Zenta Logina

Zenta Logina (born 1908, died 1983 in Riga) was a pioneer of Latvian abstractionism who worked in various genres and directions: painting, textile art, sculpture. Zenta Logina’s artworks are considered to be “the gold fund of Latvian non-conformist art.” The artist painted realistic figurative compositions, however, since her retirement in 1963, her handwriting has changed rapidly and she has turned to abstract forms. No works from this period were exhibited during Zenta Logina’s lifetime. Art critics also believe that the image of Zenta Logina has been exaggerated as one of a “sufferer”, and objective historical evidence is yet to be identified.

Zenta Logina’s artistic activity can be divided into three phases. In the early period (1925-1939), the artist worked on portraits, landscapes, still lifes and figurative compositions. In the post-war period (1940- 1950s) Zenta Logina turned to the genre of still life and painted floral compositions. In the late period (from the 1960s until the end of her life), the artist rapidly changes her signature and moves into the abstract genre. Geometric abstractions and planetary cosmic motifs begin to dominate her artworks, and Zenta Logina searches for new forms and appropriate artistic materials to realise her creative intentions.