From 30 May to 23 August 2026, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Riga (Skārņu iela 10) invites to visit the exhibition In the Name of Clay: 50 Years of Italian Ceramic Art, tracing the development of Italian contemporary ceramics from the post-war period to the present day.
For the first time in Latvia, visitors will be able to discover a collection selected especially for Riga from the world-renowned and legendary International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza. The exhibition opens up a new cultural perspective not only on Italy, but also on the international context. It highlights Italy’s unique contribution to one of the most versatile media in the visual arts – ceramics – where sculpture, design and materiality converge. Bringing together works by 50 authors, the exposition offers an insight into the development of the field over half a century – from its pioneers to the most prominent masters of the 21st century.
The concept is based on the idea of creative “obsession” – an intense and passionate exploration of ceramics that characterizes the practice of the artists represented. This art form has now become a sought-after interdisciplinary means of expression, encouraging public discussion on important issues while inspiring both artists and viewers. The exhibition surprises with innovative ideas, unusual forms and original technical solutions.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see vivid Italian ceramic masterpieces distinguished by their rich variety of forms. The exhibition opens with poetically nuanced compositions by Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti and Leoncillo Leonardi, followed by the sculptural experiments of the 1970s and 1980s. The display also features a range of contemporary practices, including works by Bertozzi & Casoni, Salvatore Arancio and Alessandro Roma.
A separate section is dedicated to emerging artists whose oeuvre has the power to reshape our perception of ceramics, presenting it as a dynamic and relevant language of contemporary art. Among them is Marco Ceroni, who explores subcultures and uses objects found on the outskirts of cities in his work, creating new visual images charged with philosophical meaning. By interpreting urban scenarios, he offers a futuristic and fragmented vision of contemporary society. The objects created by the studio Formafantasma stand out for their research-based exploration of diverse materials and underline the essential role of design in ecological, social and political contexts, as well as in future-oriented perspectives on history.
The exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design (MDAD) is part of the Latvia Ceramics Biennale’s interseason programme and is organized in co-operation with the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics and the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza (Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza, MIC). Its aim is to foster intercultural dialogue and introduce Latvian audiences to significant developments in ceramic art worldwide.
The International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza was founded in 1908 and holds a collection of more than 60 000 objects, ranging from antiquity to the present day. The museum’s collection includes works by world-famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Alberto Burri, and Lucio Fontana. The exhibition also features Latvian ceramic artists – award winners of the Faenza biennials – Pēteris Martinsons, Andris Vēzis and Juris Bergins. In 2011, Faenza was included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in recognition of its ceramic traditions.
The curators of the exhibition are Claudia Casali, Director of the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, and representatives of the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics Valentin Petjko and Aivars Baranovskis. Their collaboration offers a nuanced view of the diverse manifestations of the ceramic medium in contemporary art.
The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design continues its creative co-operation with the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics by organising international exhibitions. In previous years, the museum has hosted such important projects as the Baltic contemporary ceramic art exhibition CREO ERGO SUM, in the framework of the 3rd Latvia Ceramics Biennale (2021), and the Self-Medication. Korean Ceramic Art, a guest exhibition at the 4th Latvia Ceramics Biennale (2024).
The exhibition has been made possible with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia and the Embassy of Italy in Riga.
Exhibition is organized by:
Latvian National Museum of Art, Museum of Decorative Arts and Design,
International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics
Co-operation partner:
Rothko Museum
Exhibition curators:
Claudia Casali, Director of the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza / Faenza, Italy
Aivars Baranovskis, exhibition curator / Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics / Daugavpils, Latvia
Valentin Petjko, artist, curator / Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics / Daugavpils, Latvia
Dace Ļaviņa, Curator of the Latvian Ceramics and Porcelain Collection / Museum of Decorative Arts and Design / Latvian National Museum of Art / Riga, Latvia
Ph: +371 67830904, E: Dace.Lavina@lnmm.gov.lv
Exhibition team:
Inese Baranovska, Head of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design / Latvian National Museum of Art
Ph: +371 67830900, E: Inese.Baranovska@lnmm.gov.lv
Līga Brice, Senior Specialist / Museum of Decorative Arts and Design / Latvian National Museum of Art
Līva Kubulniece, Communication Specialist / Museum of Decorative Arts and Design / Latvian National Museum of Art
Ph: +371 28381129, E: Liva.Kubulniece@lnmm.gov.lv
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The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design / Skārņu iela 10, Riga, Latvia
OPENING HOURS:
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 11.00–17.00, ticket office 11.00–16.45
Wednesdays 11.00–19.00, ticket office 11.00–18.45
Closed on Mondays
The museum is closed on all public holidays: 1 January, Good Friday, Easter, Midsummer Eve and Day (23–24 June), Christmas (25–26 December), 31 December.
ADMISSION:
Adults: 9,00 EUR
Pupils, students, seniors: 4,50 EUR
Family ticket (1–2 adults with 1–4 children or family having many children): 10,00–16,00 EUR
Free admission for LNMA Annual ticket holders.
Reduced individual admission fee for groups of 10 or more people.
Free admission for the person in charge of the group.
Free entry is also for (valid status identification card required): pre-school children; orphans or children not under parental care; day-care centre, crisis centre and special education pupils; children placed in a social rehabilitation centre and accompanying persons (one teacher or one person per 10 children or pupils); children under 18 years with a disability; persons with a disability 1st and 2nd group; one person accompanying either a child under 18 years with a disability or a person with disability of 1st group; a sign language interpreter accompanying a person with disability of 1st, 2nd or 3rd group; pupils of Latvian art schools or professional secondary art schools; full- and part-time students of the Art Academy of Latvia; students attending institutions of professional secondary education or colleges who are studying or receiving training in visual or applied art, design, cultural history, museology, cultural heritage, architecture, restoration as part of their studies or training; members of the Latvian Artists’ Union; employees of Latvian museums; members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM); members of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); Friend of the LNMA card holders; participants of the museum programmes Volunteer Programme and Youth Club; media representatives who are covering museum events; group leaders or teachers (minimum 10 persons); Ukrainian citizens; visitors to events organised by the museum during the annual international campaign European Night of Museums and the contemporary culture forum White Night; all visitors to the permanent exhibition on the last Sunday of every month and on International Museum Day – 18th May.
Press release prepared by:
Natalie Suyunshalieva
Head of Press
The Latvian National Museum of Art
Ph: +371 67357527
GSM: +371 26593495
E: pr.service@lnmm.gov.lv
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