Biography
Latvian painter and leather craft master Ruta Štrodaha was born in 1954 in the village of Irlava, in the Tukums district, into a family of teachers. She received her basic education at Irlava Secondary School and her professional education at the Liepāja School of Applied Arts, in the leather processing department, which she completed in 1976. She later furthered her knowledge at the Riga School of Crafts, specialising in shop window design. Her first place of employment was the Tukums household services combine “Daiļkrāsotava”, as well as a position as a decorator at the TEMR factory. Alongside this, she worked as a drawing teacher at Tukums Secondary School No. 2 and led a children’s art club at the Children’s Creative Centre. She was also engaged in shop window design and display at the Tukums department store.
Artistic Style
Štrodaha turned her focus intensively to painting from 1990, initially producing small works depicting primarily flowers. Over time, her creative practice has grown more varied: the artist works with a range of materials and techniques, creating painted works on building façades, walls, ceilings, glass, and fabric, employing diverse paints and textures. Her painting is dominated by landscapes, flowers, and cityscapes, rendered in oil and watercolour. Her works reflect a close affinity with realism, whilst her inspiration is drawn from music, exhibitions by fellow artists, travel, nature, the garden, and the beautiful moments of everyday life. She participates in exhibitions both in Latvia and abroad, organises solo exhibitions, and is an active member of the Tukums Artists’ Group.
Interesting Facts
An interest in leatherwork may have been inherited from the artist’s grandfather, a shoemaker.
Štrodaha turned to painting in 1990, encouraged by the Tukums Artists’ Group, which inspired her to create works for the group’s joint exhibition.
