Press release

Gallery T.2 (Titnago 7, Vilnius) — the only gallery in Vilnius’s Žemieji Paneriai district — invites you to the opening of Rūta Matulevičiūtė’s solo exhibition “brb” on October 9.

Curator: Julija Skudutytė
Opening: October 9 at 7 p.m.
Exhibition dates: October 9 – November 1, 2025
Visiting: Free of charge by appointment
Online lecture by Rūta Matulevičiūtė: October 15 at 7 p.m.

Rūta Matulevičiūtė’s “brb” is part of the NOVUS REX project, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of one of Lithuania’s most significant artists — Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The exhibition explores not only royal colors but also the dethroning of kings. Rūta examines social attitudes, stagnation, and liberation from it — grounded in authenticity, self-reflection, and the cultivation of intuition.

Currently based in Fairfield, Iowa (USA), Rūta Matulevičiūtė holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Vilnius Academy of Arts and is a member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association. She has held solo exhibitions in Vilnius and presented her works at the London Art Fair, ArtVilnius, and Supermarket Stockholm Independent Art Fair. Rūta was also a finalist in the Young Painter Prize competition. Her works are part of private collections in the USA, Lithuania, Scotland, and elsewhere.

Blue, Blue, Blue

Rūta’s art is royally blue — like the most precious lapis lazuli pigment, once accessible only to palace painters. Though painted in oil, her brushwork flows like watercolor. Her monochromatic approach recalls the old masters who began their work with a single-color underpainting — yet Rūta paints all at once, turning the imprimatura into alla prima.

At the heart of her work lies authenticity, attainable only through intuition and clarity of thought. One of the artist’s most influential practices is Transcendental Meditation (TM), which permeates all aspects of her life. It strengthens her connection to the world — the source of intuition. But how can one express the ocean of consciousness reached through meditation?

Her work is marked by sincerity, self-reflection, and autobiography. The viewer encounters themselves — and the main task remains: to accept what one is and what one sees. As Rūta herself says:

“When you recognize who you are, you see yourself in everything. Everything becomes precious. You naturally find yourself in situations where what’s precious appears — like animals. Rabbits run around me, skunks fart, plump squirrels and deer wander about.”

The works were created not only spiritually but also physically in another space — after moving to Fairfield, USA. Distance allows cultural comparison: to see how things function elsewhere. Only by stepping back can one perceive people and situations as they are, and how Soviet trauma still seeps into everyday behavior. Liberation requires freeing oneself from imposed beliefs and attitudes, holding oneself and others accountable, dethroning “old rulers”, and renewing traditions.

Rūta embraces innovation and technology — using them as creative tools. Video games become not a form of escapism but another branch of artistic exploration and inspiration. The title hints at this too: like a message typed mid-game — a promise that the mission will continue.

“brb” – be right back.

Rūta will be right back.

Short bio

Rūta Matulevičiūtė is a Lithuanian painter. Currently lives and works in Fairfield, Iowa, USA. Matulevičiūtė has an MFA in Painting from Vilnius Academy of Arts, and is a member of Lithuanian Artists’ Association. She had solo exhibitions in Vilnius, Lithuania, presented works in the London Art Fair, ArtVilnius, Supermarket Stockholm Independent Art Fair. She was a finalist at the Young Painter Prize. Her works are in private collections in the USA, Lithuania, Scotland, etc.

Artist statement

I adore the world and my painting practice is to reflect the magic of life. Creating is communication with life, as the arising ideas guide me in the process. I am in awe of the beauty that conquers pain, and in my creative process I express deep respect for ancient and old traditions. I believe they connect contemporary humans to their nature, to their Being, and the knowledge coming from them is soothing in the most interesting times.

My method is Consciousness-Based Art which means the practice based in recognizing the source of ideas, and exploring it by practicing meditation every day. Any ancient culture in the world, European, American, Asian, Baltic, African, talks about the underlying oneness in life. I look for it in ancient folklore, fairy tales, contemporary literature, video games, people, and nature. My practice highlights magic present in appreciation, beauty, compassion and co-existence with all species and earth.

Text by Julija Skudutytė.