Ray Bartkus (born 1961, in Vilnius) is a Lithuanian-American artist. His work spans numerous mediums, including illustrations, hyperrealist paintings, and large-scale installations. He is known as the founder of MaLonNY, an annual art festival in Marijampolė,"Jubiliejinis simpoziumas „Malonny“ praturtino Marijampolę menu ir įspūdžiais" Lietuvos Rytas newspaper, report on MaLonNy festival (in Lithuanian) and as the designer of the Lithuanian 50 Litas bill.30th anniversary of the litas Currency Museum of Lithuania His works have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery,"Ray Bartkus" Artist profile on the MO Museum website the , the MO Museum, and the Noewe Foundation."Ray Bartkus" Artist profile on the Noewe Collection website (in Lithuanian)
Illustrations
In 1991, shortly after emigrating to New York City, Bartkus began working as an illustrator for numerous publications, including The New York Times Book Review,Steve Heller's Book Review Gallery Harper's Magazine,Ray Bartkus on Harper's the Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal covers from Ray Bartkus' website and Time magazine.1995 Time cover from Ray Bartkus' website Former New York Times Art Director Steven Heller described Bartkus’ illustrations as combining elements of both realism and surrealism,Heller, Steven and David Womack while also noting Bartkus’ ability to constantly shift styles.Heller, Steven and David Womack Bartkus ascribed his creative flexibility to growing up amid the “single-mindedness of a communist state,” which led him to prize the freedom offered by multiple perspectives. His illustrations have received numerous awards from the Society of Publication Designers, the Society of Newspaper Designers, and the Society of Illustrators.Renowned International Artist Ray Bartkus Exhibits at Drexel
MaLonNY
In 2014, Bartkus launched MaLonNY (which stands for Marijampolė, London, and New York), an ongoing street art and music festival and creative symposium held annually in the Lithuanian city of Marijampolė. Over ten years, MaLonNY has turned Marijampolė into a center for Lithuanian street art,Kaip Marijampolė tapo gatvės meno miestu: pokalbis su Ray Bartkumi Article on the MaLonNY festival in 15min.lt (in Lithuanian)Selection of murals from the MaLonNY festival on the Marijampole Tourism Information Center website with contributions from international and Lithuanian artists such as Judy Tuwaletstiwa,Marijampole Tourism Information Center website Mural by Judy Tuwaletstiwa made during MaLonNY Žilvinas Kempinas,Marijampolė Tourism Information Center website Mural by Žilvinas Kempinas made during MaLonNY Stasys Eidrigevičius,Marijampolė pasipuošė naujais meno kūriniais: tarp jų – ir Stasio Eidrigevičiaus freska Article on Stasys Eidrigevicius' participation in MaLonNY (in Lithuanian) Mike Estabrook,Marijampolė Tourism Information Center website Mural by Mike Estabrook made during MaLonNy The Bubble Process,Marijampolė Tourism Information Center website Mural by The Bubble Process made during MaLonNy Lou Beach,Nesklandumai nesutrukdė – Marijampolės „Mercury“ viešbutį puošia įspūdingo dydžio piešinys Article on Lou Beach's participation in MaLonNY (in Lithuanian) Ieva Martinaitytė-Mediodia,Marijampolė Tourism Information Center website Mural by Ieva Martinaitytė-Mediodia made during MaLonNY Oleksandr Shatokhin,Jubiliejinis Malonny’10 su būriu savanorių ir spalvų jūra paskelbė simpoziumo pradžią! Article mentioning various artists and musicians participating in MaLonNY (in Lithuanian) Philip Grisewood,Marijampolė Tourism Information Center website Mural by Philip Grisewood made during MaLonNy Kacper Dolatowski,Marijampolė Tourism Information Center website Light installation by Kacper Dolatowski and Ray Bartkus made during MaLonNy and others. MaLonNY has also featured musical performances by Electric Djinn, Daddy Was A Milkman, and Fast Forward,Malonny’7 Marijampolėje: menas neužsidaro Article mentioning various artists and musicians participating in MaLonNY (in Lithuanian) among others. One of Bartkus’ murals for the event, “Floating World,” has been widely shared online because of how it was painted to reflect in the river below it.This Mural Was Painted Upside-Down To Reflect Off Of The Water Article on Ray Bartkus' mural "Floating WorldRay Bartkus Paints Upside Down Mural that Reflects Right-side Up in Water Article on Ray Bartkus' mural "Floating World (archived)
Paintings
Bartkus has established himself as a hyperrealist painter. One of his series, “Last Paintings,” engaged in a dialogue with the works of Pre-Raphaelite painters, attempting to produce a more contemporary art by returning to earlier artistic principles.Paintings from the "Last Paintings" series on Ray Bartkus' website Another of his series, “Forgeries,” reproduced official documents from Bartkus’ life with humorous and meta-artistic touches.Paintings from the "Forgeries" series on Ray Bartkus' website These works have been exhibited in the US, Lithuania, Poland, Austria, Japan, and the Netherlands, and have been selected to represent Lithuania in a 2025 exhibition on hyperrealist art organized by Hyp’Art in France.Ray Bartkus' profile on Hyp'Art
Installations
Bartkus began creating large-scale public installations in 2014, when he created a work titled “Landing Strip” to inaugurate the annual meeting of the World Lithuanian Youth Association.Pasaulio lietuviams – įspūdingas pakilimo takas, spektaklis ir kalbų pamokos Article on Ray Bartkus' participation in the World Lithuanian Youth Association 2014 conference (in Lithuanian) Over the next three four years, his installations were featured at the United Nations building in New York City,Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announcement about Ray Bartkus' exhibition at the United Nations the International Peace Institute Salzburg Forum,Hybrid War: At the Interface of Diplomacy and Art Announcement about Ray Bartkus' exhibition at the International Peace Institute and Union Station in Washington, D.C.Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announcement about Ray Bartkus' "Gardens" exhibition One of Bartkus’ installations, titled “Gardens,” was commissioned by the Lithuanian Embassy to commemorate 100 years of Lithuania's independence. The design of this piece was based on traditional Lithuanian straw mobile folk art. It was exhibited in several cities across the United States, including Washington D.C., Chicago,Timeout Event listing for Ray Bartkus' "Gardens" in Chicago Philadelphia,Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announcement for Ray Bartkus' "Gardens" in Philadelphia and New York City,National Park Service Event listing for Ray Bartkus' "Gardens" in New York City and later was shown at the in VilniusLithuanian National Gallery of Art Announcement about Ray Bartkus' "Gardens" and the Samogitian Art Museum.Samogitian Art Museum Announcement about Ray Bartkus' "Gardens" In 2024, Bartkus created “Infinity,” a series of portraits made using wire mesh and 100 kilograms of nails.The installation "Infinity" by artist Ray Bartkaus, which required 100 kg of nails, was presented in Vilnius Article on Ray Bartkus' "Infinity"
Proposed Holocaust Memorial
Since 2017, Bartkus has advocated for the creation of a memorial that acknowledges the Holocaust in Lithuania. He has made numerous public appearances wearing a “Holocaust Memorial, Lithuania” t-shirt to raise awareness for this issue.Menininkas Ray Bartkus siūlo statyti Holokausto memorialą: ar Lietuvai pakaks valios? Article on Ray Bartkus' Holocaust memorial activism (in Lithuanian)Artist proposes Holocaust memorial in Vilnius, says it’s 'a moral priority' Shorter article on Ray Bartkus' Holocaust memorial activism in English He has worked to create dialogue on this issue between the Lithuanian Jewish Association, the American Jewish Committee, and the Vilnius mayor's office, among other groups.
See also List of Lithuanian artists List of Lithuanian painters
References
External links Ray Bartkus' personal website