Art Academy of Latvia

Foundation and Early Years (1919–1940) One of the most impressive architectural pearls of the Riga city - the Art Academy of Latvia was designed and created by the architect and art historian Wilhelm Bokslaff (1858-1945), while another prominent Latvian architect August Voltz was "the author of the sand stone columt chapiters and other sculptural parts" . The building was established in 1902 and finished in 1905. Of note within the building are the stained-glass windows, designed with Art Nouveau motifs and provided by E. Tode. Initially, it was known as the Commercial School of the Stock Exchange and functioned as a business school. The origins of the academy date back to May 4, 1919, when the Soviet Latvian government published a report regarding the opening of a "proletarian art workshop." The term "academy" was initially avoided as it was seen as a symbol of the old, conservative regime. However, following the fall of the Soviet government, the Provisional Government of Latvia formally decided to establish the Art Academy of Latvia on August 20, 1919. The founding faculty included prominent Latvian artists such as Vilhelms Purvītis, Teodors Zaļkalns, Rihards Zariņš, and Jānis Kuga. The academy was officially inaugurated on October 12, 1921. After initially operating on Kronvalda Boulevard, it moved to Gogoļa Street 3 in 1922. The first constitution (Satversme) was adopted by the Saeima on February 7, 1924, and proclaimed by President Jānis Čakste. Between 1921 and 1940, the academy produced 229 graduates. Soviet and Occupation Periods (1940–1988) Following the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, the institution was renamed the State Art Academy. In 1944, it became the State Art Academy of the Latvian SSR. During the Soviet era, the academy's administrative oversight shifted frequently between the Ministry of Culture and various state committees for higher education. From 1973 to 1988, the institution was named the Teodors Zaļkalns State Art Academy of the Latvian SSR in honor of the sculptor and former faculty member. ==Organization==

Faculties The Academy has 5 faculties: • Faculty of Visual Arts (2D) :* Department of Painting :* Department of Graphic Art :* Department of Textile Art :* Department of Drawing • Faculty of Visual Plastic Arts (3D) :* Department of Sculpture :* Department of Ceramics :* Department of Glass Art • Faculty of Design :* Department of Functional Design :* Department of Environmental Art :* Department of Metal Design :* Department of Fashion Design • Faculty of Audio-Visual Media Art :* Department of Visual Communication :* Department "Motion. Image. Sound" :* Department of Stage Design • Faculty of Art History :* Department of Art History and Theory :* Department of Restoration :* Department of Humanities Latgale Branch The academy has a branch in Latgale located in Rēzekne. ==Notable alumni==

• Arturs Akopjans – figurative and abstract artist • Ansis Artums – landscape painter • Lidija Auza – assemblage and abstract artist • Biruta Baumane – 2002 winner of the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature, the Arts and Science • Anšlavs Eglītis – novelist and author of short stories • Sandra Kalniete – Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Commissioner and Member of the European Parliament • Gunārs Lūsis – graphic designer responsible with Jānis Strupulis for the design of coinage of the post-Soviet edition of the lat • Ludmilla Meilerts – landscape painter • Kārlis Padegs – expressionist painter • Ināra Tetereva – philanthropist behind the Boris and Ināra Teterev fund, a Latvian patron of the arts • Ēvī Upeniece – sculptor ==Gallery==

File:Latvian Art Academy 1942.jpg|Graduation photo of the Landscape Workshop in 1942. Seated in the middle of the front row is Professor Vilhelms Purvītis. To the left of him is Mārtiņš Krūmiņš. File:Daina Skadmane - veja egle Riga.jpg|Dainas Skadmane's art installation "Vēja egle" next to the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga 2015. ==References==