Among her most famous works is the wall of the legendary Vilnius children’s cafe “Nykštukas”, painted together with her husband, the artist Algirdas Steponavičius, as well as impressive-sized murals in the Valkininkai sanatorium “Pušelė”, a dozen children’s books, the illustrations of which stood out in the Soviet era for their colorfulness and unique characters.
The artist was born in 1930. June 2 Nainiškiu village, Panevėžys district. Later, he and his family settled in Miežiškii, where he graduated from elementary school. Drawing, as she stated herself, was in her nature – early on, Birutė felt the power of imagination to create the world as she liked it.
In 1942, she entered the Panevėžys girls’ high school. The war years passed in Panevėžys. In 1947, after finishing the sixth grade, she got a job as a linotypist in the printing office of the newspaper “Voice of Panevėžio” – she collected letters for the newspaper. He also studied at Panevėžys adult gymnasium. However, her biggest dream was studying art in Vilnius.
In 1949, she entered the graphic arts department of the Vilnius Art Institute. Here B. Žilyte was taught by Irena Žebenkienė, Kazys Morkūnas, Petras Aleksandravičius, Jonas Kuzminskis, Antanas Kučas, Bronius Uogintas, Augustinas Savickas, Vladas Drėma and many others. She finished her studies in 1956 after defending her diploma thesis – a cycle of four-part etchings “At the Curonian Lagoon”.
In 1954, the artist began collaborating in the children’s magazine “Genys”, for which she regularly drew illustrations for ten years. At the same time, together with her husband, the artist A. Steponavičius, she debuted as a book illustrator – their first joint work was the element book “ABC” by Vanda Jurgutienė and Liudvika Tomkytė. Over the course of three decades, she illustrated a dozen books alone or together with her husband.
Among B. Žilytė’s most famous books are K. Jakubėna’s “Abėcėlė” (1958), Petros Cvirka’s “Rainuikai” (1962), Mykolas Slucki’s “The Ungrateful Duckling” (1964 and 1967, together with her husband), Aldona Liobytė’s “The Tale of the Brave Vilnius Girl” and the assassin Greenbeard (1970 and 2007), Kost Kubilinski “Sttovi pasakų namelis” (1974 and 1985) and “Eglė zalčių karalienė” by Salomeja Nėris (in Russian, 1989, in Lithuanian – 2007).
The artist herself has said that she used to choose such books to illustrate, which were life-like, not sweet or primitive. That is why her drawings stood out not only for their contrasting colors, but also for their surrealistic or magical plots, where you could also find scary witches, severed pig heads, blue horses, flying fish or red rivers.
According to the art researcher Agnė Narušytė, “the bursting shapes and contradictory colors in B. Žilytė’s paintings sometimes make the eyes dazzle. This is the influence of Pop Art and Op art, which would be unacceptable for Soviet painting, but suited the less censored graphics.” By the way, in her works you can also find Eglė the Queen of Serpents, reminiscent of the Virgin Mary depicted in folk sculpture, or the pillars of Gediminači painted on the shield of Vytautas the Great.
in 1964 fresco artist Laimutis Ločeris invited B. Žilytė and A. Steponavičius to create a wall painting composition in the children’s cafe “Nykštukas” in Vilnius. This became a real challenge for artists accustomed to small formats, and at the same time a great artistic inspiration. Eventually, this cafe became extremely popular and loved among the children of that time and earned the status of “legendary”.
Unfortunately, with the advent of the era of privatization, the former interior of the cafe was destroyed, and only a few fragments of “Nykštuko” painted on wooden panels remained from the wall painting. Having recovered them from the new owners of the cafe in 1998, B. Žilytė brought these works to her home, where they are still kept today.
One of the most impressive works created by B. Žilytė together with her husband A. Steponavičius is a 110 square meter wall painting in the long corridor of Valkininkai Children’s Sanatorium “Pušelė”. This cycle of 12 works was created for three years (1969-1972).
in 1972 director Bytautė Pajėdienė created the documentary film “Blue Horse”, which tells about this work of wall painting. Unfortunately, the change of regimes drastically affected this work as well: it was abandoned and destroyed. Only in 2015, this wall painting was declared a cultural heritage object protected by the state. In 2016, on the initiative of Audrius Klim and “Vilniaus galerijas”, restoration works of this work were started, with the aim of transferring the wall painting to a digital form. In 2017, a fully restored, original size of 2.3 x 32 m was exhibited for the first time at the Litexpo exhibition hall. the work of the “Pušelė” sanatorium. Its fragments can still be seen in the cafe of the MO Museum.
For her drawings, graphic engravings, lithographs, etchings, wall paintings and illustrations for books, the artist received several honorable awards. In 1997, she was awarded the state award – the Grand Cross of the Knight of the Order of Duke Gediminas of Lithuania. In 2015, B. Žilyte was awarded the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize “for art and creativity fostering high modern culture for children”. in 2010 the artist organized her personal exhibition at the National Art Gallery.
in 2002 B. Žilytė compiled the album “Algirdas Steponavičius. Mysterious glow of being” – in the book art competition, the artist was awarded the first prize of the Lithuanian Union of Artists for this book. in 2014 an album of her own work of the same name was also released.
In 2020, for a quarter of a century of pedagogical work at the MKČiurlionis School of Art, B. Žilyte was awarded the title of honorary professor of the Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts.
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#artist #Birutė #Žilytė #laid #rest #Vilnius #Verkių #cemetery #Culture
**Interview with Birutė Žilytė: A Legacy of Imagination and Art**
**Interviewer:** Birutė, it’s wonderful to have you with us today. Your art has been an integral part of Lithuanian culture, especially through your iconic murals and children’s book illustrations. Can you tell us a bit about your journey in art?
**Birutė Žilytė:** Thank you for having me! My journey began in Nainiškiai, where drawing was always a part of my life. I remember feeling a strong desire to create and shape my surroundings from a very young age. After graduating from the Vilnius Art Institute in 1956, I felt ready to explore how my imagination could transform into visual narratives.
**Interviewer:** Your collaboration with your husband, Algirdas Steponavičius, has also resulted in some remarkable works. How did that partnership influence your artistic direction?
**Birutė Žilytė:** Working with Algirdas was a profound experience. We complemented each other’s styles and ideas, especially in projects like the wall painting at “Nykštukas.” That café became a beloved place for children, and the vibrant colors and whimsical characters we created left a lasting impact. It was a challenge to shift from smaller formats to such a large canvas, but it truly inspired us.
**Interviewer:** The “Nykštukas” café mural indeed became legendary! With changes over time, how do you feel about the preservation of such significant works, especially with the destruction of some of your murals?
**Birutė Žilytė:** It’s heartbreaking to see such vital pieces of art lost. I have fought to preserve fragments of the “Nykštukas” mural, which now reside in my home. The “Pušelė” sanatorium mural faced similar fates, but I was overjoyed when it was declared a cultural heritage object. The restoration efforts are a testament to the value of our cultural history, and I’m grateful for the support in bringing it back to life in a digital format.
**Interviewer:** Your illustrations often feature surreal elements that break away from traditional narratives. Can you tell us about your approach to choosing stories to illustrate?
**Birutė Žilytė:** I always preferred stories that resonated with real life, with depth and complexity rather than being overly sweet or simplistic. I found that magical or surreal elements allowed me to express themes of fear and wonder, which many children could relate to. It’s important to challenge the norms and explore diverse imaginings.
**Interviewer:** Looking back over your long career, how do you feel about the evolution of your art, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
**Birutė Žilytė:** My art has always been a reflection of my experiences and the times I lived in. I hope my legacy is one of sparking imagination and encouraging others to explore their creativity without fear. The power of art lies in its ability to inspire, connect, and evoke emotions, and I hope that continues long after I’m gone.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Birutė. Your work and words are incredibly inspiring.
**Birutė Žilytė:** Thank you! It’s been a pleasure to share my journey.
