In 1990, Virga was an art professor in her native Lithuania, then part of the Soviet Union. Invited to show her work in Santa Monica, she discovered American artistic freedom in 1990. Since then, her range of work has expanded, though her specialty remains figure art.
“I need to express human emotion. Every brushstroke is important for me — light and color and movement. I always seek light.” Virga's description of her approach can be as direct as her painting style:
Her works include oil on canvas, monoprints, watercolor and sanguine. She was represented for nine years by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art R&S Gallery with her original monoprints. She has exhibited in 16 solo shows and over 200 group and juried exhibits in the U.S. and abroad. Her work is in private and corporate collections.
Virga's art is showcased at her gallery in the heart of the Laguna Beach arts district. It is directly across the street from Laguna Art Museum, at the portal of Gallery Row. Virga Gallery features the work of guest artists as well as Virga's distinctively expressive work. Virga is frequently at the gallery, and welcomes conversation with collectors, artists, and the general public.
V I R G A S I A U C I U N A I T E :
R e s u m e
EDUCATION:
MA, Fine Arts, Vilnius Art Academy, Lithuania, 1980
HS, Najalis Art School, Kaunas, Lithuania, 1972
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2015-16 Art Instructor, Laguna Beach
Private art classes at Virga Gallery
2013-14 Art Instructor, Santa Susana
Private art classes at Virga Art Studio
2006-13 Consulting Artist, Southern California
Instructed established artists in figure drawing and oil painting
2006 Community Art Project Instructor, Santa Barbara
Artist in Residence
2004 Portrait Drawing Art Instructor, Palos Verdes
Art Center
2003-04 Water Color Instructor, Long Beach
Alpert Jewish Community Center
1995-98 Watercolor / Portrait Drawing Instructor, Manhattan Beach
South Bay Adult School
1995-98 Art Instructor, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes
Water Color, Multi-Media Portrait, and Printmaking; Exhibitions Committee Member
1989-90 Applied Arts Instructor for Orphaned Teens, Siauliai, Lithuania
Pioneer Club
1980-89 Art Professor, Siauliai, Lithuania
Preiksas Pedagogical University: Specialties were figure drawing and printmaking. Supervised graduate
portfolio work; sat on board of student review and evaluation committees; sat of Board of Acceptance
to the University.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
Virga has participated in close to 200 juried, group, and solo exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States from 1981 to present. The first of her 19 solo shows was at age 15. She has been featured in 8 museum shows. Her history includes the following key exhibitions:
2022. Focus Exhibition, Paris, France
2019-22 Virga Studio / Gallery, Santa Susana Knolls, CA
2019 Parallax Art Fair, Kensington, London
2018. World Lithuanian Art Exhition, Independence Centennial
2015 -18 Virga Gallery, Laguna Beach
2015 Art-A-Fair, Laguna Beach
2014 Calabasas Commons, Calabasas, CA
2013 Linus Gallery, Pasadena
2013 Museum of the Living Artist, Balboa Park, San Diego
2013 Waterside Gallery, Westlake Village
2010 Alex Gallery, Washington DC
2009-10 Virga Art Gallery, Channel Islands Harbor
2009 “DSN Wine and Art”, national presentation on DirecTV
2007 Alexandre Von Malte Gallery, London, UK
2007 Diana Bottoms Fine Art Gallery, Santa Barbara
2007 Adriana de Moura Gallery, Fisher Island, FL
2006 Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara
2006 OMMA Gallery, Santa Barbara
2003-12 Watercolor Gallery, Laguna Beach
2003 Kolibri Art Gallery, Rolling Hills Estates
2000 Jacob Javits Center, New York City, NY
1999 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, R&S Gallery, Los Angeles
1998 Sixth International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Gallery, NC
1998 Three Perspectives, TAS Gallery, Rancho Palos Verdes
1996-7 Stewart Gallery, Palos Verdes
1996 Gallery 825, Los Angeles
1996 Perspectives, Three Artists Show, Rancho Palos Verdes
1995-98 Malaga Cove Art Show, Rancho Palos Verdes
1992-4 Ciurlionio Museum, Lithuanian Artist in North America, Chicago
1992 Gallery in Motion, Glendale
1988 House of Engineering, Siauliai, Lithuania
1989 Ecology 89 Show, Vilnius, Lithuania
1989 Sea Ecology Exhibition, Klaipeda, Lithuania
1989 City Showroom, Siauliai, Lithuania
1989 House of Creativity, Palanga, Lithuania
1987 National Young Artists Show, Vilnius, Lithuania
1986 National 750th Anniversary of Siauliai, Lithuania
1985 National Young Artists Show, Siauliai, Lithuania
1984 Revolutionary Museum National Exhibition, Vilnius, Lithuania
1984 National Visual Art Exhibition, Vilnius, Lithuania
1983 Ausros Museum Young Artist Exhibition, Siauliai, Lithuania
1982 Siauliai’s Artists, Jelgava, Latvia
1981, 89 National Young Artists Show, Kaunas, Lithuania
1977 TSR Art Museum, Vilnius, Lithuania
1976 Museum of Revolution, Vilnius, Lithuania
ARTWORK IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:
K. Ciurlionis Museum of Art, Kaunas, Lithuania
Ausros Museum of History and Art, Siauliai, Lithuania
SPECIAL COMMISSIONS:
1996 Mural “Vineyards”, Palos Verdes
1992 Scenography: “Karalius Vagis” play, Glendale
1991 Mural “Medieval Battle”, Culver City
1989 Illustrations, Book by M. Paleckis, Vilnius, Lithuania
1986 Illustrations, “A Child’s Book”, Kaunas, Lithuania, Pozeloos Press
1982 Leather Mural, City of Siauliai Mayor’s Office, Lithuania
PUBLICATIONS:
Virga’s work has been featured in numerous publications; to mention a few:
Laguna Beach Art Magazine, "Welcoming Virga Gallery", 2015
Laguna Beach Magazine, "Lured by Love and Landscape", 2015
ArtLA: "Dancing with Paint", 2014
Ventura County Star, “Artist Finds Freedom of Expression in US”, 2010
Lithuanus, Vol. 3, Morkunas, Printing Co., Chicago, 1997
Lithuanian Artists in North America, A. Kezys, Chicago, 1994
Virga's art is showcased at her gallery in the heart of the Laguna Beach arts district. It is directly across the street from Laguna Art Museum, at the portal of Gallery Row. Virga Gallery features the work of guest artists as well as Virga's distinctively expressive work. Virga is frequently at the gallery, and welcomes conversation with collectors, artists, and the general public.
V I R G A S I A U C I U N A I T E :
R e s u m e
EDUCATION:
MA, Fine Arts, Vilnius Art Academy, Lithuania, 1980
HS, Najalis Art School, Kaunas, Lithuania, 1972
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2015-16 Art Instructor, Laguna Beach
Private art classes at Virga Gallery
2013-14 Art Instructor, Santa Susana
Private art classes at Virga Art Studio
2006-13 Consulting Artist, Southern California
Instructed established artists in figure drawing and oil painting
2006 Community Art Project Instructor, Santa Barbara
Artist in Residence
2004 Portrait Drawing Art Instructor, Palos Verdes
Art Center
2003-04 Water Color Instructor, Long Beach
Alpert Jewish Community Center
1995-98 Watercolor / Portrait Drawing Instructor, Manhattan Beach
South Bay Adult School
1995-98 Art Instructor, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes
Water Color, Multi-Media Portrait, and Printmaking; Exhibitions Committee Member
1989-90 Applied Arts Instructor for Orphaned Teens, Siauliai, Lithuania
Pioneer Club
1980-89 Art Professor, Siauliai, Lithuania
Preiksas Pedagogical University: Specialties were figure drawing and printmaking. Supervised graduate
portfolio work; sat on board of student review and evaluation committees; sat of Board of Acceptance
to the University.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
Virga has participated in close to 200 juried, group, and solo exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States from 1981 to present. The first of her 19 solo shows was at age 15. She has been featured in 8 museum shows. Her history includes the following key exhibitions:
2022. Focus Exhibition, Paris, France
2019-22 Virga Studio / Gallery, Santa Susana Knolls, CA
2019 Parallax Art Fair, Kensington, London
2018. World Lithuanian Art Exhition, Independence Centennial
2015 -18 Virga Gallery, Laguna Beach
2015 Art-A-Fair, Laguna Beach
2014 Calabasas Commons, Calabasas, CA
2013 Linus Gallery, Pasadena
2013 Museum of the Living Artist, Balboa Park, San Diego
2013 Waterside Gallery, Westlake Village
2010 Alex Gallery, Washington DC
2009-10 Virga Art Gallery, Channel Islands Harbor
2009 “DSN Wine and Art”, national presentation on DirecTV
2007 Alexandre Von Malte Gallery, London, UK
2007 Diana Bottoms Fine Art Gallery, Santa Barbara
2007 Adriana de Moura Gallery, Fisher Island, FL
2006 Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara
2006 OMMA Gallery, Santa Barbara
2003-12 Watercolor Gallery, Laguna Beach
2003 Kolibri Art Gallery, Rolling Hills Estates
2000 Jacob Javits Center, New York City, NY
1999 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, R&S Gallery, Los Angeles
1998 Sixth International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Gallery, NC
1998 Three Perspectives, TAS Gallery, Rancho Palos Verdes
1996-7 Stewart Gallery, Palos Verdes
1996 Gallery 825, Los Angeles
1996 Perspectives, Three Artists Show, Rancho Palos Verdes
1995-98 Malaga Cove Art Show, Rancho Palos Verdes
1992-4 Ciurlionio Museum, Lithuanian Artist in North America, Chicago
1992 Gallery in Motion, Glendale
1988 House of Engineering, Siauliai, Lithuania
1989 Ecology 89 Show, Vilnius, Lithuania
1989 Sea Ecology Exhibition, Klaipeda, Lithuania
1989 City Showroom, Siauliai, Lithuania
1989 House of Creativity, Palanga, Lithuania
1987 National Young Artists Show, Vilnius, Lithuania
1986 National 750th Anniversary of Siauliai, Lithuania
1985 National Young Artists Show, Siauliai, Lithuania
1984 Revolutionary Museum National Exhibition, Vilnius, Lithuania
1984 National Visual Art Exhibition, Vilnius, Lithuania
1983 Ausros Museum Young Artist Exhibition, Siauliai, Lithuania
1982 Siauliai’s Artists, Jelgava, Latvia
1981, 89 National Young Artists Show, Kaunas, Lithuania
1977 TSR Art Museum, Vilnius, Lithuania
1976 Museum of Revolution, Vilnius, Lithuania
ARTWORK IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:
K. Ciurlionis Museum of Art, Kaunas, Lithuania
Ausros Museum of History and Art, Siauliai, Lithuania
SPECIAL COMMISSIONS:
1996 Mural “Vineyards”, Palos Verdes
1992 Scenography: “Karalius Vagis” play, Glendale
1991 Mural “Medieval Battle”, Culver City
1989 Illustrations, Book by M. Paleckis, Vilnius, Lithuania
1986 Illustrations, “A Child’s Book”, Kaunas, Lithuania, Pozeloos Press
1982 Leather Mural, City of Siauliai Mayor’s Office, Lithuania
PUBLICATIONS:
Virga’s work has been featured in numerous publications; to mention a few:
Laguna Beach Art Magazine, "Welcoming Virga Gallery", 2015
Laguna Beach Magazine, "Lured by Love and Landscape", 2015
ArtLA: "Dancing with Paint", 2014
Ventura County Star, “Artist Finds Freedom of Expression in US”, 2010
Lithuanus, Vol. 3, Morkunas, Printing Co., Chicago, 1997
Lithuanian Artists in North America, A. Kezys, Chicago, 1994