Centre Pompidou Features First Exhibition of Rare Lithuanian Artworks Hidden by the Soviet

Lithuanian art will be available for an exhibit, thanks to a collaboration by the Modern Art Museum of Vilnius and the Centre Pompidou.

Called the 'Lithuanian Contemporary Art from the 1960s to Today: A Major Donation,' it will show off a collection of Lithuanian artists with their contemporary pieces in several forms, whether drawings, paintings, video arts, and installations.

At the same time, ART News revealed that the exhibition will include never-before-seen artworks created during the Soviet occupation that were hidden due to censorship policies.

Upcoming Centre Pompidou and MO Museum's Exhibits

The upcoming artworks for exhibition were reported donated to the Centre Pompidou by the founders of Modern Art Museum of Vilnius, Viktoras Butkus, and Danguole.

Some were works of popular Lithuanian artists like Marija Teresė Rožanskaitė, Marija Švažienė, Elvyra Kairiūkštytė, and more, who gained recognition only after their deaths. Varnelis noted that most artists were silenced during the Soviet occupation due to their artworks, which kept them hidden. In 1990, after the country gained its independence, a new wave of artists emerged and explored themes of identity through several unique mediums.

Exhibiting them today, as many more artists are free to show off their works, is a way to restore Lithuania's cultural heritage and add to Europe's rich art history.

Additionally, more Lithuanian artists, like Anastasia Sosunova, Andrius Arutiunian, Žilvinas Landzbergas, and more will have their artworks exhibited. All are recognized internationally for their innovative artistic styles.

Starting on last month, September 14, these exhibits will be displayed at the Centre Pompidou until January 2025. Opening in 1977, the center houses Europe's largest collection and is aiming to become a modern hub for more contemporary art, with over 3 million visitors each year.