Krišjānis Beļavskis
>about
An Art Show for Oto
(AWWAWINTSAAWWAD)
Krišjānis Beļavskis (b. 1999, Riga, Latvia) works in fields of sculpture, installation and text.
Beļavskis' object-based practice explores themes such as observation and the entanglements of matter, value, and meaning. He gradually combines his sculptural work with theatrical, reality show–like elements — for example, hiring an artist assistant, dedicating a work to them, and making them a co-owner of it signing a contract. Through this, he aims to create conditions for the artwork to emerge, as Björk sings in her 1995 song The Modern Things.
Beļavskis holds a BA in arts from the Sculpture department in the Art Academy of Latvia. He spent two semesters studying at Art Academy of Munich (ADBK München) class led by Peter Kogler and continues his studies at POST, an interdisciplinary MA program. Recipient of SPOT Exchange award 2025 at DAS WEISSE HAUS, Vienna.
Since 2017 he has participated in several group exhibitions and performances in Latvia, Germany, Austria, Hungary and the UK. His works have been showcased in two solo exhibitions: AWWAWINTSAAWWAD at the DOM Gallery (Riga) and Week For Sale Week To Sell at the Zuzeum Greenhouse (Riga). Beļavskis has made several objects for public space: Monkey in a Branch commissioned by Riga City Council, Sun (Sunshine) in Sink at the open-air art space Savvaļa and Milk Stool commissioned by AS Smiltenes piens (Smiltene).
education
2023 - 2025 Art Academy of Latvia, MA POST (expected)
2021 - 2022 Munich Art Academy Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, Klasse Peter Kogler
2019 - 2023 Art Academy of Latvia, BA Hons (1st) Sculpture
2015 - 2019 Janis Rozentals Riga Art high school
solo shows / projects
2024 (AWWAWINTSAAWWAD) a wall without a window is not the same as a wall without a door, DOM gallery, Riga, LV
2024 –Remember when I said [..] –I'll answer in a week!, Zuzuem Greenhouse, Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, LV
public space
2024 An Art Show for Oto, Gamla Galleri Snerk, Tromsø, NO
2024 Branch in a Monkey, Riga, LV
2024 Sun (Sunshine) in Sink, Savvaļa, Drusti, LV
2023 Milk Stool, Smiltene, LV
2021 Big Brother, Project Future City/Future Art, Riga, LV
group shows
2025 Your House Has Cavities, MA POST graduation show, Jāņa Kugas māja, Ikšķile, LV (upcoming)
2024 How much is it worth? Bulduri Exhibition House, Jūrmala, LV
2024 Used Springs, PAiR, Pāvilosta, LV
2024 Rapids Have Working Hours, Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, LV
2024 Extracurricular, durational performance with Mark Hulson and Owen Perry, Lethaby Gallery, London, GB
2023 Recollection Bureau: An instructive happening, Wearable Memory and Body Techniques. Featuring Solomon Levitanus and Ljuba Monastirsky, Kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Riga, LV
2023 Leave a comment on Liepāja! Liepaja, LV
2022 Transformation, Marijas iela 11, Riga, LV
2022 Unlocked, Jahresausstellung 2022, ADBK München, DE
2022 Augmented Dreams, Austrian Sculpture Park, Graz, AT
2021 I delve into myself – into you, into her, into you, into us, into everyone... Sabile Art Space, LV
2021 Other Side of Art, Railway Museum, Riga, LV
2021 Ceļam gars! Viskaļu iela 36, Riga, LV
2021 Survivors, Jūrmala city museum, Jurmala, LV
2020 Sculpture, Ceramics, Glass. Liepaja city museum, Liepaja, LV
2019 4K2019, Riga Central Market, LV
other projects, talks, workshops
2025 The Bureaucrat Who Secretly Reads Poems curated by Roberta Atraste, Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT, scenography and exhibition setup, PILOT, Riga LV
2024 Īpaša vieta laikmetīgajai mākslai. Kas notiek savvaļā?, panel discussion, Survival Kit 15, Riga, LV
2024 City out of Sight, KUNO short term mobility, Trondheim, NO
2024 The European House of Arstists, Barcsay Hall, Budapest, HU
2024 {de}construct. Kid's summer lab. Workshop at Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, LV
2023 POST Production NO 2of∞, visual essay for publication, Riga, LV
2023 Ķirmis, wood art symposium, Suntaži, LV
2023 YES Sculpture, Erasmus+ short term mobility, TALM - École Supérieure d'Art et de Design Tours Angers- Le Mans, FR
2022 The art of Zellige, summer school, Michelangelo foundation, Tetouan, MA
2022 EU4ART 59th Venice Art Biennale, short term mobility, Venice, IT
2020 16th international cast iron syposium, SERDE, Aizpute, LV
residencies
2025 SPOT Exchange Award, DAS WEISSE HAUS, Vienna, AT (upcoming)
2024 PAiR, Pavilosta, LV
2024 Dolomiti Contemporaine, short term residency, Ex Villagio Eni, Borca di Cadore, IT
awards / grants
2025 SPOT Exchange Award, Riga – Vienna, LV/AT
2024 VKKF Creative Work Grant, LV
press
Ķengaragā izveidots vides mākslas objektu pastaigu maršruts “Pastaigu kvadrāts ar stipri noapaļotām malām”
https://www.riga.lv/lv/jaunums/kengaraga-izveidots-vides-makslas-objektu-pastaigu-marsruts-pastaigu-kvadrats-ar-stipri-noapalotam-malam?utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
Photo reportage from the exhibition 'a wall without a window is not the same as a wall without a door (AWWAWINTSAAWWAD)' by Krišjānis Beļavskis at the DOM Gallery (August 2024)
https://echogonewrong.com/photo-reportage-from-the-exhibition-a-wall-without-a-window-is-not-the-same-as-a-wall-without-a-door-awwawintsaawwad-by-krisjanis-belavskis-at-the-dom-gallery/
Rapids Have Working Hours (August 2024)
https://mostmagazine.org/2024/08/13/rapids-have-working-hours/
Māxlas Žurnāls 16 (April 2024)
https://www.valtersdaksa.lv/veikals/item/maxlas-zurnals/mz-16---radosa-birokratija/