Modris Adumāns

Graduated from Rēzekne School of Applied Art, the Graphic Design Department of the Latvian Academy of Art (up to 1990 called the State Academy of Art of the Latvian SSR) and the master class of A. Dembo, where he created the series of posters Tallina-80. He has obtained a Master’s Degree in Art (2003).

His work has been exhibited since 1978: at the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (1993), at the International Exhibition of Children’s Book Illustrations at Sarmede, Italy (1992), and at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Artist’s Book Triennials in Vilnius (1984, 1987, 1990). Since 1983 he has regularly been involved in book art, illustrating textbooks, and designing and illustrating children’s books. He has been art editor for the publishing houses Liesma (from 1983) and Sprīdītis (from 1990), and art director and director of the publishers RASA. He works in the field of applied graphic art and posters, is involved in animation and is a web design artist.

Since 2002 he has been Environmental Design Specialist for the Urban Environment Department of Riga City Board of Building, and since 2006 has worked as the Artist of the City Development Department of Riga City Council, and the Artist for the Latgale and Zemgale Suburbs and Kurzeme District at the Urban Environment Department of Riga City Council.

He has created 15 colouring books and picture books, and has been production designer for two animated films. Award-winning books include “The Land – Giver of Bread” by J. Baltvilks (Zeme - maizes devējiņa. R.: Liesma, 1984), which won the 1986 Pastariņš Prize, as well as “The Tale of Sinbad the Mariner”(Pasaka par Sindbadu, jūras braucēju. R.: Sprīdītis, 1991) and “The Magic Phone, or the Unusual Adventures of Mach, Šebestová and Jonathan” by M. Macourek (Burvju klausule jeb Maha, Šebestovas un Jonatāna neparastie piedzīvojumi, unpublished, 1993; second prize for illustrations in the children’s book competition Zaļā aste). His most recent children’s book is”Grandma, What”s Exile?”by E. Rudzīte (Vecmāmiņ, kas ir trimda?; R.: Elpa, 2003). He has also illustrated several textbooks.

Illustrating children’s books means creative expression and
a pure flight of imagination. (Modris Adumāns)