Artwork in the room
Vytautas Žirgulis was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, on November 4, 1962. His education is remarkably varied: he began by specializing in music at J. Naujalis Art School in 1980, then studied event directing at Klaipėda Conservatory, where he graduated in 1984. In 1992, he earned his degree from Vilnius Academy of Arts, specializing in painting, which firmly established his presence in the Lithuanian art world. Since 1995, he has been a member of the Lithuanian Artists' Association.
Žirgulis has maintained an active career, participating in numerous group exhibitions and plein air events both within Lithuania and internationally. He has staged 18 solo exhibitions to date, each reflecting the breadth and progression of his artistry. Based in Vilnius, he not only creates but also teaches drawing, painting, and composition at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art. His artistic work spans both easel and wall painting.
Žirgulis characterizes his painting style as magical realism, drawing upon themes from daily life and infusing common subjects with significant depth. He places particular value on authenticity, people, and real events in his creative process, explaining that narrative and the ideas beneath it are central to his practice. The artist favors oil paints for their depth and for allowing detailed work with nuances, soft edges, and layers made possible by their slow drying. His pieces often feature literary references, which are apparent not only in the subject matter but also inform his selection of color, use of light, and arrangement of each composition.
Art critic Ignas Kazakevičius observes that Žirgulis’s symbolism is primarily anthropomorphic, conveying emotions and psychological states through subtly rendered, mysterious faces. Kazakevičius points out the dreamlike nature of Žirgulis’s motifs, describing the way his intimate figures shift into fantastical chimaeras set within vibrant blue spaces. In the critic’s view, Žirgulis’s painting technique is just as crucial as his literary themes and symbols, as it invites viewers into enduring and resonant encounters with his forms.
About this artwork+
In the painting "Distances" by Vytautas Žirgulis, a tranquil landscape unfolds, enveloped in a soft, misty haze typical of a serene, early morning or a late evening. The foreground features a calm water body, possibly a pond or a river, dotted with an abundance of lily pads that gently float on the surface, hinting at the lushness of life both above and beneath the water. Beyond the water, the land gently rises into verdant fields, sprinkled with the fresh green of early growth. Toward the horizon, a group of gentle trees stands sentinel, their forms blurred and ethereal in the mist, creating a sense of depth and distance. The colors used are muted, with soft blues, greens, and hints of earthy pinks and whites, conveying a mood of tranquility and the ephemeral nature of the moment captured. The sky, a canvas of light ochres and hazy blues, subtly blends into the colors of the land and water, knitting the elements together in a quiet harmony that invites contemplation and inward reflection.
