BIOGRAPHY
Dmitry Lavrentjev, born on October 20th, 1970, in Riga, Latvia. Autodidact, who has obtained his knowledge in painting by inspiring from the artists of St. Petersburg. Currently, he is one of the boldest Latvian contemporary artists.
Lavrentjev turned to painting at the age of 22, and opened his first solo exhibition “Cinema Gallery” 3 years later in 1995 in Riga. With his first solo exhibition, the young artist revealed his bold and powerful personality as well as expressed passion, impulse, and tension in his artworks which was yet unseen to the Latvian art world back then. Since 1995, Lavrentjev has created more than 20 solo exhibitions in Latvia and Denmark, as well as participated in more than 20 group exhibitions in places such as Latvia, Germany, France, Belarus and Estonia.
Lavrentjev is a member of the “Russian artist association in Latvia” since 1992, a member of the artist unions “Free art” since 1995, as well as an associate of the “Latvian artist association” since 1999.
Artist’s paintings can be found in private collections all around the world - Latvia, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, USA, Poland, Belgium, Belarus, New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden, Vitebsk Art Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art in Minsk. Nevertheless, Mark Rotko’s art centre collection has several works of the painter.
ARTISTIC DESCRIPTION
Dmitry Lavrentjev’s creative expression contains different forms of visual arts– paintings, collages, sculptures, lithography, porcelain works and short movies. His paintings are very eccentric, bright and emotional. Edgy and thick lines are typical for Lavrentjev’s artworks. Careless touch and seemingly deformed objects are the signature elements of the artist, and exactly what provokes the spectator to view the works from the subconscious spectrum.
Through the light irony and childlike expression of the Lavrentjev’s creative works, deeper symbolic and archetypical meaning can be found. The archetype of the mother can be perceived frequently in his works as well as the elements of Mexican, African and Indianan cultures. Non-traditionalism and brightness are what characterize the artist’s painting and other creative works, however, they all disclose emotional experiences and research of the human soul. Dread, fear, happiness, excitement and other emotions can be perceived from the visual arts of Lavrentjev.
Dmitry Lavrentjev’s works have a visible connection to the works of Jean-Michael Basquiat and Jean Dubuffet – contemporary artists of the 20th century.
INTERESTING FACTS
Poetry of Lotreamon, a French poet of the 20th century, has inspired the artist to address the mystical beginning of the universe, which also can be found in his paintings.
Exhibition’s “Rudens 2020” laureate. In 2006, Dmitry Lavrentjev participated in the exhibitions “BODY POWER”, which was nominated for the magazine Diena Annual cultural award of 2006. Artist is the author of the slogan “Artist is always right”.
