News

November 10–16, the 18th Street Arts Center hosted a special cultural week dedicated to Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, marking the 150th anniversary of his birth. The events were organized by the Consulate General of Lithuania in Los Angeles, inviting the local community and guests to explore the life and work of Lithuania’s most celebrated artist.

Throughout the week, visitors could view high-quality reproductions of Čiurlionis’ paintings. Guests noted that the exhibition allowed them to rediscover the symbolism of the artist’s colors, his sense of space, and his visionary imagination. Many remarked how astonishing it is that in the early 20th century Čiurlionis was able to create an almost three-dimensional visual effect, making his works appear strikingly contemporary today.

During the same week, the exhibition “Čiurlionis’ Beloved Ones”, created by Vilnius Academy of Arts professor Jolanta Talaikytė and her first-year students, was presented. This subtle, quiet narrative tells the story of the women who accompanied Čiurlionis throughout his life and creative journey. Also exhibited were student works inspired by Čiurlionis’ well-known quotes. These pieces complemented the main exhibition of art reproductions, adding emotional and biographical depth.

A key part of the week’s program was the virtual-reality film “Trail of Angels,” created in 2018 and inspired by Čiurlionis’ paintings. Visitors immersed themselves in a magical world where the artist’s painting and music merged into a unified experience. For many, the VR film became a gateway to a deeper understanding of Čiurlionis’ art: upon leaving the virtual environment, they said they felt compelled to return to the reproductions and examine them more slowly and attentively.

Closing Čiurlionis Week in Santa Monica, Lithuania’s Consul General Sandra Brikaitė noted: “For Lithuanians Čiurlionis is more than a great artist - he is part of our cultural identity. His art emerged at a time when Lithuania was fighting to preserve its language and spirit. And he helped us see ourselves not as a small nation, but as a culture with an immense horizon. What also makes him extraordinary - and why we gather here more than hundred years later - is that he was ahead of his time and his art speaks across borders and generations. It continues to inspire artists, composers, designers, filmmakers, and young creatives around the world.”

The Čiurlionis Art Week culminated in an impressive concert by pianist Rokas Zubovas and cellist Gleb Pyšniak at the Highways Performance Space, attracting more than 100 attendees - diplomats, representatives of the business, arts, and creative communities, as well as the local Lithuanian diaspora.

Rokas Zubovas - a global ambassador of Čiurlionis’ music - is not only a renowned pianist but also the great-grandson of Čiurlionis. This personal lineage gives his interpretations of Čiurlionis’ works a unique emotional and artistic depth. He studied at the University of Chicago and the prestigious DePaul School of Music, later taught in Lithuania, and actively performs throughout Europe, the United States, and South America. Zubovas is also known for portraying Čiurlionis in the film “Letters to Sofija”. His playing is praised for its calm, intellectual, and profound interpretation, revealing the most delicate nuances of the composer’s musical language.

Gleb Pyšniak, an internationally acclaimed cellist, is considered one of the most prominent Lithuanian musicians of his generation. He studied in Germany and Austria with renowned cello teachers, including Prof. Reinhard Latzko. Pyšniak has won several international competitions, performed in Tokyo, Vienna, and Prague, and collaborated with distinguished orchestras and conductors. His playing is known for its emotional expressiveness combined with precise technical control. Together with Zubovas, he has been presenting joint programs for several years, blending academic tradition, Lithuanian musical heritage, and contemporary interpretive approaches.

The evening’s program included Anatolijus Šenderovas’ Songs of Shulamith, Philip Glass’ The Opening, and George Gershwin’ Three Preludes. Special focus, of course, was given to the works of Čiurlionis - his nocturnes and preludes were performed, each introduced with stories about their creation and their connection to the composer’s life in Druskininkai, his artistic travels, and personal reflections. The program also featured “unda, unda… inundare…” by contemporary Lithuanian composer Žibuoklė Martinaitytė, adding a fresh dimension of modern Lithuanian music inspired by Čiurlionis.

With concerts at Stanford University and Santa Monica, Zubovas and Pyšniak launched their concert tour in the United States. Over the next two weeks, they will perform in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Lemont, and New York.

Throughout the week, visitors were invited by a poster created specifically for the exhibition, featuring artwork by Aistė Rukšėnaitė, the winner of the 2025 drawing contest of the Lithuanian Educational Council of the USA and a student at St. Casimir Lithuanian Heritage School. Her illustration, inspired by Čiurlionis’ art, is yet another testament to how the artist’s visions continue to inspire new generations.

“Čiurlionis Week” in Santa Monica took place thanks to the support of sponsors and partners. The organizers extend their gratitude to the California Lithuanian Credit Union, the Lithuanian World Arts Council and Honorary Consul General Daiva Navarrete, the Lithuanian Culture Institute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Honorary Consul in Seattle Rasa Raišys, the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, 18th Street Arts Center, Highways Performance Space, Oniroco Studios, Vilnius Academy of Arts, and Uppers Café & Bakeshop.

Photos by Marija Misevičiūtė and Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Los Angeles