About me

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About me

I am Vytautas Tallat-Kelpša. Since 1980, I have been participating in various exhibitions both in Lithuania and abroad.

My creative fields encompass sculpture, ceramics, and painting. As art critics note, my sculptural work is characterized by a drive to analyze the relationship between realistic forms, volumetric structure, and content. It explores the deconstruction of imagery and the rebirth of stylized form in a new plastic language, playing with scale and proportions, and utilizing the expressive qualities of diverse materials—bronze, chamotte, stone, and wood.

My sculptural works decorate the interiors and exteriors of various buildings in Panevėžys, Kupiškis, and Šiauliai. These include three pieces at the State Social Insurance Fund (Sodra) building in my home city, over 20 memorial plaques dedicated to prominent Lithuanian figures in the inner courtyard of the J. Balčikonis Gymnasium in Panevėžys, as well as works at the Šiauliai Republic Hospital, Kupiškis School of Technology and Business, various schools in Panevėžys, and the Anykščiai Sodra building. Additionally, I have created numerous tombstones and small-scale plastic art pieces.

Competitions for Monuments and Memorials:

  • 1995: Monument to the Struggles for Independence in Panevėžys (3rd place)
  • 1998: Monument for the 500th Anniversary of Rokiškis City (2nd place)
  • 2018: Monument to the Knights of the Order of the Cross of Vytis (1st place)
  • 2020: Memorial Sign to Vincas Grybas (2nd place)
  • 2020: Memorial for the Fallen Partisans in Ukmergė (2nd place)
  • 2024: Monument to the Lithuanian Farmer (1st place)

Major Monuments Realized in Public Spaces: I have erected five monuments in the squares of Panevėžys, Ramygala, and the Panevėžys District:

  • 2001: Monument to Lt. Col. J. Variakojis, erected in Independence Square, Panevėžys.
  • 2007: Monument to poet Elena Mezginaitė at Šilaičiai Cemetery.
  • 2009: Monument "Grieving Jewish Mother" at the Memorial Square in Panevėžys.
  • 2018: Monument to the Knights of the Order of the Cross of Vytis in Ramygala.
  • 2021: Sculpture "Business Flight" on Respublikos Street, Panevėžys.
  • 2025: Monument to the Lithuanian Farmer in Upytė, Panevėžys District.

Exhibitions and Collections: I have held 18 solo exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad and have participated in over 70 group exhibitions. My works have been acquired by the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, the Mersin Contemporary Sculpture Gallery (Turkey), the Kalmar Maritime Academy (Sweden), and the municipalities of Neuenhagen bei Berlin (Germany). Numerous small-scale plastic artworks and paintings are held in private collections in Lithuania, Canada, the USA, Sweden, Turkey, Latvia, and other countries.

A significant part of my creative activity involves organizing and participating in international stone sculpture symposia. I have organized 6 international stone sculpture symposia and erected 5 decorative sculptures in Panevėžys. In total, I have participated in 15 symposia in Lithuania and 12 abroad (in Sweden, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Spain, and Latvia).

Memberships, Awards, and Recent Highlights:

  • Member of the Lithuanian Artists' Association (LAA) since 1995.
  • 1998: Elected the Most Deserving Citizen of Panevėžys in the field of art.
  • 2021: Awarded the title of Panevėžys Citizen of the Year.
  • 2021: Received the Badge of Honor from the Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts for the sculpture "Business Flight" in Panevėžys.
  • 2020: Participant in the contemporary art fair ArtVilnius; the exhibition with "Galerija XX" was selected among the top seven.
  • 2023: The Panevėžys Civic Art Gallery presented a large collection of my sculpture and painting works at the ArtVilnius art fair.
  • 2025, March 18: Unveiling of the new sculpture "Panevėžys Keymaker" on Kranto Street, presented to the city community.
  • 2025, June 20: Unveiling of the sculpture "Panevėžys Businessman" on J. Urbšio Street.
  • 2025, July 6: Unveiling of the Monument to the Lithuanian Farmer in the Panevėžys District.

SYMPOSIA

  • 1989: International Ceramics Symposium in Panevėžys. The sculpture "Theater" is in the collection of the Panevėžys Civic Art Gallery.
  • 1999: Stone Sculpture Symposium in Panevėžys. The sculpture "Nest" stands in the center of Panevėžys.
  • 2001: Bronze Casting Symposium in Vilnius. Created the sculpture "The Judgment of Paris".
  • 2002: Sculpture Symposium in Kalmar, Sweden. The sculpture "Dream of the Great Voyage" was acquired by the Kalmar Maritime Academy.
  • 2003: Stone Sculpture Symposium in Ukmergė. The sculpture "Spiral of Time" was erected in the center of Ukmergė.
  • 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015: Project manager, organizer, and participant of the International Stone Sculpture Symposium in Panevėžys. Granite sculptures erected in Senvagė (Old Riverbed), Panevėžys: "Saddle for Two" (2005), "Prologue" (2007), "Rulers" (2009), "Blossoms of Freedom Unfold in January" (2011), and "Sisyphus" (2013).
  • 2006: Stone sculpture symposium "The Connection Between Stone and Wood". The sculpture "Stone-Eater" was erected in Kėdainiai.
  • 2006: International Painters' Plein Air organized by the LAA Panevėžys Branch.
  • 2007: Stone Sculpture Symposium in Druskininkai. The sculpture "The Instrument" was erected in Druskininkai.
  • 2009: International Stone Sculpture Symposium in Valmiera (Latvia). The sculpture "The Instrument II" was erected in the city center.
  • 2010: International Wood Sculpture Symposium in Germany. The sculpture "The Instrument III" was acquired by the Neuenhagen bei Berlin municipality.
  • 2010 & 2011: National Bronze Casting Symposium in Vilnius "Sculptors Read Donelaitis" (created 4 bronze sculptures, exhibited in 12 exhibitions across Lithuania and abroad).
  • 2011: National Small Plastic Arts Symposium in Druskininkai. The sculpture "The Black Angel" was acquired by the Druskininkai municipality.
  • 2011: International Sculpture Symposium in Luttach, Italy. Created the sculpture "Water Music".
  • 2011: International Sculpture Symposium in Mersin, Turkey. Created a 3-meter tall marble sculpture "The Archer".
  • 2012, 2013, 2014: International Wood Sculpture Symposia in Jelgava, Latvia.
  • 2014: International Stone Sculpture Symposium in Šventoji.
  • 2014: International Stone Sculpture Symposium in Alanya, Turkey. The sculpture "The Little Rider" was erected in the city center.
  • 2014: Stone Sculpture Symposium in Dusetos. Created the sculpture "Little Bird".
  • 2015: International Stone Sculpture Symposium in Kartal (Istanbul), Turkey. The marble sculpture "Tranquility" was erected in the city.
  • 2016: Sculpture project "Symbols of the Balts" in Laukuva, Šilalė District. Created 5 sculptures.
  • 2017: International Wood Sculpture Symposium in Riga. The sculpture "Grasshopper" stands in Mežaparks, Riga.
  • 2018: International Stone Sculpture Symposium in Soria, Spain. The sculpture "Poetry like a Bird's Song" was erected in the city's central square.

NOTABLE EXHIBITIONS

  • 1984, 1985: National Young Artists' Exhibitions in Vilnius and Kaunas. The sculpture "Portrait of Vytas" was acquired by the Lithuanian National Museum of Art.
  • 1999: III World Samogitian Artists' Exhibition in Plungė.
  • 1981–2023: Exhibitions of Panevėžys Artists in St. Petersburg, Daugavpils, Minsk, Vilnius, Riga, Kaliningrad, Grodno, Liepāja, Šiauliai, Palanga, Klaipėda, Alytus, Bauska, and others.
  • 1989: International Ceramics Exhibition in Panevėžys.
  • 2002, 2010: Bronze Sculpture Exhibitions at the St. John's Street Gallery in Vilnius.
  • Solo Exhibitions: Panevėžys (1985, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2021), Šiauliai (1985, 2010), Ukmergė (1993), Klaipėda (2002).
  • 2009: Solo Sculpture Exhibition in Valmiera, Latvia.
  • 2010–2019: Exhibition cycle "Sculptors Read Donelaitis" in various cities across Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Russia.
  • 2015: Vilnius Sculptors' Exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the LAA.
  • 2016: International project "Pillow" in Vienna, Austria.
  • 2017: Project "Legacy" in Panevėžys, Daugavpils, Kaunas.
  • 2019: Project "Memory" in Panevėžys, Daugavpils, Vilnius.
  • 2020: "A Galerija" project "Free Space" in Panevėžys and Daugavpils.
  • 1980–2023: Art Days Exhibitions.
  • 2006–2024: Aukštaitija Art Exhibitions.
  • 2020: National Sculpture Exhibition "Salt of the Earth" in Anykščiai.
  • 2021: Large-scale retrospective solo exhibition of sculpture and painting at the Panevėžys Civic Art Gallery.
  • 2023: Sculpture and Painting Exhibition at the ArtVilnius art fair.

LINKS & REFERENCES