Artwork

Sudmalis Janis

Farmstead

(1887.28.XI - 1984.21.V)

          Sudmalis learned at Liepaja’s craft school (1900 – 1903), J. Rosenthala art’s studio (1909) and Stiglit’s Central Technical drawing school, fabric decoration department, at st. Petersburg (1911-1915). He worked at Meiera typography (Liepaja 1904 – 1907), at decorative painting workshop to Riga (under guidance of E. Kurava, K. Pasila), as a teacher of drawing in Riga (1916 -1940). Since 1918 – 1919 at Liepaja’s education department, as a drawing teacher at Liepaja’s Art school (1919 – 1935). He was one from founders of Liepaja’s Art favoring unity (1919 – 1940), first leader of unity. Sudmalis took part at foundation in Liepaja’s Art and History museum, was a director (1923 -1958). Sudmalis was initiator to foundation of Liepaja’s Applied Art school, where he learned theory, decorative painting, woodcutting departments (1926 – 1940), Artist was a director 1940 – 1941, 1945 – 1948 at the museum. At end of 1920 Sudmalis attended France, Germany and Italy.
          He took part in exhibitions since 1920.

Memorial exhibitions: Liepaja 1977 with P. Klavins, 1982, 1987, 1992, Riga 19977, Vainode 1970, with A. Baumanis.

Group exhibitions: with A. Baumanis, P. Klavins, Liepaja 1967, 1968, 1972, and Ventspils 1970.

          He was a member Independent Artist’s unity (1920), still 1945 member of Artist Union of Latvia.
          He made research work of Latvian ethnography, composed a book “Latvian article ornament” at the 1923.
          Sudmalis painted oil paints in manner of realism and impressionism (landscapes, still life and portraits), projected furniture and interiors and wrote about art.

Literature:

1) “Latviešu tēlotāja māksla 1860 – 1940” Atb. red. S. Cielava – Rīga, 1986.
2) “Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās” Atb. red. A. Vanaga – Rīga, 2000 – 3.sēj.