Marta Skulme facts for kids

Marta Skulme (Latvian: Marta Skulme) was a very important Latvian artist. She was the first professional woman sculptor from Latvia! She was born on May 13, 1890, and passed away on January 3, 1962. Marta was also part of a group called the Riga Artists Group, which was a team of artists who worked together.

About Marta Skulme

Marta Skulme grew up in a farming family in Mālpils Municipality, Latvia. She was born there on May 13, 1890.

Marta loved art and went to art school. She studied in Kazan from 1912 to 1914. Then, she went to another art school in Petrograd (now called Saint Petersburg) from 1914 to 1918. A famous sculptor named Leonid Sherwood taught her there.

Marta Skulme mostly made smaller sculptures. But she was also very good at making huge, impressive sculptures! In 1924, she even won first prize with Kārlis Zāle in a competition to design the famous Freedom Monument in Latvia.

Her sculptures show a sense of calm and inner strength. Marta used many different materials like granite, bronze, and wood. However, most of her sculptures are made from plaster. She started showing her art in exhibitions in 1920. Her works were displayed in Latvia, across the Soviet Union, and in other countries too.

Marta Skulme passed away on January 3, 1962, in Riga. She was buried a few days later at the Forest Cemetery, Riga.

Her Famous Works

Marta Skulme created many different types of sculptures. Here are some of her well-known pieces:

Sculptural Portraits

These are sculptures of people's faces or bodies.

• "Portrait of Father", 1923
• "Head of a Woman", 1930
• "Portrait of Džemma", 1940
• "Portrait of Teodors Zaļkalns", 1952
• "Portrait of Academician Lidija Liepiņa", 1960

Figurative Compositions

These sculptures show people doing different actions or in groups.

• "Woman from Vidzeme", 1928
• "Sheafbinder", 1949
• "Sack Carrier", 1950
• "Successors", 1957