RIGA.- From 12 June to 24 August 2025, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Riga (Skārņu iela 10), in co-operation with the Latvian National Centre for Culture, invites to visit the Meadow exhibition where textile works by the renowned artist Iveta Vecenāne are showcased alongside traditional woven blankets crafted by artisans from various regions of Latvia.

The concept of the exhibition is to create a multidimensional space for story about the relationship between people, nature and art in today’s world. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for dialogue between professional and folk art within the realm of textile craftsmanship encouraging broader conversations on cultural heritage, the synergy between different cultural fields and the interconnections between textile art, design and traditional crafts. The exhibition aims to foster an appreciation for the preservation and development of folk applied arts, ensuring their transmission to future generations.

The Meadow exposition features a collection of 20 Iveta Vecenāne’s tapestries together with up to 200 traditionally woven blankets created by Latvian craftsmen offering visitors an inspiring and visually engaging experience by exploring the rich diversity of materials, techniques and colour combinations found in both Latvian folk and professional textile art.

Iveta Vecenāne (1962) is a textile artist specializing in classical tapestry weaving techniques. She graduated from the Department of Textile Art at the Art Academy of Latvia in 1988 under the guidance of Rūdolfs Heimrāts and earned her master’s degree in 2004. Since 1985, Iveta Vecenāne has actively participated in exhibitions both in Latvia and internationally. As part of public diplomacy efforts, the artist has represented Latvian culture through exhibitions in the United States, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, China, Lithuania, Finland, and other countries.

In her creative practice, Iveta Vecenāne masterfully combines the weaving skills she has honed over the years with the expressive freedom of painting and a vibrant use of colour. The process of weaving large-scale compositions in the tapestry technique is labor-intensive and meditative as well. The textile works on view were made over a nine-year period, reflecting the artist’s eternal source of inspiration – the meadow, which captivates with its ever-changing colours in different seasons and times of day.

The exhibition also showcases a collection of woven blankets from all regions of Latvia, selected by representatives of the Latvian National Centre for Culture in collaboration with exhibition designer Dace Džeriņa. These contemporary woven blankets demonstrate each folk craftsman’s individual artistic taste while preserving traditional weaving techniques, compositional principles and the colour palettes characteristic of different Latvian regions. Traditional blankets, combined with Iveta Vecenāne’s textile works, create a vibrant, colourful meadow – a space where imagination, constant renewal and centuries-old craftsmanship come together.

The overall atmosphere of the exhibition – both traditional and contemporary, reflective and awe-inspiring – is enriched by the musical soundscape composed by Ilga Reizniece and Māris Muktupāvels.

Throughout the duration of the exhibition, an extensive educational programme will be offered, featuring insights from experts in textile art and history, exhibition design, cultural management, and biology.