The exhibition “Terra Incognita” presents the work of six first-generation Lithuanian émigré artists in Australia – Eva Kubbos, Vaclovas Ratas, Henrikas Šalkauskas, Leonas Urbonas, Adolfas Vaičaitis, and Teisutis Zikaras.
These are remarkable individuals whose work gained wide recognition in Australia and other countries around the world. However, their names and artistic legacies remain relatively unknown in Lithuania – like a “terra incognita” only now beginning to emerge in our cultural consciousness.
At the end of World War II, around one hundred artists left Lithuania, with about ten eventually settling in Australia. Most of them were former art students, having studied at the Kaunas Art School or the Freiburg Institute of Fine Arts in Germany. After establishing themselves in their new country, these artists actively engaged in Australia’s cultural life. Their art evolved rapidly – influenced by their new surroundings and prevailing art movements, they turned toward modernism, particularly exploring abstract expressionism, and later, the styles of color field and hard-edge painting.
The works of Lithuanian artists were exhibited both in Australia and internationally, and entered museums, galleries, and private collections in Australia, the USA, Germany, and beyond. The first exhibition of Lithuanian art in Australia took place in 1953 in Sydney, followed by a second in 1958 in Melbourne. Beginning in 1960, biannual Lithuanian Days exhibitions offered an opportunity to showcase the creative output of Lithuanian artists living across different regions of Australia.
The featured artists:
Eva Kubbos (b. 1928) – painter, printmaker, and book illustrator. The majority of her oeuvre consists of lyrical landscape compositions marked by refined aesthetic sensitivity, significantly enriching the tradition of Australian landscape painting in the second half of the 20th century. Kubbos’ artistic career has been recognized with more than 50 awards.
Vaclovas Ratas (1910–1973), a graduate of the Kaunas Art School, was one of the leading proponents of printmaking in Australia. Together with Henrikas Šalkauskas and Eva Kubbos, he co-founded the Sydney Printmakers Association in 1961. Ratas later adopted the Japanese monotype technique, which he creatively applied in his colorful prints. He also authored the monograph Eleven Lithuanian Artists in Australia (1967), an important source on émigré Lithuanian artists.
Henrikas Šalkauskas (1925–1979) – one of Australia’s most significant printmakers and watercolorists, whose works are held in all major art institutions in the country. Initially working in printmaking, he dedicated himself entirely to watercolor from 1963. His work is characterized by monumentality, restrained color palettes, and reflections on the forces of nature. Šalkauskas received over one hundred awards, and his works represented Australian art in international exhibitions.
Leonas Urbonas (1922–2000) – an artist known for his expressive brushwork, emotional intensity, and subconscious imagery. His paintings frequently explore themes of natural forces, the cosmos, and chaos. Over his lifetime, Urbonas held more than 40 solo exhibitions, and his works are found in collections around the world.
Adolfas Vaičaitis (b. 1915) – a graduate of the Kaunas Art School, a noted figure in Melbourne’s printmaking scene, and founder of the “Čiurlionis Discussion Club.” He actively contributed to Lithuanian cultural life in Australia, nurturing a strong sense of Lithuanian identity within the diaspora.
Teisutis Zikaras (1925–1991), son of renowned interwar sculptor Juozas Zikaras, established himself in Australia as a prominent figure in sculpture and stage design. His work combines modernist form with Lithuanian identity symbols. Zikaras also played a significant role in academia, shaping the outlook of a new generation of sculptors and contributing to the development of contemporary art in Australia.
Exhibition dates: 08 May 2025 – 08 June 2025
Venue: TUMO Gallery, Užupio g. 28, Vilnius
Opening hours:
Thu–Fri: 13:00 – 19:00
Sat–Sun: 12:00 – 18:00
Admission is free.
Exhibition sponsors:
UAB Serenus
UAB Open 24
