About us
Zuzeum is a contemporary art centre, home of the Zuzāns Collection, the largest private collection of Latvian art in the world.
Zuzeum Art Centre offers audiences a space to discover and engage with contemporary Latvian and international art. Founded in 2017 by art collector and philanthropist Jānis Zuzāns, Zuzeum is located in the historic center of Riga and houses the world’s largest private collection of Latvian art, comprising nearly 30,000 pieces.
The Zuzāns Collection initially centered on Latvian art, making it the most extensive private collection of its kind worldwide. Over time, the acquisition of international contemporary art became the primary means of expanding the collection.
Zuzeum program is also reflected through regional and national partnerships, enabling the sharing of collections and exhibitions while engaging new audiences.
Zuzeum Art Centre
Zuzeum is housed in a former cork factory built in 1910 by architect and engineer Edmund von Trompowsky, with over 1,200 square meters of space. It is a place for cultural exchange, offering exhibitions, public events, a studio for artists, art storage, a public space with a meeting and working space, a cafe, and a shop.
The building
On 10 September 2020, Zuzeum, a new art centre and home to the Zuzāns Collection, opened its doors in Riga.
Architectural practice Annvil designed the functions and accessibility of the centre and the landscaping. As a client, Zuzeum Art Centre wanted more flexibility and an adaptive, economical environment to carry out its activities with a quick start.
The transformation programme included renovation of the historic cork factory buildings, designed by Edmund von Trompowsky in 1910, and a new public open space. The Zuzeum is now open to the city on three sides, each with its own role to play. Annvil accentuated the new entrance with an orange terraced concrete sculpture garden and paintwork that unites the historic building and courtyard cover. The large and small exhibition halls have a total area of 1,250 square metres, and the other rooms and the public open space can be flexibly adapted for exhibitions or events.
The building also has a fifth facade, a landscaped and spacious roof terrace, which is open to the public any time of the year and can be used as a viewing platform over post-industrial Riga or as a bar and café. The wall also contains the name of the art centre, a warmly glowing light box that forms a kind of neighbourhood gateway when coming from Salu Bridge.
By transforming the site and opening up a formerly closed space to the public, a significant private investment has been made in the efficient use of the urban environment. The building's conversion into an easily accessible location in the centre of Riga meets the Davos criteria and the objectives of the European Green Deal. A restored historic building and an attractive but previously undervalued site have been brought into public use.
st. Lacplesa, 101 Riga, LV–1011