Vytauto Kasiulio dailės muziejus

On 10 November 2022 Vytautas Kasiulius Museum of Art opened with an exhibition featuring Lithuanian Artists in Germany launching a series of events that presents research into Lithuanian émigré art, followed by exhibitions from the artists who linked their future with other countries. The exhibition is arranged across two floors of the museum and is composed of two contrasting parts. The first part shows the artwork created in the context of Germany, as the first refuge territory for Lithuanians arriving there as war refugees fleeing soviet repressions. This was also the first station of the artists’ Odyssey, where many an artist, both established, and burgeoning, found their creativity succoured.  Somewhat later, most of them travelled for the USA, Canada, Australia, France and other countries. This part of the exhibition revisits the efforts of post-war artists to create art and new homes in these strange countries. The second part of the exhibition presents free artists in a free world – both at the time of the Iron Curtain and hereafter, when it was done with. It is an exhibition-equation that links two expressions with the equals sign between them, both including some known data and unknowns as well. These are two different parts, two sides of artistic diaspora, two periods in the development of art (1945–1950  and 1951–2022), entering the field of the Lithuanian historical memory in an unorthodox way.  According to the curator Rasa Žukienė, the solution of this equation is the creative outcome on display at the exhibition. It tells a story not only of misery and loss of the refugees, but also about the idea of the reopened art school in Freiburg, the Lithuanian books published in Germany with illustrations by then-in-Germany-based Lithuanian artists, paintings and graphic works and souvenirs.  On the other hand, the exhibition is linked to a nearly unlimited field of art. These days Lithuanians are not only a diaspora nation, but also a community of migrating artists who identify themselves with two countries of Lithuania and Germany. Museum will run special educational programmes and activities developed for the exhibition.

Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art hosted the opening of a special exhibit commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Joseph Peter Kazickas and Vytautas Kasiulis and their friendship. New updated permanent exhibit „Vytautas Kasiulis (1918-1995): from Simnas to Paris“ was introduced to the public with the Kasiulis canvases brought from the Kazickas family art collections in New York and Vilnius. On Wednesday, June 13, 2018 the Lithuanian Art Museum and the Kazickas Family Foundation invited guests to the exhibit „Vytautas Kasiulis (1918-1995): from Simnas to Paris“ opening at the Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum. Never before displayed canvases with new facts from artist‘s life, as well as observations of his work were added to Vytautas Kasiulis permanent exhibit. The main focus of this exhibit – Vytautas Kasiulis canvases from the philanthropist and his patron dr. Joseph Peter Kazickas family collections in USA and Vilnius that are being shown to the public for the first time. This Kazickas family collection at the Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum will be on display for one year till June 23, 2019. Guests had an opportunity to learn more about dr. Joseph P. Kazickas‘ life and work through the traveling exhibit temporarily displayed at the V. Kasiulis Art Museum. This year Lithuania marks not just the anniversary of a Restored Lithuania, but also 100th anniversaries of two individuals who left a deep footprint in Lithuania‘s cultural history – artist Vytautas Kasiulis and his friend and patron dr. Joseph P. Kazickas. Their friendship started accidentally on a pre-war sports court and then, after leaving their Homeland, was renewed years later in Paris while opening the gallery. Thanks to dr. Joseph P. Kazickas financial help, Vytautas Kasiulis could rent Galerie Royal in the central Paris (1970s to 1990s) and had an opportunity to market his work, develop his gallerist business, sell antiques and other art works. Invited by dr. Joseph Kazickas, artist was searching for new inspirations for his work at his friend‘s summer house in the Bahamas, visited Alexandra and Joseph at their home in New York. Dr. Joseph Kazickas supported many Lithuanian artists, such as Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas, Vytautas Kasuba, Vladas Vildziunas. Philanthropist‘s daughter Jurate Kazickas who initiated the anniversary events, participated at the exhibit opening together with her brothers John A. Kazickas and Joseph M. Kazickas with his wife Lucy who arrived from New York. Vytautas Kasiulis‘ son Vytautas with his wife Nelly came from Paris. Among the guests there were also Romualdas Budrys, Lithuanian Art Museum director; Laima Bialopetraviciene, director‘s assistant to science; Neila Baumilienė, the Kazickas Family Foundation NY office director; Agne Vertelkaite, Foundation‘s Vilnius office program manager. Ilona Mazeikiene, Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art director and art researcher hosted the event. Excerpt from the documentary „Vytautas Kasiulis (1918–1995): To Paris and Back“ (2013)  (producer – journalist Edita Mildazyte) was introduced. Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art thanks to dedicated friends, loyal helpers, art work lenders and project partners: National M. K. Ciurlionis Art Museum, Lithuanian Cinema, Theater and Music Museum, Lithuanian Diaspora Art Foundation, Borstahusen Art Association, UAB „Ekspobalta“ and architects Saulius Valys and Jezis Daveiko, UAB „Bikuvos prekyba“ and its director Gintaras Sadaunikas, art collector Rolandas Valiunas, gallerist and Southern Sweeden Lituanian Community member Sarunas Blinstrubas, poet Kazys Bradunas daughter Elena Bradunaite-Aglinskiene. Info: Ilona Mazeikiene, Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art Visitors are required to wear face masks, 1 m social distancing.