Exhibition of Paintings by Gintaras Kraujelis: “Natura morta”
On April 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., the Druskininkai City Museum Gallery (37 M. K. Čiurlionio St.) invites you to the opening of the exhibition of paintings by Gintaras Kraujelis, “Natura morta.”
NATURA MORTA / Still Life
Gintaras Kraujelis
At first glance, the exhibition title “Natura morta” evokes the classical artistic tradition—the still life genre. However, in this exhibition, this concept is expanded and reinterpreted, moving away from conventional academic definitions. “Still Life” here is not merely a collection of aesthetically arranged objects—it becomes a reflection of mood, state of mind, and an inner relationship with the environment. The artist consciously eschews direct narratives, moral or political undertones, allowing the works to operate through subtle emotional tensions, silence, and ephemeral presence.
Kraujelis’s works reveal a sensitive gaze toward an imperceptible, sometimes even repulsive or fragile, fading reality—a broken twig, blackened plant fragments, or faded surfaces become independent visual metaphors. This is not a traditional still life, where harmonious composition or decorativeness is paramount. On the contrary—here, transience, the aesthetics of decay, and the quiet traces of existence are highlighted. The visual language chosen by the artist invites the viewer not so much to “recognize” as to feel—to immerse oneself in the inner atmosphere of the works, where mood and intuition are paramount.
Gintaras Kraujelis is a multifaceted creator who has shaped his artistic language across various disciplines. After graduating from the Vilnius Academy of Arts with a specialization in monumental decorative art, he devoted a significant portion of his creative career to stained glass. Over several decades, he has created about forty large-format stained-glass works for public and private interiors, as well as more than two hundred small-format pieces. In addition to stained glass, the artist is actively engaged in painting and photography and is a member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Union and the Lithuanian Photographers’ Union.
The artist’s work is characterized by a consistent focus on light, structure, and the internal logic of forms—qualities that naturally extend from stained glass art into painting and photography. His works have been exhibited not only in Lithuania but also abroad; he has held numerous solo exhibitions and published the photography books “Kolekcija” and “Laimės valanda.” This diverse experience is reflected in the exhibition “Natura morta,” where the sensitivity of different media merges with mature artistic reflection.
“Natura morta” is not only a gaze at “still life,” but also a quiet dialogue with time, memory, and the very experience of seeing. The exhibition invites you to pause, look closely, and discover beauty where it most often goes unnoticed—between decay and survival, between a fragment of reality and an inner state.