The BP Award hosted by the National Portrait Gallery and the Biennale of Chianciano taking place in the Art Museum of Chianciano are two of the most important international exhibitions. These exhibitions receive thousands of applications submitted by artists from all over the world, each one hoping to be selected and given the prestigious honour of appearing in a culturally renowned milieu where thousands of visitors have the opportunity to view their artwork. This year, the incredible artistic skills of the Latvian artist Agita Keiri have won her a coveted place in both exhibitions. Keiri’s star is officially on the rise, earlier this year a panel of experts spotted her unique talent and selected her work to appear at the Biennale of Chianciano in September, and since June, her work has been on display in the world famous National Portrait Gallery, exhibiting as part of the BP Award 2011.Only the finest artists are selected for the Biennale of Chianciano and the BP Award; Keiri is a shining example of this. In the past, Keiri’s works have been exhibited on an international scale; from her native Latvia to the Art Expos of New York and Toronto. Being chosen for both the Biennale of Chianciano and the BP Award in the same year is an exceptional achievement which has never before been accomplished. Keiri is poised to conquer the art world; she is the artist of 2011 to watch.It is not difficult to see why Keiri is creating such a stir, not only has her success this year been phenomenal, but one need only look at Keiri’s paintings to see the prodigious skill she possesses. She creates classical compositions, ethereal and dreamlike worlds where the protagonists have a sensual, yet innocent and fragile quality. The complexity of Keiri’s works has captured the attention of the international selection committee who out of the thousands of applications submitted, selected only 160 artists to appear at the Biennale of Chianciano.The artwork of Keiri will be in excellent company when it exhibits at the Art Museum of Chianciano. The museum not only boasts an impressive collection of works by Dalí, Rembrandt and Turner, but also features the artwork of Hans Schwarz, an impressive artist who is said to have “enhanced British cultural life” by The Independent newspaper. Schwarz was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery and is currently on display in their collection. Keiri may be an emerging talent, but parallels can already be drawn between her career and that of the great artist Schwarz. One can only expect great things from Keiri in the future.

 Chianciano Art Museum

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