II-III, V: 10:00-18:00; IV: 11:00-20:00; VI-VII: 10:00-17:00
A. Goštauto St. 1, Vilnius
Ticket price €5
Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum
Vilnius
museums
art
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One of the great Lithuanian artistic visionaries, Kasiulis became a painter of the School of Paris. The Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum was opened in Vilnius to permanently house the sizable collection of over 950 paintings, as well as his personal archive, which had been bequeathed to the state.
The history of Lithuania is replete with "what ifs." During the 1920s and 1930s, a new, progressive generation of artists, scientists, and thinkers emerged. Unfortunately, they never had a chance to fully contribute to the country's culture. At the end of the Second World War, most of them were exiled to the West, where they produced their greatest work. One such individual was the painter Vytautas Kasiulis.
After the war, the artist settled in Paris, where he eventually became an integral part of the École de Paris and created his most famous works, gaining recognition in artistic circles worldwide. Although Kasiulis witnessed the rebirth of independent Lithuania, the first significant Lithuanian exhibition of his work occurred only after his death, when The National Museum showcased more than 150 of his paintings, thanks to the initiative of the artist's widow, Bronė Kasiulis. The paintings remained in Lithuania and were donated to the public on the condition that they would form the foundation of the Vytautas Kasiulis Museum.
The museum is currently housed in the historic building of the Vilnius Society of Friends of Science. Visitors can explore not only Kasiulis's works but also those of many other Lithuanians in exile. The museum also hosts exhibitions that introduce the public to the most significant artworks of the 20th and 21st centuries. Simultaneously, it serves as an essential space for developing a deeper relationship with art, offering an educational center, lectures, excursions, and other events tailored to both art aficionados and novices.