From September 1 to 14, the “Ola Foundation” cultural space in Riga hosted a solo exhibition by world-renowned American photographer and photojournalist David Burnett. This was a unique opportunity for Latvian audiences to explore up close the artist’s perspective on major historical events and the people who helped shape them.
David Burnett is a true legend in photography, with more than five decades of experience. Throughout his career, he has documented dozens of historic moments – from the Olympic Games and political developments to behind-the-scenes encounters with iconic public figures.
His work is distinguished by deep humanism, exceptional compositional sensibility, and an extraordinary ability to be present at pivotal moments in history. Burnett’s lens has immortalized personalities such as Bob Marley, John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Princess Diana, and many others.
The initiative to bring the exhibition to Latvia came from Viesturs Koziols and is implemented through the association “Viena Diena.lv”. He expresses great satisfaction and gratitude for the “Ola Foundation’s” support and trust in the concept, emphasizing how valuable it is that the exhibition is being held in such a high-quality and creative cultural environment.
“Photography can capture a moment and turn it into history, preserving emotions, energy, and the traces people leave behind in time. At ‘Ola’, we deeply appreciate photographic art as an essential component of contemporary culture – an art form that unites reality and storytelling. We are truly honored that David Burnett’s exhibition is taking place in our space,” says Ilze Pīlēna, founder of the “Ola Foundation.”
The Riga exhibition followed the international photography conference “Vision & Voices: Photography for a Connected World,” held on August 29–30 in Liepāja. After the conference, Burnett presented his solo exhibition at the “Ola Foundation,” marking his first exhibition in Latvia.
The exhibition is supported by the insurance technology company Balcia, the travel agency KASA Travel, and the law firm Loze & Partneri. The development of the exhibition was also made possible by entrepreneur Māris Martinsons, whose long-standing interest and involvement in Latvia’s cultural and artistic life have enabled the implementation of a number of important cultural initiatives.
(Translated using an artificial intelligence tool)
