Ladies' Delight

Artist list

Guntis Lauders

Guntis Lauders is one of the brightest and extraordinary artists in Latvian jewellery design. The handwriting of the artist can be recognized in all his works due to the details, forms and material use. To reach the intended goal, the artist skilfully uses classical jewellery techniques as incrustation, engraving mammoth bone and ebony, difficult brazing, casting and cutting techniques.

“I wish that my jewellery pieces would be worn hundreds of years after today. They could be passed on from generation to generation – one day in distant future my ring could be taken from a forgotten drawer, cleaned and be reborn when an ancestor of my client would wear it. This goal dictates the choice of materials – silver, gold, jewels, ebony, mahogany, mammoth bone, coconut shell, corals, pearls, amber – everything that can stand up against the ravages of time, that does not fall into pieces when worn, the colour does not fade, it holds its value. I guess this comes from my Latvian roots – being thorough and solid.
On the other hand, in my creative process I bear no boundaries. It is important to me that my works would be picturesque, imagination kindling, unique, with their own, special visual language.”

Ladies' Delight can be the haberdashery sections of the large, fancy department stores, that came into Europe in the mid 19th century, or their ancestries - the small stores, where ladies could find patterned dresses, wide sleeves, magnificent collars, umbrellas, sunshades, gloves and purses – a whole ocean of womanly things, in which there will be a possibility to dive in through the jewellery of Guntis Lauders.

Will it be possible to emerge back? There's no knowing what will happen, but that is why it is so exciting!

It is surprising, how much these seemingly simple, insignificant things can tell about a woman. The artist pays a great deal of attention to details in his works - the application, saturation or nonbeing of small details is what forms the whole view. It is as to change one note in a symphony – the whole composition will crumble up.

Guntis Lauders has graduates Tallin Academy of Arts, Metal design department (1992), received a masters degree in Latvian Academy of Arts (2005). Since 1996 he has had a line of solo exhibitions in the Baltics, Northern Europe, Germany, has taken part is internationally substantial group exhibition in Europe, USA and Russia. In 1991 he became a laureate of Baltic Applied arts triennial in Tallinn. In 1995, won the completion for an opportunity to participate in biennial ARTgenda 96 in Copenhagen with a fashion (in collaboration with Inguna Laudere) and jewellery collection 'Mirrors'. In 1998, received the Riga council prize as 'Best Jewellery Artist of the Year' in the visual arts competition 'Riga in Contemporary Art 98'. His works are found in Latvian Decorative Arts and design museum`s collection, as well as in private collections around the world.