JONAS ČEPONIS

Jonas Čeponis (1926–2003) is one of the most famous modernist Lithuanian painters, who painted bright, colorful and decorative works. In 1951 he graduated from the Lithuanian Art Institute, in 1980-1988 taught in it and became a professor in 1988. In 1977-1980 he taught at the Vilnius Engineering Construction Institute. Since 1951 he participated in exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad (in Russia, Poland, Germany, USA, Japan, Canada, etc.).

He nurtured the individual expression in art established by the group of Lithuanian artists named  “Ars”, the suggestions of compositions, colors, rhythm of lines and forms based on the principles of modernism, and the unity of the principles of folk art. J. Čeponis painting style is dominated by the landscape genre, but the views of the surroundings of his native village, fragments of the old town of Vilnius and panoramas were not a sentimental expression of feelings, but were based on a clear structure, emphasized by the expression of a dramatic black outline. Despite the sound and dynamism of bright colors, the artist’s compositions exude inner peace and a stoic sense of being. A detailed retrospective of J. Čeponis painting is divided into several important themes and ideas:

1. Participant of the silent modernism process. Early period quests;

2. A colorful look at nature. Motives of the old town of Vilnius;

3. A romantic look. Sea and ships;

4. Celebration in everyday life. Figures and faces.

Excerpt from the article: https://www.lrytas.lt/kultura/daile/2016/04/05/news/tapytojas-jonas-ceponis-spalvingas-zvilgsnis-i-pasauli-1486429