Coffee Portrait Paintings

Fresco. 2001, canvas, mixed media, 46x38 cm Ieva Iltnere (b. 1957) entered the Latvian art scene in the early 1980s. Together with other young painters of her generation she attracted much attention and radically changed prevailing conceptions about the Latvian figural painting. The fame of this generation of artists has not diminished since that time. In 1988 Ieva Iltnere took part in the young artists’ exhibition “Post-Traditionalism” at the Central Artists’ House in Moscow as well as in the exhibition “Riga – Lettische Avantgarde” at the Staatliche Kunsthalle in Berlin. It was the first important show of Latvian avant-garde art in Western Europe. In 1990 Ieva Iltnere and her like-minded contemporaries participated in the famous exhibition-action “Gentle Fluctuations” at the Exhibition Hall Latvija in Riga. This exhibition encouraged radical aspirations of the young painters’ group and promoted the adoption of new influences in Latvian art. In 1992 there was Ieva Iltnere and Jānis Mitrēvics’ joint exhibition “Works” and in 1994 – her solo exhibition “School” at the Art Museum Arsenāls. She took part in important Latvian art exhibitions at the Zvolle City Museum (2002), Frauen Museum in Bonn (1992), Grand Salle de l’Aubette in Strasbourg, Maison du Danemark in Paris (1997), Städtische Galerie im Buntentor in Bremen, etc. Ieva Iltnere is one of the most outstanding and creative artists of her generation. Her art is able to communicate great, significant ideas, important to both the individual and the society in general, through intimate subject matter. Iltnere has created a particular imagery that clearly marks her individual style. Her early works deal with themes of family, mother and child, depiction of intimate aspects of life. The artist raised everyday phenomena to the level of sacredness. Today the artist synthesizes traditional means of painting and conceptual approach, inspired by different cultures, Western avant-garde art of the 20th century and Biblical themes (solo exhibition “Stories”, 2002). Iltnere’s paintings feature subdued colouring and discrete intonation. The artist pays particular attention to light and composition. Each work is endowed with a personal touch. Iltnere’s works are found in collections of the Latvian National Museum of Art (previous title - State Museum of Art), the Artists’ Union of Latvia Museum (Riga), the State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow), Ludwig Museum (Aachen, Germany), Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum (New Jersey, USA) as well as in private collections in Latvia and abroad. Selected solo exhibitions: 2008 "Beautiful fragile nature", Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia 2007 "Eight Rooms", Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia 2004 "The Happy Childhood", Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia 2003 "Ieva's Painting", Gallery NoMi, St. Petersburg / Russia "My Room", Gallery Centrs, Riga / Latvia 2002 "Stories", Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia* 2001 "Ieva Iltnere's United Images", Gallery Daugava, Riga / Latvia 1999 "Papers and Canvases", Gallery Daugava, Riga / Latvia 1998 "Paintings of Paris", Gallery Daugava, Riga / Latvia 1997 "Oil", Gallery Bastejs, Riga / Latvia 1994 "School", Art Museum Arsenāls, Riga / Latvia* 1993 Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia Gallery G&G, Riga / Latvia* 1992 "Works", Art Museum Arsenāls, Riga / Latvia (together with Jānis Mitrēvics)* "Four New Paintings", Gallery Kolonna, Riga / Latvia 1989 Gallery Baltasar, Gothenburg / Sweden (together with Ivars Poikāns)* Selected group exhibitions: 2008 12th International Contemporary Art Exhibition "Art Moscow", Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia* Rauma Biennale Balticum 08 "Flower Power", Rauman Taidemuseo, Rauma Art Museum/ Finland 2007 11th International Contemporary Art Exhibition "Art Moscow", Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia* 2005 9th International Contemporary Art Exhibition "Art Moscow", Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia* 2004 8th International Contemporary Art Exhibition "Art Moscow", Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia* "The Rape of Europe", Eskilstuna Art Museum, Eskilstuna / Sweden* 2003 "Labyrinth", Gallery Vartai, Vilnius / Lithuania...

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