From January 28 to March 26, 2023, museum "Riga Art Nouveau Center" will host an exhibition of drawings by Anita Paegle "Cats of Riga". On display along with original book illustrations and stamps, visitors will have a chance to see a coin dedicated to the theme of cats designed by the artist.
One of the most important characters in Anita Paegle's work is a cat. But a cat is a creature that walks where it likes, so museum "Riga Art Nouveau Center" will display cats from various book illustrations, stamps and coin created by the artist. "I am interested in simply drawing what is around - flowers, birds, animals, objects, also architecture that I like. And you know, things that have made it into books change - it's no longer just a chair you've drawn, it has its own character, soul", says Anita Paegle.
The exhibition "Rīgas kaķi" will feature Anita Paegle's original illustrations for Inese Zandere's book of poems “Kaķis uz klavierēm”("Cat on the Piano") (2021), Māras Cielēna's book "ņau un purr" (2005), everything will be complemented by drawings for thematic stamps issued by Latvian Post and the coin issued by the Bank of Latvia “Pasaku monēta I. Pieci kaķi” (“Fairytale coin I. Five cats”).
Working in children's book graphics since 1981, Anita Paegle has developed her own style - each illustration she makes is like a separate work of art, where details, nuances and characters are of great importance. Visitors of the exhibition will be able to enjoy the drawings of the cats in Riga's urban environment and try to recognize the streets and houses of Riga seen in the drawings.
Anita Paegle graduated from J. Rozentāls Riga Art High School and the Graphic Department of the Latvian Academy of Arts, she has been illustrating children's books since 1981. The artist has been a laureate of the book art competition "The most beautiful book of the year" (2001), received the Pastariņa prize (1991, 2000), a diploma at the Tallinn Illustration Triennial (2003), the J. Baltvilkas prize (2006), the I. Zeberiņš prize (2007) for her children's book illustrations and book art competition "Golden Apple" award (2005, 2014), repeatedly nominated for the highest international award in the field of children's literature and illustrations - the Hans Christian Andersen Award (2012, 2016). In 2000, she was included in the honor list of world illustrators of the IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) - the World Council of Children's and Young People's Literature. The artist has had eleven solo exhibitions - in Latvia, Paris, Venice, St. Petersburg, Budapest, etc.
Publicity image: Anita Paegle. Mārupe ielas kaķis (Marupe Street cat).