The Adomas Galdikas Museum is a unique historical space located in Vilnius Old Town, inviting visitors to explore the work of the prominent 20th-century Lithuanian artist Adomas Galdikas.
The museum stands out by offering not only a traditional way of viewing artworks in exhibitions, but also experiential tours (educational activities), where visitors can personally engage with and experience the moments reflected in the paintings, becoming part of them. The museum brings together art theory and practice, while incorporating art therapy techniques.
The museum holds the largest private collection of the artist’s works – around 500 paintings and graphic artworks. It includes a significant collection of female portraits, still lifes and especially valuable landscapes from his émigré period (Germany, France, the USA). There are also extensive collections of American abstractions, as well as previously un-exhibited graphic works and studies. The collection also features the famous Portrait of the Jew Baruch (1925–1926), considered the most expensive work by Galdikas ever acquired at auction in Lithuania.
The museum was founded by collector Arnas Jurskis, who owns the largest private collection of Adomas Galdikas’ works.
The Adomas Galdikas Museum is located in a cultural heritage building in Vilnius Old Town, at Arklių St. 20–1A, in the former art library. The architect of the historic building was Vincent (Vikentijus) Gorskis (1848–?).
From the early 19th century, the house belonged to state councillor and landowner Adomas de Štrungas. In the mid-19th century, it was inherited by his sister Elena Štrungaitė-Dmochovska. In 1877, the house was purchased by Elżbieta Białozoraitė von Römer. Following a design by Vincent Gorskis, she reconstructed the building in 1880–1883 and again in 1896: a southern wing with a staircase was added and the façade of the street-facing section was redesigned, giving the building its present appearance.
After Elżbieta’s death in 1934 (she is buried in Rasos Cemetery), the house passed by will to her son Stefan von Römer. During the nationalization of 1940–1941, the property was already managed by Elżbieta’s nephew Motiejus Römeris and his sister. Thus, the building in its current form was shaped by Elżbieta von Römer, who lived there until her death. In 1952–1953, the building underwent repairs. Electricity and sewage systems were installed in the first half of the 20th century. In the mid- and late 20th century, the communist authorities confiscated the house from its rightful owners and altered it.
Despite the damage, the architectural volume, the layout of the main walls, the façades and the main entrance hall decoration have remained almost unchanged. In 1971, a major renovation was carried out: all apartment partitions, floors, stoves, windows and doors were removed and rebuilt. Most of the floors were replaced with reinforced concrete structures. A children’s library was established in the building, later becoming a music and art branch of the Vilnius Central Library.
During renovations in 2020–2021, the stucco decoration in the ground-floor entrance hall was restored, fragments of wall paintings were uncovered and conserved in the entrance hall, staircase and second-floor street-side rooms and stained glass windows in the northern second-floor window (by artist Jovita Dovydėnienė, second half of the 20th century) were preserved.
