The world and the art of
Ritums Ivanovs

Ritums Ivanovs (1968) is a Sotheby's-sold Latvian painter who in his works uses precise hyperrealist depiction of reality and bright polychromatism typical of Op Art. Working in his self-invented linear technique, he paints portraits and nudes on especially large-size canvases (up to size 145 x 250 cm). The artist uses a photo as basis but painting itself is hand-made only. The main subjects of Ritums Ivanovs’ works are human emotions, different emotional moods. His images contain real people from his life (solo show “Girl”), photographic images from printed material – from art history books (solo show “Heroes”) or from show business advertisements (portraits of the “Depeche Mode” musicians), even from erotic magazines (solo show “Erotic film”).

The artist’s first solo exhibition “To Be and to Look” took place at the Riga Gallery in 1999. Ivanovs has had 11 solo shows in Latvia and abroad (latest solo show took place in Doha, Qatar), numerous group exhibitions and he regularly participates at art fairs (Art Moscow 2010). In June 2009, a Ritums Ivanovs painting "Frame 05" was sold at the Sotheby's auction in London. The painter’s works are included in collections of Latvian National Museum of Art, State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, private museum in Munster, private collections in Latvia and abroad. In Latvia and Eastern Europe, Ritums Ivanovs is represented by Riga Gallery.

Born

October 17th, 1968 in Cesis, Latvia

Education

1980 – 87 Janis Rozentals Art School

1987 – 94 Latvian Art Academy

1994 – 95 Humboldt State University, CA, USA

1996 Master of Arts, Latvian Art Academy

Member of Artists Union of Latvia since 1999

Selected personal exhibitions

2011 AMY. KATE. GAGA. Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia

2011 LIGHTS ON. Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Doha, Qatar

2010 STARS. LIGHTS ON. Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia

2008 Dreamers, Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia/Catalogue

2005 Exposed, Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia/Catalogue

2004 Optical Diffusion, Gallery Eva Poll, Berlin, Germany

(Optical diffusion catalogue)

Retrospektive, Gallery Centrs, Riga, Latvia

2003 Paintings, Warzsaw National Library, Poland

Picasso+ Ivanovs+ Amelkovics, Gallery Pedants, Riga, Latvia

2002 Erotic Movie, Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia/Catalogue

Depeche Mode paintings, L’Artiste, Tallinn, Estonia

2001 The Heroes, Gallery Riga, Riga, Latvia/Catalogue

Optical Energy, Gallery Cite des Arts, Paris, France

Paintings, Tsink Plekk Pang, Tartu, Estonia

Selected group exhibitions

2010

14th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia

International art exhibition BUDAPEST ART FAIR 2010 Heroes Corner Section, Budapest / Hungary

Territory of Art, Volkhonka Fine Art Centre, Moscow / Russia

Effect of Synergy, Jurmala City Museum, Jurmala / Latvia

2009

13th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia

Sotheby’s exhibition-sale, 5th - 9th June, London / UK

Scope Art Fair, Basel / Switzerland

Scope Art Fair, Miami / USA

2008
12th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Art Now, New York / USA
2007
11th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Europart, Geneva Palexo / Switzerland
Drawings, Jurmala City Museum / Latvia
Innsbruck International Art Fair / Austria
2006
10th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Visions and Reality, Pulchri Studio, Hague / The Netherlands
Power of Body, Riga Gallery / Latvia
2005
Patient Bureau, 9th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
8th International Print Biennale, Kaliningrad / Russia
No Painting, Tallinna Kunstihoone, Tallinn / Estonia
Now art now future, Print, Edsvik Konshall / Sweden
Travelling exhibition, Essen / Germany
New Life, Palazzo Reale, Napoli / Italy
Salt of life, Gallery Vartai, Vilnius / Lithuania
Art on paper, Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia
Miniature, Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia
2004
Line Art Fair, Gent / Belgium
Fresh Art Fair, Business Design Centre, London / UK
Extension is More Fine Arts, project "Gallery Tour of the Ten", International Club of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Berlin / Germany
Art of the Ten, project Gallery Tour of the Ten, City Hall Gallery, Munich / Germany
8th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Rape of Europe, Eskilstuna Art Museum, Eskilstuna / Sweden
Adaption! Latvian Art Now, Estonian Art Museum, Tallinn / Estonia
Latvian Art Invasion, Art House, Tartu / Estonia
Painters, Latvian embassy, St. Peterburg / Russia
2003
Masks, 7th International Contemporary Art Exhibition “Art Moscow”, Central House of the Artists, Moscow / Russia
Adaptation, Exhibition Hall Rotterman Salt Storage, Tallinn / Estonia
Line Art Fair, Gent / Belgium
Fresh Art Fair, Business Design centre, London / UK
Latvian Art Invasion, Art House, Tartu / Estonia
2002
Nothing Personal, Städtische Galerie im Buntentor, Bremen / Germany
Latvia. Surprising Art from the 20th Century, Zvolle City Museum, Zvolle / The Netherlands
Fresh Art, Business Design Centre, London / UK
2001
Identity, Riga Gallery, Riga / Latvia
New Reality. Identification, 5th International Contemporary Art Exhibition ART MOSCOW, Central House of Artists, Moscow / Russia
Interspace, State Museum of Art Exhibition Hall Arsenals, Riga / Latvia
2000
Baltic Art. Contemporary Paintings and Sculptures, National Art Club, New York; International Monetary Fund
Gallery, Washington / USA