Signet Bank Supports “Džemma” Exhibition Honouring a Latvian Artist's 100 Year Anniversary

From 23rd of August the Latvian National Museum of Art will host the grand exhibition “Džemma”, dedicated to one of Latvia’s most significant artists – Džemma Skulme – marking a century since her birth. The exhibition will trace her creative journey, deeply intertwined with Latvia’s cultural and public life in the second half of the 20th century.

Džemma Skulme was not only a vivid figure in the cultural development of Latvian painting, but also a courageous cultural and public voice. Through her work, national motifs merged with the language of modernism to become symbols of resistance and national identity during the Soviet occupation. In the years of the Awakening (Atmoda), her social activism played a vital role in restoring the Latvian independence.

Džemma Skulme’s work embodies the free-spirited reflection on the destiny of women and the nation through the turning points of history. In today’s geopolitical climate, and remembering the lessons of the Soviet occupation, her legacy is a fundamentally important experience for the long-term preservation of Latvia’s statehood and culture,

notes exhibition curator Sandra Krastiņa.

Supporting an exhibition dedicated to Džemma Skulme means strengthening cultural memory and values that transcend a single generation’s experience. Through her art, Džemma created a language that expressed the spirit of an era and the self-awareness of a nation. She is a striking example of how art can be both aesthetically compelling and socially impactful – inspiring reflection, preserving heritage, and building confidence. It is vital that such works and stories remain alive, allowing future generations to see art as a force that unites and inspires,

emphasises Ineta Done, Member of the Management Board at Signet Bank.

As the main supporter of the exhibition, Signet Bank continues to champion Latvia’s cultural heritage, ensuring that art remains accessible to the wider public.

The exhibition will be open until 25th of January 2026 in the right wing of the 2nd floor of the main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art.

Read more about the exhibition HERE.