Lecture by Prof., Dr. habil. art. Ojārs Spārītis “The Value of Art in the Antiquarian Market and the Risks to Museums in Postcolonial Discourse”

On 29 October 2026 at 5: 00 PM, the museum Riga Art Nouveau Centre invites you to a lecture by Professor Ojārs Spārītis, “The Value of Art in the Antiquarian Market and the Risks to Museums in Postcolonial Discourse”.

Continuing the museum’s lecture series, visitors are invited to an educational in-person lecture that will offer a look behind the scenes of the art market and trace the path of cultural values across the centuries, from honest collecting to the illegal acquisition and loss of works of art. Special attention will be given to Latvia’s experience, whose historical upheavals and geographical position have significantly affected the preservation of cultural heritage.

Art as a commissioned work was born together with humanity’s conscious need to bring closer some significant symbol, protective amulet, or simply a beautiful object. The need for art creates demand, which is met by supply. These principles underlie both the art market in antiquity and the antiquarian market today.

However, there are various ways of acquiring works of art, the most socially dangerous of which are war booty, the exploitation of colonies and economically dependent countries, black archaeology, and the looting of museums, places of worship, and private individuals. By contrast, legal art trade is visible to society and takes place in antique shops, auction houses, or among collectors. Although modern Latvia is highly valued on a global scale for its cultural heritage, it is not a country where many masterpieces of art have accumulated. Wars, political cataclysms, and violently imposed ideological distortions of culture have destroyed a large part of immovable property and an even larger part of movable property, the most visible part of which consists of art market objects. The role of present-day Latvia as an economic transit country between East and West also does not encourage the accumulation of lasting values, but rather promotes the erosion of the cultural heritage stock. The lecturer will introduce visitors to his experience from the point of view of cultural heritage protection.

Prof., Dr. habil. art. Ojārs Spārītis is an art historian and head of the doctoral program at the Art Academy of Latvia.

Participation fee: EUR 10.00

Advance registration is required by calling +37167181465 or writing to jugendstils@riga.lv during the museum's opening hours.