Painter, graphic designer.
One of the most popular Latvian artists. Worked in painting, easel graphics, graphic of press and books, applied graphics and poster making, art of medals, theatre set design, journalism. In oil painting technique he is known mainly as a landscape painter; his beloved motif – the woods. He painted the hills and lakes of Latgale, views of small-towns, also a lot of portraits of women, nudes. In the graphic design of books he earned popularity with the illustrations of children’s literature and publications of folklore. He has illustrated more than 30 books (mostly children literature and Latvian folk songs). He has made costumes for two National Puppet Theater performances. Jazeps Pigoznis has published articles related to art in newspapers and magazines.
Jazeps Pigoznis was born in Odumanu village, Ruzina Parish, Rezekne District, on the 15th of September, 1934.
In 1953 graduated from Janis Rozentals Art School of Riga; in 1959 – the Department of Painting at the Art Academy of Latvia with a diploma work „Midsummer’s Eve” (supervised by Eduards Kalnins). In 1992 graduated with the Master’s Degree in Art.
Worked as a senior lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia (1972-1968) and assistant professor (1986-1992). In 1992 was assigned with the academic title of Professor at the Art Academy of Latvia.
Member of the Artists’ Union since 1964. Member of the International Art Association „B 13” (1993-1997).
He was the head at the committee of organizing the Art Days (1965, 1978); a member of the board of the Artists’ Union (1968-1990); led a commission for working with young artists. After its founding, a curator of the Society of Young Latvian Artists (from 1968). He was the head of Painters section of the Artists’ Union (1981-1987); secretary of the board of the Artists’ Union (1982-1987); board member of USSR Artists’ Union (1983-1989); the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Artists’ Union (1987-1990).
Awards: Diploma of the USSR Artists’ Union (1967), Second Prize of the Secretariat of the Board of the USSR Artists’ Union (1967), II Place Diploma of the Press Council of the USSR Council of Ministers (1967), II Place Diploma in the international competition “Art of the Books” in Vilnius (1971), II Place Diploma in the international competition “Art of Book” in Tallinn (1972), I place diploma in the competition “Art of the Book” (Riga, 1978, 1982),I place diploma in the “Art of the Book” in Vilnius (1982), the honorary title of the Merit Art Worker (1982), II place Diploma in the All-Union Competition “Art of the Book” in Moscow (1982), I place Diploma of the Council of the Latvian Economic Achievement Council (1982), II place Diploma of the “Art of the Book” international competition in Minsk (1984), I place diploma in the republican competition for the best artistic and printing works of the publications (1985), the competition prize “The painting of the year” organized by the Hansabanka and gallery Asuna (1996), the Life Cycle scholarship of the Cultural Capital Foundation of Latvia for investment in art (2000), the audience prize at the exhibition “Autumn 2001”.
Exhibitions in Rezekne (1964, 1982, 1994, 2001); Riga (1969, 1981, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004); Madona (1971, 1984, 2002); Eagles (1981); Piebalga (1982); Koknese (1983); Ludza (1983); Mangali (1983); Malnava (1983); Bauska (1984, 2002); Kraslava (1986, 1994, 1998); Livani (1986); Tukums (1986, 1999); Smiltene (1986); Preili (1987, 1996, 2000,); Jekabpils (1993); Jaunpils (1993); Jurmala (1993, 1998); Balvi (1994); Limbazi (1996); Jasmuiza (1999); Jelgava (1999); Ogre (1999); Valka (2003); Valmiera (2003); Cesis (2004).
Solo exhibitions abroad in Bremen, Germany (1985), Moscow (1989), in the gallery “Oline” (Haarmari, Norway, 1993), and together with his daughter Laura an exhibition in Bonn (Germany, 2004).
Participated in group exhibitions in: Latvia (more than 150), Russia, Germany, Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the USA, Belgium, Ukraine, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Mongolia, Sweden, France, Hungary, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Spain, Denmark, Australia.
Works in museums and collections: at the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga, at the Museum of Artists’ Union of Latvia, in the Museum of Literature, Theater and Music in Riga, in the Museum of History and Navigation of Riga, in the Museum of Latgale Cultural History in Rezekne, in the Museum of Tukums, in Kraslava Museum, in the Raina Museum in Rasmuiza, in the Limbazi Museum, Wroclaw Medal the Art Gallery of Poland in Kazanlik, Bulgaria, the collection of the Russian Ministry of Culture, the Union of Artists of Russia at the Directorate of Exhibitions, the National Museum of Art in Minsk in Belarus, the Perm State Art Gallery in Russia, the Novokuznetsk Art Gallery in Russia.
His works can be located in different countries and many public and private collections in Latvia as well as in France, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Japan, Australia.
Jazeps Pigoznis died on the 28th of May, 2014.
