Vladas Karatajus (1925 – 2014)

On June 6, 2025 (Friday) at 6:00 PM, an exhibition of paintings by Vladas Karatajus (1925–2014) will open at the KADS Baroti Gallery (Didžioji Vandens St. 2, Klaipėda), dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the artist’s birth.

Vladas Karatajus was a painter of the older generation who established a distinctive coloristic type of psychological portrait in Lithuanian painting. He studied at the Vilnius State Art Institute, where his teachers included Justinas Vienožinskis, Vytautas Mackevičius, Algirdas Petrulis, Irena Trečiokaitė-Žebenkienė, Mečislovas Bulaka, and Liuda Vaineikytė. After graduating, Karatajus began working at the Art Institute in 1952, and in 1968 he became the head of the Department of Painting.

Karatajus found his genre—portraiture—early in his career. He always respected people and nature, yet had to work hard to avoid the illustrative nature and dogmatic conventions of traditional portraiture.

The artist also painted many landscapes and still lifes. His early works are lyrical, painted with a soft touch, and some have a sketch-like quality. "I indulge nature," the artist admitted, "because I work in it, fish, and travel. I even paint in winter. I don't strive for special effects. I find beauty in everyday life and in nature—provided it hasn't been ruined by humans."

The exhibition will be introduced by art historian Dr. Vidas Poškus.

The exhibition at the Baroti Gallery will run until June 20.

The exhibition is partially funded by the Klaipėda City Municipality.
Gallery patrons: UAB "Stemma Group," UAB "Vakarų Medienos Grupė".