Mairita Coņeva

Mairita Coneva — Artist Profile (Curatorial Perspective)

Mairita Coneva’s artistic practice exists at the intersection of observation and revelation. Her works do not merely depict reality; they uncover its unseen layers. The artist focuses on the hidden potential within everyday surroundings, transforming familiar environments into visually and emotionally resonant compositions.

Her inspiration draws equally from the subtle harmony of nature and the structured aesthetics of urban landscapes. Of particular importance are transitions of color — the interplay of water, air, and light — which in her work acquire an almost tactile presence. This sensitivity to nuance is deeply informed by her professional background in chemistry, where experimentation with materials, layers, and techniques becomes an integral part of her creative process. For Coneva, mixed media is not simply a choice, but a necessity.

Her engagement with urban themes is most evident in a body of work dedicated to the peripheral districts of Riga. This marks a conscious shift away from the iconic and representative, toward spaces defined by quiet, often overlooked identities. Through these works, the artist explores the “aura” of place — a socially and emotionally accumulated presence articulated through texture, color, and composition.

Importantly, Coneva’s work resists narratives of alienation often associated with urban environments. Instead, it proposes an alternative perspective in which the periphery becomes a space of possibility — a site where new forms of beauty and meaning can emerge.

Her education in graphic techniques within an international context has further enriched her visual language, adding precision and structural awareness while maintaining a strong commitment to experimentation.

Mairita Coneva’s work engages the viewer not through explicit narrative, but through a sense of presence — inviting a pause, a closer look, and a renewed awareness of what often goes unnoticed.