Exposition of Rothko's original works “Rothko. From the family collection”

The exhibition of Rothko's original works in the museum named after the artist offers a picturesque encounter with Mark Rothko, one of the most innovative and significant artists of the 20th century, whose works paint and light create a space for the viewer's experience.

The Rothko Museum is the only public cultural venue in Eastern Europe where a selection of Rothko works from the artist's family collection are constantly on display. This is ensured by the close collaboration of the museum with the artist's daughter Kate Rothko Prizel and son Christopher Rothko.

Mark Rothko came to the world in 1903 in Daugavpils, where he spent the first decade of his life before moving to the United States with his family. It was here that his earliest and most fundamental notions of the world were formed, which determined the development of his personality. Although Rothko experienced a boom in his creative career and international recognition in the US, Daugavpils is an important milestone in his biography, as this is where the artist's life journey began. The Rothko Museum embodies this historical connection and at the same time offers to view his works not as an attachment to certain biographical events, but as a valuable and intense painting experience.

The exposition covers all stages of Rothko's creation – from early figurative and surrealist-influenced works to innovative “multiform” compositions and legendary “classical” period painting. Intended not as a comprehensive retrospective, but as a concise and thoughtful selection, it shows the artist's change of thinking and gradual transition from form to color, from representation to emotion and presence.

In Rothko painting, color is not a decorative element, but a space that affects the viewer both emotionally and physically. Here the form and content are inseparable. In his classical works, the artist does not impose on the viewer an interpretation underscored by a deliberate renunciation of titles. Instead, he invites you to stop, indulge in silence, tranquility, and a leisurely private conversation. Light, layering, structure of the composition create an immersive experience, where the painting is not an object, but a space of emotional presence. This tension between abstraction and spirituality is Rothko's greatest strength.

The concept of the Rothko painting exposition implies a regular replacement of works, while maintaining the original idea of showing the artist's creative path at different stages. Since the museum's opening in 2013, visitors have had the opportunity to view twenty-four paintings by Mark Rothko, and each successive set of works continues to broaden their understanding of his art.

The exposition is open from April 24, 2026 to April 22, 2029.

Curated by Farida Zaletilo

Publicity image: Mark Rothko, Untitled (1948). Oil on canvas, 157.5 x 81.3 cm Christopher Rothko collection.