Kristine Abika

Kristine Abika was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1975, lives and works in Latvia. After graduating Janis Rozentāls Riga Art High School, she continued her studies at the Latvian Academy of Arts and received a BA in Stage Design and an MA in Painting.
After studies, she continued to work actively in both fields, participating in exhibitions, making costumes and stage design for theater performances in Latvia and abroad.
Painting, texture and linearity are the main means of expression that have been essential, now replacing canvas with used metal surfaces and interest of objects coming out of the surface.
For several years work in theater has been a very intense phase with more than 50 performances. She has received Russian theater prize CHAIKA for costumes, and she has received several nominations for her work in Latvia. She has integrated her painting principles - texture and close-up importance - into costumes and stage design, having a nuanced sense for poetic nature of substance.
Similarly, it is with her passion for things and objects that are not classified as valuable antiquities. Kristine creates an imaginative story for each object and includes it in her work - portraits of small, unnecessary things observed in monumental si...

From 2002 Member of Artists' Union of Latvia (LMS)
1999-2001 Art Academy of Latvia, Painting Department, MA
1995-1999 Art Academy of Latvia, Stage Design Department, BA
1988-1995 Jan Rozentals Art High School


SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020
"2”, salon “Bon Bon Shoes”, Riga
“Brasilwood: Part l”, together with photographer Maris Ločmelis, concert hall “Great Amber”, Liepaja
2018
"Antennas and Satellites", gallery "Astronauts", Riga
"Trophies", Coworking space METRO, Kuldiga
2017
"Crystal Grid", Kuldiga Artists' Residency gallery, Kuldiga
2016
"Tin Landscapes" (together with photographer Agnese Zeltina), gallery "Istaba", Riga and Ventspils Museum
2007
"Dupuz’s Expeditions", gallery "Istaba", Riga
2006
"Sea Affairs", gallery "Pedants", Riga
2005
"Portraits", gallery "Daugava, Riga
2001
"Inventory", gallery "Bastejs", Riga


GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019
“Sea of Memories”, Jurmala City Museum
“Summer exhibition”, Ventspils Museum
2018
"Kur Zeme?", gallery of Artists’ Residence, Kuldiga
2014
Gallery's 10th anniversary exhibition, gallery "Istaba", Riga
2011
"He Does Not Seek The Truth, He Wants to Impress?", Riga Art Space, Riga
2009
"Istaba’s Mailboxes", gallery "Istaba", Riga
2006
"Clocks", gallery "Istaba", Riga
2005
"Etonnante Lettonie", Latvian Culture Festival, France
"7th Small Form Exhibition "," Riga Gallery ", Riga - award "Creative Strength "
"Animal Planet", gallery "Pedants", Riga
2004
"Autumn 2004", e...