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IEVA STALŠENE is an emerging artist from Riga, Latvia. In 2025, upon graduating from the Master's program at the Art Academy of Latvia, she will obtain her third degree in higher art education. Over the last decade, she has gained competence and practice in multiple disciplines, including theater directing, culture management, scenography, and painting. This diverse experience has led to her extensive field of work, spanning theater, fine arts, and art curating.
From February 2022 onwards, she held six independent solo exhibitions over two years and determinedly formulated her main artistic research topic, which she refers to as the phenomenon of faith. This topic explores the concepts of faith and belief on multiple levels and in various situations.
One of her leading ideas is encapsulated in the statement: “There is only one reality, the one we believe in.”
Stalšene's style of work is eclectic and involves experiments in various media techniques. Concept and context are the main pillars of her reasoning when choosing the method for executing an idea. In recent years, she has developed a distinctive technique and is well-known for her sacral textual plates. These contemporary paintings, created on wooden surfaces, draw inspiration from iconography and Kirlian photography. She defines them as energetic snapshots of thoughts and ideas, formed by the interplay of metallic overlay, textual font, and color. The selected texts are usually short, original phrases that may have a witty tone as well as philosophical and ambiguous meanings.
Although Stalšene is primarily fascinated by exploring eternal questions, she is also interested in researching contemporary ideas linked with identity, psychology, and the relationship humankind has with the experience of time. As a scenographer, she considers space an important partner, and her series of works are usually created specifically for the exhibition venue.
WHAT I DO: Create expressions of eternal questions. Researching relationships between the complexity of the human mind and the fragileness of one's soul, ultimately concluding that the world itself is surprisingly simple.
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C u r r i c u l u m V i t a e
IEVA STALŠENE
date of birth 25.06.1994
E d u c a t i o n
Since 2021 Master of Arts, Department of Painting, Art Academy of Latvia
2017 - 2021 Bachelor of Arts, Department of Stage Design, Art Academy of Latvia
2013 - 2016 First-level professional higher education, Cultural management with specialization in Theatrical Art, LAC College of Culture of Latvia.
A d d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n
2016 Professional development program “The craftsmanship of theater directing and acting for creative collective leaders”, Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC)
2015 Teachers' Professional Experience Competence Development program „Guidelines of improvisational theater. Theatre Sport” (36h)
P r o f e s s i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s
Since 2019 Artist (participating in group shows since 2019, solo practice since 2022)
Since 2024 Maxim Boxer Gallery, gallery assistant.
Since 2023 Head of the Student Careers Support Centre at the Art Academy of Latvia
2021 - 2022 Artist assistant of Miķelis Fišers.
Since 2020 Member of Artist Alliance 4K.
2015 - 2017 Project manager in communication agency SIA “IamVolume”
Since 2014 Participating in creative projects as director, scenographer, producer, and project manager.
S o l o s h o w s
27/09/23 - 12/10/23 “Total Cessation”, Maxim Boxer Gallery, Riga, Latvia.
30/03/23 - 02/04/23 "Forever and Ever", a pop-up exhibition within the art project "POP UP SEX" in the cultural space "Alksnājs", Riga, Latvia.
16/11/22 - 26/11/22 "Miscomprehension on the Way to God", as part of the exhibition series "Mom, I Can Die by Myself", bookstore / bar "Bolderāja", Riga, Latvia.
24/05/22 - 22/06/22 "INNOCENCE", solo exhibition in the framework of "Riga Photomonth 2022", gallery DOM, Riga, Latvia
13/04/22 - 23/02/22 "Sinners will be boiled in a pot", solo exhibition at M/Gallery, Riga Latvia.
24/02/22 - 27/02/22 "Grown-ups don't cut veins", solo exhibition at the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
S e l e c t e d g r o u p s h o w s
01/01/23 - 01/09/22 Painting expositon at the culture space “Adatu fabrika”, Kuldīga, Latvia.
28/07/22 - 13/09/22 “Savējie”, exhibition at the AAL experimental art space “PILOT”, Riga, Latvia.
03/10/21 - 10/10/21 “Preserve”, an exhibition for a conservative viewer by artist alliance 4K, at LCA Theatre house, Riga, Latvia.
17/08/21 - 10/10/21 “Scale: Maximalism”, scenography scale model exhibition by artist alliance 4K, at The Riga Richard Wagner House windows, Riga Latvia.
13/06/21 - 13/11/21 “Dream of the future” Festival of Karaosta 2021, space installation, Liepaja, Latvia.
26/09/20 - 26/10/20 “Special needs”, an exhibition about sexism in the theater environment done by artist alliance 4K, LCA E.Smiļģa Theatre museum, Riga, Latvia.
26/08/20 - 26/10/20 “XXX”, space installation by Ieva Stalšene, at Culture-spot “Točka” group exhibition based in former rubber factory “Provodnik”, Riga, Latvia.
06/08/20 - 06/09/20 “45,5m2”, an exhibition of large-scale paintings by artist alliance 4K, at Former Beer Brewery, Cesis, Latvia.
19/06/20 - 29/07/20 “The End of the World”, an exhibition by artist alliance 4K, at Kalnciema Street Gallery, Riga, Latvia
06/06/19 - 16/06/19 “The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space”, a participant in the Art Academy of Latvia Stage Design department student exhibition.
C u r a t o r i a l w o r k
25/05/24 - 17/07/24 Co-curator of Miķeļis Fišers solo show “The Stories of the Blind Alien”, Maxim Boxer Gallery, Riga, Latvia.
01/06/24 - 01/06/24 Curator of the young artists' performative installation program 'Still Life with an Ace' at the First Latvian Bridge Forum, at the Zuzeum Art Center, Riga, Latvia.
25/10/23 - 13/10/23 Curator of the LMA Sculpture Department students' exhibition 'T-Factor. Continuation.' at the LMA exhibition space DUO, Riga, Latvia.
02/02/23 - 15/05/23 Concept author and editor-in-chief of the May 2023 issue of the avant-garde publication "Avīzes Nosaukums", "What does an artist believe in?".
08/05/23 - 25/05/23 Curator of Kristians Brekte exhibition “Evil does not ask for forgiveness” at AAL exhibition space “DUO”.
03/11/22 - 10/12/22 Curator of the exhibition series "Mom, I can die by myself", bookstore / bar "Bolderāja", Riga, Latvia.
2022 - present Curator of the exhibition point "NAGLA" (an initiative by the Painting Department) at the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
T h e a t r e a r t a n d e x h i b i t i o n s c e n o g r a p h y
Performance Oct. 2023 Co-author of the concept, scenographer, and costume designer for the artist collective +K+M+B's audio-visual outdoor performance 'It Won't Be Fine' (three locations in Riga), dedicated to the current issues of the climate crisis. (In collaboration with the Latvian Fund for Nature)
Premiere Aug. 2023 Scenography and costumes for performance “I am here! What should I do?”, Dir. Endīne Bērziņa, at Valmiera Summer Theatre festival, Valmiera, Latvia.
Opening May 2023 Scenography for the exhibition "Drūmo meiteņu tumšās mākslas" (an opening program of the Sculpture Quadrennial Riga 2024), culture space “TUR”, Riga, Latvia.
Premiere May 2022 Scenographer assistant to Miķelis Fišers for concert performance “EKATO XPONIA”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of composer Yannis Xenakis, at the concert hall “Latvija”, Ventspils, Latvia.
Premiere May 2022 Scenography and costumes for “You don’t get Me”, Dir. Inga Tropa-Fišere, at Dirty Deal Teatro, Riga, Latvia
Premiere Mar. 2022 Scenographer assistant to Miķelis Fišers for performance “EXPEDITION JĀZEPS”, Dir. Inga Tropa - Fišere, Riga New Theatre, Rīga, Latvia.
Premiere Jan. 2022 Costumes for the contemporary dance performance "Glitch," choreographed by R. Levane and M. Vanags, at the LKA Film School, Riga, Latvia.
Premiere Dec. 2020 Scenography for “Roberto Zuko” (based on B. Mari play with the same name) Dir. Emīlija Dombrovska, at “Bams”, Riga, Latvia.
Premiere Aug. 2020 Co-Scenographer of Miķelis Fišers for “The Obsession with Violets”, Dir. Inga Tropa, at Valmiera Summer Theatre festival, Valmiera, Latvia.
Premiere Jan. 2020 Costumes for “Othello, Emilia and Others” (based on W. Shakespeare’s play “Othello”), Dir. Sabīne Ozoliņa, LCA Theatre house, Riga. Latvia.
Premiere Sept. 2019 Scenography and costumes for “Next to the Horizon”, Dir. Diāna Kaijaka, LCA E.Smiļģa Theatre Museum, Riga, Latvia.
Premiere Jun. 2017 Director of “The Three Reliable Cards” (based on A. Pushkin's story “Queen of Spades”), D27 (Free Riga, Summer Artist Residency), Riga, Latvia.
Premiere Apr. 2016 Reconstructive director for the chamber opera “Acis and Galatea” (original Dir. Laura Groza - Ķibere) at baroque ensemble “Collegium Musicum Riga” (Cond. Maris Kupčs), for St. Petersburg International Chamber Opera Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Premiere Dec. 2015 Director of “The Winter” (play by J. Griškovecs), at LCA E. Smiļģis Theater Museum, Riga, Latvia.
Premiere May 2015 Director of “Charming Neurosis” (play by E. Apkalne), at LCA Latvian College of Culture, Riga, Latvia.
P r o d u c t i o n / P r o j e c t M a n a g m e n t
2023 Producer of the event "What does an artist believe?" as part of the performance program of the AAL exhibition "The Safe Space of Transparent Noise", 4 Kronvalda Boulevard, Riga, Latvia
2023 Leadership of founding new exhibition space “DUO” at the Art Academy of Latvia, 4 Kronvalda Boulevard, Riga, Latvia.
2023 Art Academy of Latvia “Talantu Mese” project manager and producer, AAL, Riga, Latvia.
2023 Manager of the exhibition "NOTHING PERSONAL" by Kristians Brekte, Latvian National Theatre, linked with the performance "Richard. Nothing Personal", Riga, Latvia.
2023 Producer and moderator at AAL Student Carrier Support Center talk series “Where is the carrier in art?” (7 episodes), AAL, Riga, Latvia.
2021 Project manager of social awareness event “Funeral of Artistic Freedom” (Mākslas brīvības bēres), Art Academy of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
2020 / 2021 Co-producer and project manager of Artist Alliance 4K exhibitions.
2017/2016 Project manager of open-air theater performance “Skroderdienas Silmačos” (a play by Rūdolfs Blaumanis), agency “IamVolume”, multiple cities, Latvia.
2017 Producers assistant of “7hills” Rezeknes art festival, agency “IamVolume”, Rezekne, Latvia.
2016 Performance Director and project manager of the event “Medieval Times in castle mound of Rezekne", agency “IamVolume”, Rezekne, Latvia.
2016 Project manager of the concert program “In the Heaven Gardens”, performed by Sergejs Jēgers and Ieva Kerēvica, agency “IamVolume”, multiple cities, Latvia
2016 Project manager of the charity event “LabieDarbi.lv The Great Winter Project” (for Tukums Animal Shelter); agency “IamVolume”, Tukums, Latvia
2015 Producer's assistant in concert “Latvian Vigor song” at Arena Riga, agency “IamVolume” Riga, Latvia.
2015 Producer's assistant for Rezekne town festival, agency “IamVolume”, Rezekne, Latvia.
2015 Producer’s assistant for open-air theater performance “Skroderdienas Silmačosi” (play by Rūdolfs Blaumanis), agency “IamVolume”, multiple cities, Latvia.
O t h e r
2023 Author of logo and visual identity of the Riga Noise festival, Riga, Latvia.
2023 Workshops for people with mental disabilities at the exhibition "Riga Notes. Following the Lines of Vaclav Špakovskis" at the Latvian National Museum of Art.
2023 Lecture "Uncomfortable Themes in Contemporary Art", Latvian Culture Canon competition workshop.
2022 Lecture and masterclass "Artist - the Organiser of His Exhibitions" for students of the Painting Department of the Art Academy of Latvia.
2022 Performance 'Miscomprehension on the Way to God II,' together with artist Evelīna Baha, at the Latvian Academy of Arts, Riga, Latvia.
2022 Visual identity for music festival “ZEMLIKA”.
2022 Participation in a group performance at the Pannonhalma Arts Festival 'Arcus Temporum,' in Pannonhalma, Hungary.
2021 Scenography for the event TRIP TO: Promised Land, at the cultural venue M/Darbnīca
2021 Scenography for a video work, for the Grand Music Prize 2021, together with artist alliance 4K, Riga, Latvia.
2017 Co-author and performer at the open poetry reading night at “D27” (Free Riga, Summer Artist Residency), Riga, Latvia.
2017 Author of the script for an open-air event "Latgale Congress 100, White Tablecloth Festival", agency “IamVolume”, Rezekne, Latvia.
2015 Improvisation theater coach for children in the project “IZ-SPĒLE” organized by the Society Integration Department of the Riga City Council Education, Culture and Sports Department, together with the Riga Valdis Avotiņš Primary School - development center. (16 lessons)
N o m i n a t i o n s i n A r t
2024 "Spēlmaņu Nakts" annual theater award nomination in the category "Production of the Year for Children and/or Adolescents," for the production "I'm Here. What Should I Do?" director Endīne Bērziņa; scenography and costumes by Ieva Stalšene
2023 "Kilograms Kultūras" annual award nomination, category "Theatre," for the production "I'm Here. What Should I Do?" director Endīne Bērziņa, scenography and costumes by Ieva Stalšene
2023 "Kilograms Kultūras" annual award nomination, category "Surprise," for the exhibition "Drūmo meiteņu tumšās mākslas," curator Kristiāna Kārkliņa, scenographer Ieva Stalšene
2022 FK Magazine "Surprise of the Year in Photography 2022" and "Event of the Year in Photography 2022" for photographs from the solo exhibition "Miscomprehension on the Way to God."
L a n g u a g e s k i l l s
Latvian: Native
English: Advanced
Russian: Upper-intermediate
follow the light
