Joniškėlis, Karpis Manor

Arūnas Vasiliauskas (born in 1942) stands out as a prominent Lithuanian artist, social activist, ethnographer, and watercolourist. Renowned for his commitment to the delicate art of watercolour, Vasiliauskas has a talent for portraying the landscapes of his homeland. Through his works, he seeks to depict the fragile equilibrium of our world and the transience of each moment. Nevertheless, his creations are not dramatic but are instead characterized by tranquility, assurance, and wisdom.

The unique charm of Arūnas Vasiliauskas’s landscapes comes from their ability to stimulate sensations beyond what is seen by the eye alone. Viewers can perceive shifting light, observe drifting clouds in the sky, and almost feel the grass swaying gently in the wind. His paintings convey a sense of vitality within each scene—not just through their colours and forms, but by evoking the scents and sounds of the Lithuanian countryside. A continual belief in the endurance and unity of nature runs through his work.

Many years of Vasiliauskas’s life were devoted to education, where he guided and influenced future artists. He served as a teacher at the Šiauliai Pedagogical Institute and the Children's Art School, and he contributed as a painter at the Šiauliai Aušra Museum as well. He also held the position of chairman for the Šiauliai branch of the Lithuanian Artists' Union and taught at the Šiauliai Conservatoire, which has since become the Šiauliai Sauliaus Sondeckis Art Gymnasium.

His accomplishments as an artist have earned him international acclaim. Vasiliauskas regularly showcases his work in both solo and collective exhibitions around the globe. A highlight of his career was his participation in the art exhibition held during the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996. His pieces can be found in Lithuanian museum collections, and many are also owned privately, both in Lithuania and internationally.