From February 8 to April 30, the OLA Foundation cultural space is hosting Gita Šmite’s painting exhibition In a Shirt of Happiness, a deeply personal and emotionally charged story about family, home, and ancestral ties.
The exhibition’s central image - a small white linen shirt - is a symbol of the artist’s childhood, sewn by her mother while awaiting her birth. This shirt of happiness became the main source of inspiration for the large-format paintings, in which trees, landscapes, nests, and shirts intertwine.
Gita Šmite’s painting combines expressive layers of color with nuanced detail. Her works speak about the essence of life - about the earth, home, and ties that unite people across generations. The layered applications of color, revealing the delicacy of the nest’s branches, the strength of the oak’s crown, and the threads of the linen shirt, create quiet yet powerful reflections on the human connection to one’s roots. These works contain profound emotional strength, inviting viewers to pause and experience their own story through the prism of art.
The exhibition is the artist’s tribute to her mother, who was her first and most significant source of inspiration.
"This little shirt, which my mother sewed while awaiting my birth, symbolizes our family ties, care, and sense of home that have accompanied me throughout my life. My mother was my greatest supporter, both when I was a costume designer for theater productions and later, when I created my own brand ‘’Pirtsmāksla,"
says Gita Šmite.
While preparing for the exhibition, the artist has not only painted but also sewn new Shirts of Happiness.
A special event for OLA Golden Card holders - on February 21, a meeting with artist Gita Šmite. Reserve your visit
Shirt of Happiness. 2025. canvas/oil 110x130
Vaide Oak. Winter. 2023. canvas/oil 110x160
New Spring. 2025. Canvas/oil 81x100
