The Rothko Museum (previously – Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre) was officially opened on 24 April 2013, and it took a massive group effort from multiple stakeholders to make it happen and materialise the idea first voiced in the distant 2002 about a unique tribute to the world-renowned artist Mark Rothko, perhaps the greatest native of Daugavpils. This milestone event opened new opportunities for the Latvian viewer to see Mark Rothko’s original paintings worth millions of dollars, which remains possible due to strong cooperation ties with the artist’s family. The display is updated every few years, so the past decade has already given the viewers a total of seventeen Rothko originals.
The current display of Mark Rothko’s originals features six paintings kindly provided by the artist’s daughter Kate Rothko Prizel and his son Christopher Rothko. The display reflects various stages of Rothko’s oeuvre – his intense searching, diverse activities and transformations in a lifelong progression towards mastery and freedom.
