Leo Svemps (1897-1975)

Painter, lawyer
Leo Svemps was the active organizer of cultural life in Latvia, had great authority as chairman of board of the Artists’ Union and as rector of the State Academy of Art, was deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
He was an outstanding master of the still-life, one of founders of this genre in Latvian art. Painted landscapes with view of Riga, Sigulda, Araisi. He painted also portraits.
Leo Svemps was born on July 19, 1897 in Belava, Gulbene district.
In 1909 - 1917 studied in the Riga Orthodox Theological Seminary where the big attention was given to painting and music. In 1917 - 1918 studied jurisprudence in Moscow University, parallel visited A.Bolshakovs' art studio. From 1918 to 1919 studied at the Free Studios of Art at Ilya Mashkov who has affected development of creativity of Leo Svemps a lot.
In 1919 Leo Svemps returned to Latvia. In 1925 graduated Faculty of Law at Latvian University and till 1940 worked as lawyer. From 1940 to 1941 worked as teacher in the Latvian Academy of Art, from 1944 to 1952 was the head of Faculty of Painting and Composition, in 1947 has received a rank of the professor. Since 1954 was the professor of painting on Faculty of Ceramics, and in 1961 - 1975 - the rector of Academy.
The artist was a member of the Riga Group of Artists (1922-1940), its head (1938 - 1940). Since 1940 was a member of the Artists Union, the secretary of Organizational Committee (1946 - 1951), Chairman of its Board of the Artists Union (1956 - 1960, 1965-1968), and a member of the Board of the USSR Artists Union (since 1956).
In exhibitions participated since 1920. Personal exhibitions are organized in Riga (1923, 1956 (together with A.Apinis), 1968), Moscow (1968). Memorable exhibitions are organized in Riga (1977, 1987), Belava (1987.)
Leo Svemps was awarded with premiums of Fund of Culture (1932, 1936), the Grant (1924), Cross of Recognition (1938), State Prize of the Latvian SSR (1957), award of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1965), Order of Lenin (1971). I
Leo Svemps died on March 7, 1975 in Riga.