"I think it is clear to everyone that the loss of Džemma is the loss of a figure of the greatest significance... an extremely talented and powerful artist," said art historian Laima Slava. "From the heart - the loss of Džemma is profound."
Jemma Skulme (1925-2019) was the creator of Latvian classical modernism, born into the artistic family of Oto Skulme and sculptor Marta Skulme. From 1982 to 1992 Skulme was the chairman of the Latvian Artists' Union.
She was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR and one of the founders of the Latvian Popular Front (LTF). In 1989 she was elected a representative of the LTF at the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR. Skulme also received several awards, the Three Star Order, as well as several professional awards, and has exhibited her work worldwide.
Džemma Skulme graduated from the Academy of Arts (Rīga) in 1949 and Repin Institute of Arts (Leningrad) in 1955. She subsequently took part in various exhibitions in Latvia, Switzerland, Italy, the United States (International Art Expo, Chicago, 1984) and Germany (International Art Fair, Hamburg, 1991). She has also held individual exhibitions at galleries in Austria, Germany, Canada, and the United States.
Some of Džemma Skulme's works are on display at the State Museum of Art in Riga, the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and Zimmerly Art Museum (the United States).Her works are in the collections of the Presidents of France and Russia, and the Queen of Denmark.
