A retrospective exhibition showcasing the textile art of Skaidrīte Leimane is set to open in Riga, Latvia, on March 3, 2026, and will run through March 31st. The exhibit, titled “Years Go By, Works Remain. Skaidrīte Leimane’s Textiles,” will be held at the Mencendorf House.

.
Leimane’s career has been deeply intertwined with the development of textile art in Latvia for decades. She is a graduate of the 4th class of the Textile Art Department at the Latvian Academy of Arts.
For 44 years, from 1972 to 2016, Leimane worked at the Latvian Academy of Arts’ Textile Art Department as a scientific methodologist, contributing significantly to the study process. She also fostered textile arts beyond the capital city by leading the folk art studio Līgatne from 1984 to 1999. Her dedication to education extended to teaching batik techniques to employees at the Koknese Chemical Institute of the Academy of Sciences.
Leimane also explored innovative techniques, experimenting with natural dyes and unconventional dyeing methods to discover new possibilities in the medium. This commitment to experimentation and exploration has been a hallmark of her artistic practice.
Since 1994, Leimane has served as the secretary of the Latvian Textile Art Association, actively participating in the perform of the professional community. Her ongoing involvement demonstrates a continued commitment to the field.
Art historian and professor Ingrīda Burāne, in the catalog for Leimane’s 2006 exhibition My Path, wrote of the artist: “Her focus has always been on profound values and meanings, which are not superficially discussed. This can be seen as the artist’s desire to balance aesthetic vision with ethical ideals.”
Burāne’s assessment highlights Leimane’s approach to her work, where textiles are not merely decorative but represent a way of thinking. Color, texture, and ornamentation combine to create a nuanced and harmonious artistic language. The influence of nature is evident in her work through rhythmic structures, subtle pastel tones, and ornamental compositions, which remain a recognizable feature of her style.
Leimane’s work has been exhibited internationally and in numerous cities throughout Latvia, and her textiles can be found in both private and public collections. The exhibition at Mencendorf House offers a close gaze at the breadth and depth of her artistic contributions.
