Background
Konrāds Ubāns was born in December 31, 1893 in Riga. His father was a railway worker
Konrāds Ubāns was born in December 31, 1893 in Riga. His father was a railway worker
He studied at the Riga School and was a member of the Riga ists" Group before becoming a professor at the Academy of Latvia. From 1902 until 1910 he studied in a commercial school. Later he studied in the Odessa art school for a half year.
In 1911 he started studies in Riga school where he studied until 1914 when First World War started.
Ubāns together with his family goes to Russia where he for a short while studies in Penza school. In 1916 he is drafted into Russian Imperial army and serves until 1918 when he is demobilized and returns to Latvia. In 1920 his first solo exhibition is held in Riga.
In the same year he starts his work in Latvian National Museum of as an assistant of museum director Burkarts Dzenis.
In 1922 he takes study trip to Germany and France. In next year his second solo exhibition is held.
In 1925 he is addressed by Vilhelms Purvītis and takes job in Academy of Latvia as a teacher of painting. In 1946 he is promoted to professor and works in this post for rest of his life.
In 1959 he is declared as Peoples artist of Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1980 his last exhibition is held in Riga.
Konrāds Ubāns died in August 30, 1981 in Riga. He is buried in Riga Forest cemetery. Konrāds Ubāns is noted mostly for his landscape paintings and the poetic and intimate atmosphere within them.
They are rich, harmonious works celebrating the wonder of nature.
He mostly painted landscapes of Riga outskirts in Pārdaugava and Daugava river valley especially around Koknese. However he also has painted many portraits and still lifes.
Also he has worked in graphic art and sculpture. Real maturity in his work can be seen as early as his paintings from the 1920s when he richly uses motifs and atmosphere of impressionism.