International Artists’ Symposium “Šiauliai, City of the Sun” Exhibition Opens in Šiauliai

On 4 September 2026, an exhibition of works created during the international artists’ symposium and creative workshop “Šiauliai, City of the Sun”, organised by the Šiauliai Cultural Centre Gallery “Laiptai”, opened at the former Šiauliai University Art Gallery (Vilniaus St. 141). The exhibition presents the perspectives of twenty professional artists from Lithuania and abroad on Šiauliai as it celebrates its 790th anniversary – its history, symbols, myths and the city of today. The exhibition was presented by art historian Dr Dalia Karatajienė, who observed the symposium’s creative process.
Organised by the Šiauliai Cultural Centre. Funded by Šiauliai City Municipality.

This summer, artists from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Armenia spent six days creating at the Zubov Palace, all sharing a single starting point – Šiauliai. Yet their canvases revealed twenty different interpretations of the city. For some, Šiauliai emerged through its recognisable landmarks, while for others it was expressed through myths, colour, atmosphere or a fleeting moment experienced here.

The exhibition brings together both real and mythical symbols of the City of the Sun. The Cathedral tower stands white against the blue sky, the Archer, known as the Golden Boy, holds a drawn bow, and the Zubov Palace awakens from its slumber. The canvases feature the bull symbolising the city’s vital energy, the Eye of Providence dispelling darkness, while several works return in their own way to the myth of the Abduction of the Sun. Here, familiar symbols of the city are no longer simply reproduced – each is filtered through the artist’s experience, imagination and individual artistic language.

Held for the third time, the international symposium “Šiauliai, City of the Sun” was inseparable this year from the city’s 790th anniversary. Rather than documenting Šiauliai, the artists were invited to explore their own relationship with the city – its identity, historical layers, everyday life and the elements that, over nearly eight centuries, have become recognisable symbols of the City of the Sun.

The exhibition features works by all the artists who participated in the symposium: Sarmīte Caune (Latvia), Ričardas Garbačiauskas (Šiauliai), Vaidė Gaudiešiūtė (Klaipėda), Ilona Janulienė (Vilnius), Antanas Jasenka (Vilnius), Evaldas Jasiūnas (Šiauliai), Živilė Jasutytė (Vilnius), Aldis Kļaviņš (Latvia), Inta Klāsone (Latvia), Birutė Kuicienė (Šiauliai), Paravon Mirzoyan (Armenia), Gagik Parsamian (Poland / Armenia), Juozas Pranckevičius (Vilnius), Algimantas Puipa (Vilnius), Ieva Skauronė (Vilnius), Solvita Spirģe-Sēne (Latvia), Rokas Šakys (Šiauliai), Edita Utarienė (Vilnius) and Gražina Vingrienė (Šiauliai).

Those who missed the exhibition opening will still have the opportunity to visit it on 5, 12 and 13 September from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and on 10 and 11 September from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the former Šiauliai University Art Gallery (Vilniaus St. 141). Admission is free.

For further information, please contact Kristina Alseikė, Event Organiser at the Exhibitions Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Centre, tel. +370 658 80 507, email kristina.alseike@siauliukc.lt.

Photo by Rolandas Parafinavičius.