Ceramics possesses a very wide range of various means of expression that allow for a natural use of its plasticism, colour and texture. It is important to note that at the beginning of the 20th century many leading West European artists were interested in ceramics, such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Fernand Léger, Joan Miró. Decorative ceramics was very popular in Belgium, France, Italy and Scandinavia.

Riga Porcelain Museum features items from a lately created collectioner and arts patron Peter Avens’ Latvian ceramics collection. Among the outstanding artists represented in the collection there are Romans Suta (1896-1944) and Jūlijs Madernieks (1870-1955).

Along with the 15th anniversary since its opening, in 2016 Riga Porcelain Museum has been focusing on the factory artists and artists in the factory. Starting from 1930s in designing its products Kuznetsov Porcelain Factory cooperated with professional artists. Since that time the artist’s work on the products of the factory was also continued by creating artist positions in the factory and by establishing an Arts Laboratory.

Kuznetsov ceramics exhibition reveals one of the aspects of the co-operation between artists  and the factory in its beginnings – the industrial manufactring of ceramics in Kuznetsov factory based on the drafts by well-known Latvian artists. The exhibition will introduce the visitors to the wide range of products manufactured by Kuznetsov Porcelain Factory where next to porcelain there were also faience and earthenware manufactured as well as electricity insulators, sanitary ceramics and bricks.

In the picture:

Romans Suta. Vase “Wedding”. Ceramics, underglaze painting. JSC “M.S.Kuznecovs” Porcelain, faience and clay factory. 1934-1940.