are characterized by their monumental nature. He is also known for creating large-format paintings. One of the main principles of his work is the plasticity of form, which he describes as follows: “ Art is a thought in form.”[5]
In addition to painting, Postažs illustrated Imants Ziedonis’ collection of short stories “Visādas pasakas” (“Various Tales”) created sketches for tapestries, and designed interiors for public spaces.[6] Throughout his active career, he held solo exhibitions in Rīga and other Latvian cities and participated in group exhibitions in Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Sweden. His works are held in the collections of the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Museum of the Latvian Artists’ Union of Latvia, the Jūrmala City Museum, the Valmiera Museum of Art, the Russian Ministry of Culture, and the Russian Art Foundation.[7]
Interesting Facts
In 2009, Postažs published a book titled “Saruna ar sevi” (“Conversation with Oneself”), which brings together a collection of the artist’s reflections on life, as well as answers to questions from his pupils, students, and himself.
At the end of 2023, Postažs donated a large altarpiece titled “The Last Supper” (150 x 200 cm) to the Roman Catholic Church in Aizpute. The artist personally chose the location for the painting within the church. The work is executed in a contemporary stylized painting style, characterized by vibrant colors, and its stylized and dynamic composition allows each viewer to create their own image.[8]
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[1] Burāne I. Postažs, Pēteris // Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās, II / Atb. red. A. Vilsons. Rīga: Latvijas enciklopēdija, 1996, 191. lpp.
[2]Ibid.
[3]
https://valmierasmuzejs.lv/archives/3344 (vd. 13.08.2025)
[4] Burāne I. Postažs, Pēteris // Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās, II / Atb. red. A. Vilsons. Rīga: Latvijas enciklopēdija, 1996, 191. lpp.
[5]
https://valmierasmuzejs.lv/archives/3344 (vd. 13.08.2025)
[6] Burāne I. Postažs, Pēteris // Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās, II / Atb. red. A. Vilsons. Rīga: Latvijas enciklopēdija, 1996, 191. lpp.
[7]
https://valmierasmuzejs.lv/archives/3344 (vd. 13.08.2025)
[8] Dobelis U. Romas katoļu Aizputes Kristus Karaļa draudze saņem gleznotāja Pētera Postaža dāvināto altārgleznu “Svētais vakarēdiens”.–28.11.2023. Available:
https://rekurzeme.lv/romas-katolu-aizputes-kristus-karala-draudze-sanem-gleznotaja-petera-postaza-da... (vd. 13.08.2025)
