Faculty of Arts Professor Rasutė Žukienė receives the Golden Muse Award from the Lithuanian Artists’ Association

Rasutė Žukienė, a Professor at the Department of Art History and Criticism of the Faculty of Arts, has been awarded the Golden Muse/Golden Badge award by the Lithuanian Artists’ Association.

Since 2001, the Golden Muse/Golden Badge awards by the Lithuanian Artists’ Association have marked one of the most significant events of this organisation, held annually to commemorate its founding. These awards are given for various significant professional achievements over the past three years, artistic excellence, important exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad, efforts to promote Lithuania’s name on the international art scene, innovative artistic solutions, and active social activity, regardless of the creative field. This year, the late Andrius Grigalaitis (1982-2024), who was a graduate of the master’s programme in Creative Industries at the Faculty of Arts and a creator of photography and video art, was also honoured with this award.

In bestowing this honourable award, the Lithuanian Artists’ Association highlighted two significant aspects of Professor Žukienė’s work: her scholarly activities, focused on research into the history of Eastern European art, the art of the Baltic diaspora, and the culture of exile, which significantly contribute to the development and dissemination of art history; and her long-term curatorial activities and the organisation of significant exhibitions that tackle topical issues, opening up new perspectives on Lithuanian art.

The exceptional intensity of Professor Rasutė Žukienė’s research in art history and its dissemination is evidenced by nearly twenty individual or collaborative monographs, close to one hundred scholarly articles in Lithuanian and international publications, and her role as the chair of the editorial board for the journal Art History & Criticism, which has gained a solid international reputation under her leadership.

According to Professor Žukienė, her greatest professional satisfaction comes from organising exhibitions that open up the public to the creative works of unfairly lesser-known artists or introduce them to artistic phenomena and objects that they would otherwise not have had the chance to see.

In addition to her scholarly and curatorial activities, Professor Žukienė has shared her experience with students at the Faculty of Arts for more than 30 years and has supervised five defended dissertations. Alongside these diverse academic and curatorial activities, she actively promotes the science of art history and criticism as well as art through various media channels, and participates in public meetings.

Professor Rasutė Žukienė’s activities in the field of art history and criticism have been recognised with significant awards: the Kaunas City Scientist Award (2018), the Petras Vileišis Medal (2011), and the Kaunas City Municipality Culture and Art Prize (2008).

Congratulations to Professor Rasutė Žukienė on yet another significant award that highlights her diverse professional activities!