Electronic Catalogue of the International Visual Art Competition "GRATA BALVA 2026: “Multilayered Identity: Encountering the Other in Urban Space”

Dear colleagues and friends of the MuseumLV Art Gallery at the Grata JJ Cultural Centre,

From 11 June to 8 August 2026, the MuseumLV Art Gallery at the Grata JJ Cultural Centre presents the annual international visual art competition exhibition "GRATA BALVA 2026: “Multilayered Identity: Encountering the Other in Urban Space”. The exhibition is curated by Deniss Hanovs, cultural researcher and Professor at the Art Academy of Latvia.

About GRATA BALVA 2026

GRATA BALVA is an annual international visual art competition established in 2018 by the creative team of the MuseumLV Art Gallery at the Grata JJ Cultural Centre.

Each year, the project brings together professional artists from around the world, inviting them to share their creative visions and engage in an international dialogue through exhibitions at MuseumLV.

The theme of this year's exhibition explores the phenomenon of the Other within the urban environment. The complex interplay of identities, the interests of individuals and communities, and experiences of inclusion and exclusion have shaped the curatorial concept for the 2026 edition.

This year's exhibition features approximately 113 works representing a broad spectrum of contemporary artistic practices, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textile art, and digital art.

We invite you to explore the electronic catalogue of the international visual art competition "GRATA BALVA 2026: “Multilayered Identity: Encountering the Other in Urban Space",  featuring the exhibited artworks together with information about the participating artists.