A multifunctional center of contemporary art and culture is located in the Arsenal building in the Daugavpils Fortress – here history stands side by side with contemporary art, creating a unique and inspiring space for creative expression and experience.

The Mark Rothko Art Centre hosts exhibitions of well-known Latvian and foreign artists, whose works belong to various directions and techniques – painting, graphics, textiles, ceramics, and photography. It is also possible to view cultural and historical exhibitions here. This is the only place in Eastern Europe that offers the opportunity to see original works by the world-famous artist and founder of abstract expressionism, Mark Rothko. You can read Mark Rothko’s story here: https://reveal.world/story/mark-rotko-ot-dvinska-do-long-ajlenda

The idea to create the Mark Rothko Art Centre and its collection arose in 2002, when preparations began for the centenary celebrations of the artist’s birth. The foundation of the collection was laid by works from the international art plein air "Mark Rothko." Subsequently, the collection expanded with works donated by well-known Latvian and international artists whose biographies are connected to this region.

The program of international symposiums and artist residencies helps attract professionals – representatives of contemporary art – ensuring the Mark Rothko Art Centre’s collection is enriched with highly artistic works. The collection has been continuously growing since the opening of the Mark Rothko Art Centre in 2013.

Christopher Rothko and Kate Rothko-Prizel provided six paintings by their father for the exhibition. The exhibition is updated every three years. The art center hosts exhibitions of artists from Latvia and other countries. On March 27, 2022, the last day of showing five original works by the artist took place before the exhibition was changed and the exhibition hall underwent renovation after nine years of operation.

On April 26, 2024, the museum exhibited two charcoal drawings to celebrate the 11th anniversary of its founding, gifted on the museum’s 10th anniversary in 2023 by Kate Rothko Prizel, the artist’s daughter.

The opening of the Rothko Centre on April 24, 2013, was preceded by many efforts to make the idea from the distant 2002 a reality – to pay tribute to the great native of Daugavpils, the world-famous artist Mark Rothko. The opening of the art center made it possible to see original works by the artist worth several million. Thanks to close cooperation with the artist’s family, the selection of originals has been changed repeatedly. Over the past ten years, visitors have been able to see a total of seventeen original works by Mark Rothko.

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotko_Museum

https://tammytourguide.wordpress.com/2021/01/25/daugavpils-mark-rothkos-birthplace-and-latvias-fortress-city/

https://www.latvia.travel/ru/dostoprimechatelnost/art-centr-marka-rotko