AUDRIUS GRAŽYS

Audrius Gražys was born in 1963, June 14, Kaunas. In 1989 he obtained a master’s degree in arts at the Painting Department of the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Since 1992, the painter has been a member of the Union of Lithuanian Artists.

In 2017 A. Gražys received “Golden Badge” of the Union of Lithuanian Artists for the versatility and reflexivity of artistic creation. In 2003 he received an award of the President of the Republic of Portugal Jorge Sampaio – Order of Merit (Officer’s Cross). In 1998, 2000 won first prize “Performance in the sand”, Klaipėda. In 1997 received “Dienovidžio Prize” of 10th Vilnius Painting Triennial, ŠMC, Vilnius. In 1996 received “7th International Painting Symposium” prize and in 1995 received “7th International Vilnius Plein Air” prize, Vartai gallery, Vilnius.

The artist says: “-I was born into the family of actors Bronius Gražys and Nijolė Narijauskaitė. Before studying acting, my father dreamed of becoming an artist. However, before the entrance exams, when he went to the then “Dailė” (Art) Institute and saw the works brought by other applicants, he tore up his works and decided to become an actor, but he didn’t stop painting. He not only acted and directed, but he was also a passionate collector: art postcards, books, badges, stamps, watches, autographs of famous people, but his greatest passion was the works of Lithuanian painters. In our house, books covered the walls up to the ceiling. When we moved into a new, larger apartment, paintings filled the walls of every room. The collection kept growing, and the gaps between works grew smaller. If Dad didn’t acquire at least one new work in a month, there was a sense of “tension” in the house. It was as if my future was programmed for art by living in such an environment associate with art.  From the time I was little, I didn’t want to be an astronaut or a firefighter. I knew I was going to be an artist. Therefore, it is not surprising that my first teacher was my father. The house was always full of guests – actors, music artists, students of my mother and father. I also acquired my first knowledge of art history at home – when my father presented the collection to new guests. He used to talk about the beginning of the collection, how it was completed, about painting styles, colors and composition. Of course, at that age and seeing so many works, I couldn’t really judge which ones I liked better. But all the ones that had more mystery and required interpretations grabbed my attention. It was abstract painting. It has remained so until now. I’m interested in how color and stain, their harmony or disharmony can affect the viewer.”.