Arvydas Každailis
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Baisogala
Baisogala is a small town in Lithuania. It is situated on the crossroads of Kėdainiai–Šeduva and Raseiniai–Šeduva roads. According to the 2001 census, it had 2,548 residents.-History:...
) is a Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n artists, best known as the creator of many coat of arms for cities and towns of Lithuania. For his achievements in Lithuanian art, he was awarded the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas is the Lithuanian Presidential Award which was re-instituted to honour the citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices. Foreign nationals may also be awarded this Order. The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke...
in 1999.
Každailis studied graphics at the Vilnius Academy of Art
Vilnius Academy of Art
The Vilnius Academy of Art in Vilnius, Lithuania, grants a variety of degrees in the arts.The academy was created as a separate entity in 1940; it had previously been part of Vilnius University. It was closed during the Nazi occupation of Lithuania, and re-opened in 1944...
from 1957 to 1962. After graduation he worked as a teacher at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art
National M. K. Ciurlionis School of Art
National M. K. Čiurlionis School Of Art was founded in 1945 in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is named after the famous Lithuanian painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. It is the only such school in Lithuania, spanning the entire 12 year learning cycle...
from 1965 to 1985. In 1987 he joined the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission. As of 2007, he held 22 personal exhibitions in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
To the wider public he is best known as the creator of the coat of arms of Lithuania
Coat of arms of Lithuania
The coat of arms of Lithuania, consisting of an armor-clad knight on horseback holding an olden sword and shield, is also known as Vytis . The Lithuanian coat of arms is one of the oldest national coats of arms in Europe...
, coat of arms of Vilnius
Coat of arms of Vilnius
The coat of arms of Vilnius is the coat of arms of the city of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is also used as coat of arms of Vilnius city municipality. The modern version was created in 1991 by Arvydas Každailis, the same artist who drew the modern coat of arms of Lithuania...
(the capital city), and the flag of the President of Lithuania. Každailis also works as book illustrator. He experimented with numerous techniques, styles, and themes, but his best works are considered to be related with the history of Lithuania. His 54-image cycle for a book by Simanas Daukantas won the Grand Amber Prize of the Baltic Triennial Art Exhibition in 1986. 42 of these images were donated to the Lithuanian Art Museum
Lithuanian Art Museum
The Lithuanian Art Museum was initially established in Vilnius in 1933 as the Vilnius City Museum. It houses Lithuania's largest art collection.-History:...
in 2002. In 2002 he was awarded the Lithuanian National Prize
Lithuanian National Prize
The Lithuanian National Prize , established in 1989, is an award granted for achievements in culture and the arts. It has been awarded annually in six categories since 2006...
for his 65 etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
s inspired by the Chronicon terrae Prussiae
Chronicon terrae Prussiae
Chronicon terrae Prussiae is a chronicle of the Teutonic Knights, by Peter of Dusburg, finished in 1326. The manuscript is the first major chronicle of the Teutonic Order in Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, completed some 100 years after the conquest of the crusaders into the Baltic region...
.