To mark the 135th anniversary of the birth of Jacques Lipchitz, one of the leading figures of twentieth-century modern sculpture, the Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History presents the exhibition Jacques Lipchitz. Sculptures-Pilgrims, featuring for the first time in Lithuania works by the world-renowned Litvak sculptor from the collection of the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM).
The exhibition takes place in two cities that were particularly significant in the artist's life – the Samuel Bak Museum in Vilnius and the Jacques Lipchitz Museum in Druskininkai. This two-city route is no coincidence: Druskininkai was Jacques Lipchitz's birthplace and his first site of memory, while Vilnius was the city where he studied and decided to become an artist. Although he later became part of the Parisian avant-garde, international modernism and the history of world sculpture, Lithuania remained an important part of his identity. "I am a sculptor from Lithuania," the artist liked to say.
The works presented in this anniversary exhibition entered the IVAM collection as a donation from the Lipchitz family, making their return to Lithuania particularly symbolic. The exhibition invites visitors to rediscover Jacques Lipchitz not only as a classic of global modernism, but also as an artist whose journey began in Lithuania – among the pine forests of Druskininkai and the streets of Vilnius – before leading him to Paris, New York and Jerusalem.
In Vilnius, visitors can see eight sculptures representing different stages of the artist's creative development, alongside a special section dedicated to Jacques Lipchitz's connection with the city. In Druskininkai, four sculptures are on display, complementing the permanent exhibition of the Jacques Lipchitz Museum and highlighting the artist's ties to Spain, the Parisian avant-garde and the spiritual themes of his later work.
The exhibition runs until 22 November 2026.
Exhibition venues:
Samuel Bak Museum
Naugarduko St. 10, Vilnius, Lithuania
Jacques Lipchitz Museum
Šv. Jokūbo St. 17, Druskininkai, Lithuania
Known around the world - discover him for yourself.
Organiser:
Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History
Funded by:
Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania
Exhibition partners:
Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM), Museum of Art and History of Judaism (Paris), Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, National Museum of Lithuania, Druskininkai Rotary Club "Sūrutis", Vilnius City Municipality, Druskininkai Municipality, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Lithuania, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Media partners:
LRT, Go Vilnius.
