BIO / CV
Vytenis Jankūnas is a visual artist who in his latest work uses mostly photography as a medium for his artistic projects, which include photo and video installations, books and photography shows. He has shown in numerous group and solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, including “Buying time: Nourishing Excellence” at Sotheby’s New Galleries in New York City; “Aujourdh’ui les Baltes,” École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris (France); “Bread and Salt,” Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester (UK); “The Memory of Images. Baltic Photo Art Today,” Stadtgalerie im Sophienhof, Kiel (Germany); Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock (Germany); Exhibition Hall Latvija, Riga (Latvia); Exhibition Hall Nikolaj, Copenhagen (Denmark). Recent exhibits include one-man show “Stuck on the Train / Pakeleivis” at Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius (Lithuania), which was his second solo show in CAC Vilnius and in Art Hall Gallery, Tallinn (Estonia). He won the 1st place in Self Published Books category of the IPA - int'l photography awards and has been a recipient of the Fellowship award in the category of Painting from the New York Foundation for the Arts (Gregory Millard Fellowship), New York City (USA). Vytenis Jankūnas was awarded a residency at Nordic Arts Centre (HIAP), Helsinki (Finland) and grant of the Nordic Information Office, Vilnius (Lithuania). He has also received the grant of the Soros Center for Contemporary Arts, Vilnius (Lithuania) and The Annual State Grant for Young Artists provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius (Lithuania). Vytenis Jankūnas lives and works in New York City, USA.
contact email: vytenis@vycka.com / instagram: teniskunas / facebook: vytenisjankunas
Solo Exhibitions
2021– “Nocturnal Creatures / Dance With Me,” Prospekto Gallery, Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2017– “Stories from J 2 Manhattan,” Undercurrent Gallery, New York City (USA). More info
2016 – “Stuck on the Train / Rongis kin,” Art Hall Gallery, Tallinn (Estonia). More info
2016 – “Stuck on the Train,” Delegation of the European Union to the US, Washington, D.C. (USA).
2015 – “Stuck on the Train / Pakeleivis,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2015 – “Stuck on the Train,” Embassy of Lithuania in Washington, D.C. (USA). More info
2001 – “Where is My Fucking Experience,” Courthouse Gallery in Anthology Film Archives, New York City (USA). More info
2001 – “Recent Prints,” Gallery Kaire Dešnė, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1994 – “Bricks,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
1993 – “Pictures,” Gallery Arka (Lithuania).
1992 – Gallery Arka, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1991 – Gallery Bokšto, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1991 – Gallery Langas, Vilnius (Lithuania).
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023/24 – “Try to make it real. But compared to what?: Contemporary Art from Lithuania,” MOCAK (Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow). Krakow (Poland). More info
2022 – “Parallel Time,” Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art. Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2022 – “Collecting Hits. Artworks and Soundtracks From the Collection of the Lewben Art Foundation,” Klaipėda Cultural Communication Center. Klaipėda (Lithuania). More info
2020 – “Living in The Negative Space” at the “Art Vilnius'20” Special Projects program. Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2019 – “In Other Places II,” Kaunas Photography Gallery. Kaunas (Lithuania). More info
2018 – “In Other Places II,” Prospekto Gallery. Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2017 – “J 2 Manhattan & Back 24-7-365 in HD” at the “Art Vilnius'17,” Special Projects program. Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2017 – “From Realism to the Object. Lithuanian World Art in the Collection of the Lithuanian Expatriate Art Foundation,” Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum, Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2016 – FestArte Video Art Festival "Global Migration." ON ART Space in Testaccio, Rome (Italy). More info
2016 – “Random Rapid Heartbeats. Selected projects from the CAC Vilnius programme.” Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn (Estonia), Catalogue. More info
2016 – “Gridworks” at the “Art Vilnius '16” Special Projects program. Vilnius (Lithuania). More info
2016 – “From Realism to the Object. Lithuanian World Art in the Collection of the Lithuanian Expatriate Art Foundation,” M. Žilinskas Art Gallery of M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas (Lithuania). More info
2012 – “Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival,” Viborg, (Denmark).
2012 – “Occupy!,” Governor’s Galleries on Governors Island, New York, NY (USA).
2010 – “Independent Drawing Gig Nr 6,” Fluxus ministerija, Vilnius (Lithuania).
2008 – “Independent Drawing Gig Nr 4,” Artbreak Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (USA).
2007 – “Independent Drawing Gig Nr 3,” Quartair Contemporary Art Initiatyves, the Hague (Netherlands).
2007 – “Bitės meno erdvės,” International Billboard Painting Festival, Klaipėda (Lithuania).
2006 – “101.3 KM – Competition and Cooperation,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
2006 – “Naujos Kaukes,” Kaunas Picture Gallery, Kaunas (Lithuania).
2002 – “City Spotting," Gallery Arteritorija, Kaunas (Lithuania).
2002 – “Jazzy Print,” M.K. Ciurlionis Art Museum, Kaunas (Lithuania), Catalogue.
2001 – “Buying time: Nourishing Excellence,” Sotheby’s New Galleries, New York (USA), Catalogue.
2001 – “Traditionen I Dag,” Väsby Kontshall, (Sweden), Catalogue.
2001 – “Mutating Image,” 12th Tallinn Print Triennial, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn (Estonia), Catalogue.
2000 – “Painterly,” The 11th Vilnius Painting Triennial, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
2000 – “Tradition and Future,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1999 – “Lithuanian Art 1989-1999: The Ten Years,” Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1999 – “8. Kunstmarkt Dresden 1999,” Residenzschloss Dresden (Germany), Catalogue.
1998 – “From Outside to the Side,” Kloster Bentlage, Rheine; Villa Weiner, Ochtrup (Germany), Catalogue.
1996 – “Bread and Salt,” Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester (Great Britain), Catalogue.
1995 – “Bread and Salt,” Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh (Great Britain), Catalogue.
1995 – “Lithuanian Art: 1995,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1994 – “Order of Presence,” MUUry Gallery, Helsinki (Finland); Gallery Jutempus, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1994 – “Bread and Salt,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1994 – “The Memory of Images. Baltic Photo Art Today”, The State Academy of Fine Arts, Gdansk (Poland); Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania); Berlinsche Galerie – Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin (Germany), Catalogue.
1993 – “Aujourd'hui les baltes,” Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris (France), Catalogue.
1993 – “Art MIF-93,” Central Exhibition Hall Manege, Moscow (Russia), Catalogue.
1993 – 9th Vilnius Triennial of Painting, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1993 – “The Memory of Images. Baltic Photo Art Today,” Stadtgalerie im Sophienhof, Kiel (Germany); Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock (Germany); Exhibition Hall Latvija, Riga (Latvia); Exhibition Hall Nikolaj, Copenhagen (Denmark), Catalogue.
1992 – “False Art,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1992 – 1st Exhibition of “Group 1,” Gallery Arka, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1992 – 2nd Exhibition of “Group 1,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1992 – “Pornography,” Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1992 – “New Wild,” Oriental Arts Center Ltd., Hong Kong.
1992 – “Paintings on Paper,” IFA, Schwerinsches Palais, Berlin (Germany), Catalogue.
1989 – National Exhibition of Young Lithuanian Artists, Kaunas Picture Gallery, Kaunas (Lithuania)
1989 – “Young Lithuanian Artists,” Szentendre Gallery, Szentendre (Hungary), Catalogue.
1988 – 4th Exhibition of Young Baltic Artists “Youth 88,” Art Exhibition Palace, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1989 – National Art Exhibition, Art Exhibition Palace, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1987 – National Exhibition of Young Lithuanian Artists, Art Exhibition Palace, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1987 – “2nd National Medal Exhibition,” St. John’s Church, Vilnius (Lithuania), Catalogue.
1986 – National Exhibition of Young Lithuanian Artists, Kaunas Picture Gallery, Kaunas (Lithuania).
1986 – National Exhibition of Young Lithuanian Artists, Art Exhibition Palace, Vilnius (Lithuania).
Selected Bibliography
Dance With Me. Book concept and photography by Vytenis Jankūnas, Lewben Art Foundation, Vilnius 2021. More info
Readdressed 2. Lithuanian and Litvak Graphics, Sculpture, Photography, Contemporary Art in the Lithuanian Expatriate Art Foundation. Lewben Art Foundation, Vilnius 2017. More info
'17—1 Lietuvos Fotografija / Lithuanian Photography. Lietuvos fotomeninkų sąjunga, Vilnius 2017. View PDF
ŠMC / CAC 2007 - 2017. Šiuolaikinio meno centras / Contemporary Art Centre, Vinius, 2017
Art Vilnius '17, Contemporary Art Fair. Lithuanian Art Gallerists’ Association, 2017, Vilnius. Catalogue. View PDF
Random Rapid Heartbeats. Selected projects from the CAC Vilnius programme. 2016.10.22-12.04, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius 2016. Catalogue. View PDF
Art Vilnius '16, Contemporary Art Fair. Lithuanian Art Gallerists’ Association, 2016, Vilnius. Catalogue. View PDF
ŠMC - 15 metų / CAC 15 years. Šiuolaikinio meno centras / Contemporary Art Centre, Vinius, 2007
101,3 KM. Šiuolaikinio meno centras, 2006. Katalogas
Pažymėtos teritorijos. Tyto Alba, Vilnius 2005
Buying time: Nourishing Excellence. June 19 – July 2, 2001. Sotheby’s, New York. Catalogue
Traditionen I Dag. Väsby Konsthall. 2001. Catalogue
Tradicija ir ateitis / Tradition and Future, Vilnius, 2000. Katalogas
100 Contemporary Lithuanian Artists. Soros Center for Contemporary Arts in Lithuania. 2000.R. Paknys Publishing House, 2000
Painterly. The 11th Vilnius Painting Triennial, April 28 – June 5, 2000. Catalogue
8. Kunstmarkt Dresden 1999, Ausstellungskatalog.
Lithuanian Art 1989-1999: The Ten Years. Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, September 10 – October 24, 1999. Catalogue
Lietuviu skulptūra 1940-1990 Lietuvos dailes muziejaus rinkiniuose. Katalogas / Catalogue. Lithuanian Sculpture 1940-1990 Collections of the Lithuanian Museum of Art. Lietuvos dailes muziejus. Vilnius, 1998.
From Outside to the Side. Kulturforum Rheine e. V. Kunstakademie Vilnius. Vilnius, 1998. Catalogue
Skulptūra 1975-1990. Aidai, Vilnius, 1997.
Guide Apollonia. Art contemporain de l’Europe centrale et orientale / Contemporary Art of Central and Eastern Europe. Frac Alsace, Editions du Counseil de l’Europe. Srasbourg, 1997.
Beyond Freedom. New York, 1996.
Lietuvos daile ’97 / galerijos pristato / Art in Lithuania ’97 / Galeries Present. Vilnius, 1997.
1995: Lietuvos daile / 1995: Art in Lithuania. Vilnius, 1995. Catalogue
Duona ir druska / Bread and Salt. SSMC Lietuvoje, Berlin, 1994. Catalogue
IX Vilniaus tapybos trienalė / IXth Vilnius Painting Triennial. Vilnius, 1993. Katalogas
Das Gedachtnis der Bilder. Baltische Photokunst heute / The memory of Images. Baltic Photo Art Today. Stadtgalerie Kiel, Nieswand Verlag, Kiel, 1993. Catalogue
Aujourd’hui les Baltes. Art Contemporain d’Estonie, Lettonie, Lituanie. Paris, 1993. Catalogue
Moscow International Art Fair “Art MIF-93.” Art MIF publishers, Moscow, 1993. Catalogue
Litauische Malerei auf Papier. IFA, Berlin. 1992. Katalog
Granito skulptūros kurybine stovykla. Klaipėda / Smiltyne. 1989/VI.15/VII.26. Katalogas. Klaipėda, 1989.
Grants and Awards
2021 – Sony World Photography Awards finalist in Street and Architecture categories. More info
2020 – Winner of the 1st place in the Self Published Books category of the IPA - int'l photography awards - 2020. More info
2000 – Fellowship award in the category of Painting from the New York Foundation of the Arts (Gregory Millard Fellowship), New York, NY (USA).
1995 – The Annual State Grant for young Artists, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1995 – Fellowship in the Nordic Arts Centre, Helsinki (Finland).
1994 – Grant of the Nordic Information Office, Vilnius (Lithuania).
1994 – Grant of the Soros Center for Contemporary Arts, Vilnius (Lithuania).
Collections and Works in Public Areas
Lewben Art Foundation, Vilnius (Lithuania). More info; MO Museum (Mo), Vilnius (Lithuania). More info; National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (Lithuania); M.K. Čiurlionis State Art Museum, Kaunas (Lithuania); Sculpture Park of City Klaipėda, Smiltyne / Klaipėda (Lithuania); Public Building in Druskininkai (Lithuania); State Cemetery, Vilnius (Lithuania); City of Vilnius (Lithuania). Private collections in USA, Germany, Sweden, Hon Kong, France and Canada.
Teaching
1987/91 – Assistant Professor at Vilnius Academy of Art, previously State Art Institute of Lithuania, in Vilnius (Lithuania).
1984/87 – Art Teacher at Grigiškes Secondary School (Lithuania).
Studies
1979/85 – BFA and MFA from Vilnius Academy of Art, previously State Art Institute of Lithuania, in Vilnius (Lithuania).
1972/79 – National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art in Vilnius (Lithuania).