The winner of the “Young Painter Prize 2021” is announced
On the evening of 18th of November, the awards ceremony for the “Young Painter Prize 2021” competition took place at the MO Museum. Now, in its thirteenth year, the competition has attracted a great deal of attention from young artists in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This year, the international jury named Dominykas Sidorovas as the best young painter in the Baltic States.
Lithuanian artists were also awarded for the MO Prize and a special jury mention. The MO Prize went to Kazimieras Brazdžiūnas and a special jury mention went to Erika Povilonyte.
This year's winner – Dominykas Sidorovas
The competition winner Dominykas Sidorovas has been awarded a two-month residency at the Nordic Artists’ Centre in Dale, Norway, with a monthly stipend of 11,000 NOK. D. Sidorovas also won a prize of 3,000 EUR and the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at Pamėnkalnio Gallery in Vilnius. The winner’s work will also become a part of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art collection.
“Every year, the winner is known just a few hours, or sometimes even a few moments, before the public announcement. Therefore, not only for the participants and the audience, but also for us, the organisers and the jury members, it is a great excitement until the last moment. This year’s winner, Dominykas Sidorovas, really made us happy. According to the jury, his work is a unique contemporary visual language, in which the object of everyday life – a chair – has been transformed into an extraordinary and spectacular image. D. Sidorovas’ work will be preserved in the Lithuanian National Museum of Art collection and will become a part of the history of painting in the Baltic States,” shares Julija Dailidėnaitė, the organiser of the competition.
Special Prize by MO Museum
The MO Museum founders and the team have initiated a special prize – the MO Prize in the amount of 1,000 EUR. The winner of MO Prize was chosen by all members of the MO team. The winner of the MO Prize was Kazimieras Brazdžiūnas. Erika Povilonyte was also awarded as the a special mention by the international jury.
“Young creators are emerging talents, shaping the future generation of Baltic artists. It is very important for us that they are noticed and also have the opportunity to invite a diverse audience into the conversation. We are delighted that this year’s finalists are on display at the MO Museum. All MO Museum’s visitors will be able to see the works of the young artists and learn about the topics that are relevant to them,” says Milda Ivanauskienė, the director of MO.
The finalists of the competition
A jury of art professionals assembled especially for this competition have selected works by 15 artists for this exhibition: Arnolds Andersons (LV), Gytis Arošius (LT), Kazimieras Brazdžiūnas (LT), Aurelija Bulaukaitė (LT), Siiri Jüris (EE), Madara Kvēpa (LV), Lisette Lepik (EE), Edvinas Mikulskis (LT), Erika Povilonytė (LT), Indrė Rybakovaitė (LT), Justīnė Seile-Urtāne (LV), Greta Šležaitė (LT), Dominykas Sidorovas (LT), Denisa Štefanigova (EE), Mantas Valentukonis (LT).
TOP3 artists of the "Young Painter Prize 2021"
Dominykas Sidorovas (LT)
The Chair! The Monster!, 2021
Oil on canvas, 240 × 171 cm
Kazimieras Brazdžiūnas (LT)
M. R. Agnus dei, 2021
Aerosol spray paint on canvas, 230 × 180 cm
Erika Povilonytė (LT)
Nudite (Nudity) II, 2021
Gouache and oil on Asian paper, 110 × 142 cm
A chance to see the work of the young artists
As Vilmantas Marcinkevičius, the organiser of the competition, says: “One of the most important moments of the “Young Painter Prize” is that artists, viewers, curators and art researchers get a chance to see the works of the youngest artists, to see the future creators of the Baltic art field”.
He also adds that the active participation of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian artists in the competition is a testament to its appreciation and continuity.
“Young Painter Prize” is one of the most important art events in the Baltics, showcasing emerging young talents to the public. The aim of this project, first organized in 2009, is not only to present emerging artists to the public, but also to help art collectors and curators discover new talent in the Baltic countries. The competition is open to artists 30 years of age and under who already possess, or are actively pursuing, formal training.
Artists were evaluated by the international jury
This year participants of the competition were judged by the international jury: art historian and director of the Nordic Artists Centre Dale Residency Arild H. Eriksen, curator of the MO Museum Gabrielė Radzevičiūtė, artistic director of the Estonian KAI Art Centre Karin Laansoo, sculptor and film/videographer Deimantas Narkevičius, Latvian painter and the winner of the competition “Young Painter Prize 2013” Zane Tuča, art historian Mėta Valiušaitytė.
Competition Organizers: Julija Dailidėnaitė, Vilmantas Marcinkevičius
Coordinators: Gabrielė Radzevičiūtė, Ieva Stasevičiūtė
Graphic Designer – Akvilė Paukštytė
Exhibition installation by Dominykas Šavelis
