Famous artist of XXI century
Created by Pale Primary School
Maija Tabaka (1939.) Latvian painter
Famous for painting portraits and figural compositions
Fans of Maija Tabaka’s art have compared the artist to a bird of paradise, a comet or a Soviet countess, but, first and foremost, she is an outstanding painter who has perfected her craftsmanship to the highest degree.
Maija Tabaka is an artist whose art works have been attracting our attention for over 40 years. In 1992, her solo exhibition in the National Art museum was viewed by 70 000 people. On the final day of her solo exhibition in 2005 the number of visitors reached 2000. At that time the museum director remarked to a journalist: “The museum is too small for so many visitors”.
Maija Tabaka was a very challinging and bright personality. Tabaka's works are in the Tretyakov gallery, the Berlin National gallery and the Peter Ludwig collection. In 1961 she was expelled from Academy of Art. The reason was her painting ”Pineapple Eaters”. Some teachers considered she wasn’t talanted enough and there were strange characters in this her painting.
Why did the German artist Wolf Vostell painted her portrait with camera instead of her nose? Wolf Vostell. Portrait of Maija Tabaka. 1978. Canva, mixed technique.
Because she is able to see nuances of reality very precisely.
Selfportrait. 1963. Tretyakov gallery, Moscow. Created at a time Maija Tabaka was expelled from the Academy of Arts. (In 1965 she was invited to return to the academy.)
Diploma work. Group of the young artists.1969. Her first multi-figural portrait.
Morning in the wood. 1971. Canva, oil.195 x 210
Alex. 1983. Collection of Latvian National Museum of Art.
Regina (portrait of famous Latvian actress). 2011.
Beauty.
Halloween. 2015.
https://youtu.be/BUpmCsy5fcA
Greenhouse. Canva, oil. 90 x 120, 2015
In any case, it is obvious that the demand for art by Maija Tabaka does not have anything in common with the therm «mass culture», but rather is connected with the originality and special ability to discover a miracle by the picturesque canvas. https://youtu.be/on0qgWQ4XPY?t=10