Pladers Oto

Painter, teacher.

He is a master of the representative of impressionistic realism and semitone painting in Latvian art. Worked in oil painting technique; painted landscapes, still life and portraits. A great attention was given to the color and the problematic of atmosphere and lighting.

Oto Pladers was born in Bulduri on the 8th of March, 1897.

Studied at Riga City Art School (1913–1915), Art Academy of Latvia under supervision of professor J. R. Tillbergs (1921–1925) and V. Purvitis (1926–1929), but he didn’t graduate.

He worked as a teacher at Dubulti Secondary School, later Tartu Art School “Pallas” (1925–1926). O. Planders was a set designer at the Latvian National Opera (1936), as restorer at the City Art Museum (1938). After Second World War he worked as an educator at Janis Rozentals Art School of Riga, where he brought up many generations of artists, among them – R. Valneris, U. Zemzaris, H. Klebahs.

Oto Pladers was a member of the Society of Independent Artists (1923–1940) and participated in its’ exhibitions.

In 1930 with a grant of the Cultural Foundation he went on a creative trip to Paris and Brussels, where he studied the impressionistic painting, which later influenced his work. Solo exhibitions in Riga (1930, 1932 with V. Linde, 1967).

Died in Riga on the 2nd of May, 1970.

Source: Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās. Riga: 1996, II, p.181.