Exhibition of Artist Sandra Strēle

On Tuesday, October 12, the Latvian Academy of Arts (LMA) in collaboration with "Semarah Hotels" opened the personal exhibition "CITI LAIKI" by talented LMA graduate Sandra Strēle at the "Grand Poet" design hotel. The hotel collection already includes seven paintings by young Latvian artists.

"In my creative work, I have always tried to create paintings as ever-changing series of stories that replace and complement each other from exhibition to exhibition, encouraging observant viewers to search for familiar and previously seen motifs. The exhibition brings together paintings from various series of my works, which were started as early as 2017 and are still ongoing," invites visitors to the gallery, the artist Sandra Strēle explains.

The opening of Sandra Strēle's solo exhibition was attended by Andris Vītoliņš, professor and prorector of the Latvian Academy of Arts, who describes Sandra as a very determined and focused young artist: "I noticed Sandra Strēle as an active artist already in her third year of studies when, working on study assignments, Sandra accomplished 100% more than her classmates. At that time, to realize her artistic idea, Sandra was ready to travel hundreds of kilometers from Riga to a distant corner of Latvia just to achieve her goal. Over time, her perseverance and work abilities have been recognized with significant awards in various local and international competitions. This does not mean that Sandra rests on her laurels. She continues to work tirelessly and is currently studying in the Professional Doctoral Program at the Latvian Academy of Arts and preparing for new exhibitions abroad."

The exhibition features works from the series "MELANHOLIJA" and "NOSTALĢIJA"

These works explore closed, secluded, and sometimes solitary places, their architecture, and the creation of fictional everyday narratives, offering the viewer a role of observer. The series "Nenotikušās izstādes" (Unrealized Exhibitions) addresses the issues of the artist's profession, visualizing various exhibition ideas in the medium of painting in an attempt to reveal how a tiny particle of all these ideas is ever realized in life and to answer the question of whether it is necessary at all. The series "Nenotikušās izstādes" also reflects on what it means to be a successful artist and what it means to be a woman artist.

About artist Sandra Strēle

Sandra Strēle was born in 1991. In 2016, she graduated from the Latvian Academy of Arts with a master's degree in painting, and she also spent one semester at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp as part of a student exchange program. She has received scholarships in visual arts from the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation (2012), the Brederlo von Sengbusch Art Award (2014), SEB Bank's scholarship in painting (2016), prestigious scholarships from The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation in Canada (2019, 2021), and the Young Painter Award (2019). Sandra Strēle has held several solo exhibitions and has participated in group exhibitions and artist residencies in Italy, Norway, India, Belgium, Germany, France, and elsewhere.

Anyone can evaluate the works by affixing a sticker to their favorite piece

In creating a unique collection of works by young Latvian artists, after each exhibition, "Grand Poet" acquires the most highly regarded painting by visitors and includes it in the hotel's art collection, "Grand Poet Art Collection."

"Art has an enduring value, so we are pleased to support young Latvian artists who can inspire us in these challenging times. Sandra Strēle's artwork will be a great addition to the collection of works by young Latvian artists in our hotel," says Māris Alnis, the director of "Grand Poet", adding that anyone can evaluate the works by affixing a sticker - a 5 cent coin - to their favorite piece. Voting stickers can be obtained at "Grand Poet".

About "Grand Poet Art Collection"

On June 14, 2018, the Latvian Academy of Arts and the hotel chain "Semarah Hotels" signed a cooperation memorandum to support and develop young artists. Its goal is to support students of the academy and young Latvian artists, inspire new achievements, raise self-awareness, create an international career, provide financial support for talent development, create space for personal exhibitions, thereby promoting the development of art in Latvia.

About "Grand Poet"

"Grand Poet" is created in Latvia by the hotel chain "Semarah Hotels". Currently, the hotel chain can be proud of the resort hotel "Lielupe" in Jūrmala and two hotels in Riga - the four-star historic hotel "Metropole" on Aspazijas Boulevard and the elegant five-star design hotel "Grand Poet Hotel" on Raiņa Boulevard, 5/6. Each of them has its own unique story and values.

More about artist Sandra Strēle and her works can be found here.