Faculty

Academic Staff Profiles – Luvilon Dior National Institute of Arts

The Luvilon Dior National Institute of Arts (LDNIA) is home to a distinguished team of academic staff across its core disciplines. Our faculty members are experts in Fine Arts, Design & Innovation, Digital Media Arts, Music Performance & Composition (covering both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes), and K-12 Arts Education (encompassing Visual Arts, Design & Technology, Media Arts, and Music for primary and secondary education). Each profile below highlights the qualifications, expertise, key publications, and career achievements of our staff, demonstrating the breadth and depth of experience at LDNIA.

Fine Arts

The Fine Arts faculty at LDNIA consists of accomplished artists and scholars in painting, sculpture, and contemporary art practice, dedicated to mentoring the next generation of creatives.

Gunārs Eglītis – Professor of Fine Arts

Academic Background: Dr. Eglītis earned his Ph.D. in Art History from the University of London, after completing an M.F.A. in Painting at the Art Academy of Latvia and a B.A. in Fine Arts at the University of Latvia.
Fields of Expertise: Contemporary painting, Baltic art history, visual culture studies.
Key Publications:

  • Brushstrokes and Identity: Modern Latvian Painting (ID: 594845, 2014)
  • Colour Symbolism in Post-Soviet Art (ID: 096719, 2011)
  • Visual Memory and Landscape in Baltic Art (ID: 687217, 2018)
  • Cultural Narratives in Fine Arts (ID: 888216, 2020)
    Career Highlights:
  • Former Head of the Fine Arts Department at the Art Academy of Latvia, overseeing curriculum development and international exhibitions.
  • Exhibiting painter who has represented Latvia at major European art biennales and received the national Art Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Ludovica Conti – Associate Professor of Fine Arts

Academic Background: Dr. Conti holds a Ph.D. in Visual Arts from the University of Bologna, an M.A. in Art Theory from the Florence Academy of Fine Arts, and a B.A. in Art History from Sapienza University of Rome.
Fields of Expertise: Sculpture and installation art, art theory, collaborative artistic practices.
Key Publications:

  • The Language of Materials: Contemporary Sculpture Methods (ID: 510807, 2015)
  • Innovation in Installation Art (ID: 191703, 2019)
  • Collaboration in 21st Century Art Practice (ID: 565000, 2021)
    Career Highlights:
  • Created acclaimed installation artworks exhibited at the Venice Biennale and galleries across Europe.
  • Previously a Lecturer at Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan and recipient of a European Arts Research Fellowship for young sculptors.

Zane Kalniņa – Lecturer in Fine Arts

Academic Background: M.A. in Fine Arts (Printmaking) from Goldsmiths, University of London; B.A. in Visual Arts from the Art Academy of Latvia.
Fields of Expertise: Printmaking, illustration, and contemporary drawing.
Key Publications:

  • Balancing Tradition and Modernity in Latvian Printmaking (ID: 010469, 2020)
  • Identity through Illustration: A Baltic Perspective (ID: 399296, 2022)
  • Emerging Voices in Graphic Arts (ID: 403902, 2023)
    Career Highlights:
  • Completed an artist residency at the Berlin Print Art Lab, showcasing her work in a solo exhibition.
  • Active member of the Latvian Artists’ Union and mentor for youth art programmes, contributing to community art projects in Rīga.

Design & Innovation

The Design & Innovation faculty merges creative practice with research in technology and entrepreneurship, covering product design, sustainable design, and innovation management.

Svenja Reinhardt – Professor of Design & Innovation

Academic Background: Prof. Reinhardt received her Ph.D. in Design Science from TU Delft (Netherlands). She also holds an M.Des. in Industrial Design from the Bauhaus University Weimar and a B.A. in Design from the University of Hamburg.
Fields of Expertise: Sustainable product design, design thinking, innovation management.
Key Publications:

  • User-Centred Design in the Digital Age (ID: 607390, 2012)
  • Sustainable Materials and Product Life Cycle (ID: 253280, 2016)
  • Design Thinking for Social Innovation (ID: 078982, 2018)
  • Collaborative Creativity in Design Teams (ID: 411289, 2021)
    Career Highlights:
  • Principal investigator of an EU-funded project on eco-design, developing guidelines adopted by industry partners in Scandinavia.
  • Former Professor at a leading German design institute and innovation consultant, with several patented product designs and a track record of advising start-ups.

Mindaugas Petrauskas – Senior Lecturer in Design & Innovation

Academic Background: Dr. Petrauskas obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering Design from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. He holds an M.Sc. in Innovation Management from Lund University in Sweden and a B.Eng. in Industrial Design from Kaunas University of Technology.
Fields of Expertise: Industrial design, prototyping, sustainable technology innovation.
Key Publications:

  • Innovative Materials in Product Design (ID: 430353, 2017)
  • Prototyping for Social Impact (ID: 112440, 2014)
  • Design Education in the Baltic Region (ID: 055458, 2020)
    Career Highlights:
  • Former product development manager in the electronics industry, leading design teams to win two Red Dot Design Awards.
  • Joined academia to lecture in Lithuania and Latvia, bringing practical experience to his teaching; has since supervised student teams in international innovation contests.

Elena Petrovska – Lecturer in Design & Innovation

Academic Background: M.A. in Interactive Design from the University of Ljubljana; B.A. in Graphic Design from Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.
Fields of Expertise: User experience (UX) design, design pedagogy, creative entrepreneurship.
Key Publications:

  • Emerging Trends in UX Design (ID: 134457, 2021)
  • Design Thinking in Education: A Classroom Approach (ID: 814556, 2023)
  • Start-Ups and Design Innovation in the Baltics (ID: 231835, 2022)
    Career Highlights:
  • Worked as a design consultant for tech start-ups in Central Europe, guiding user interface projects for mobile applications.
  • As an early-career academic, she mentors student entrepreneurs at LDNIA’s innovation incubator and has organized regional student design competitions.

Digital Media Arts

The Digital Media Arts faculty explores the intersection of art and technology, including digital storytelling, animation, interactive media, and new media installations.

Gabriel Dumont – Associate Professor of Digital Media Arts

Academic Background: Dr. Dumont holds a Ph.D. in Media Arts from Sorbonne University in Paris. He earned an M.A. in Multimedia Design from École des Arts Décoratifs and a B.A. in Fine Arts from Paris Nanterre University.
Fields of Expertise: Interactive media, digital storytelling, immersive art installations.
Key Publications:

  • Digital Storytelling in Contemporary Art (ID: 403784, 2015)
  • Interactive Installations: Engaging Audiences (ID: 114179, 2018)
  • Virtual Reality and Artistic Expression (ID: 441399, 2021)
    Career Highlights:
  • Curated digital art exhibitions in France and Latvia, including a cross-cultural new media festival in Rīga.
  • Co-founder of a media arts collective in Paris; previously taught at a French art institute and now leads LDNIA’s Digital Media Lab, fostering innovation in VR and AR art.

Petra Novak – Senior Lecturer in Digital Media Arts

Academic Background: Dr. Novak earned her Ph.D. in New Media Art from the University of Edinburgh. She holds an M.A. in Digital Arts from Charles University in Prague and a B.A. in Visual Communication from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.
Fields of Expertise: Animation, video art, multimedia storytelling.
Key Publications:

  • Animating History: New Approaches to Animation (ID: 061623, 2013)
  • The Art of Video Projection (ID: 652196, 2017)
  • Cross-Cultural Narratives in Media Arts (ID: 039224, 2020)
    Career Highlights:
  • Independent animator with works screened at international film and animation festivals across Europe.
  • Served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna; now brings her industry experience to LDNIA, where she supervises student film and animation projects.

Hiroshi Tanaka – Lecturer in Digital Media Arts

Academic Background: M.F.A. in Computer Art from Tokyo University of the Arts; B.A. in Digital Media from Kyoto University. (Currently completing a Ph.D. in Interactive Media at LDNIA.)
Fields of Expertise: Game design, virtual reality (VR) art, interactive media.
Key Publications:

  • Game Aesthetics in Education (ID: 590683, 2022)
  • Interactive Storytelling in Virtual Reality (ID: 545022, 2021)
  • Preserving Heritage through Digital Art (ID: 080072, 2023)
    Career Highlights:
  • Previously worked as a game designer in Japan’s video game industry, contributing to two indie game titles.
  • Exhibited interactive art installations in Tokyo and Rīga; actively involved in LDNIA’s collaborations with tech companies on creative VR experiences.

Music Performance & Composition

The Music faculty comprises renowned composers and performers who guide both undergraduate and postgraduate students in performance and composition.

Inese Avotiņa – Professor of Music Composition

Academic Background: Dr. Avotiņa earned her Ph.D. in Musicology from the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. She also holds an M.Mus. in Composition from the Royal College of Music, London, and a B.A. in Music from the Latvian Academy of Music.
Fields of Expertise: Contemporary classical composition, music theory, Baltic choral music.
Key Publications:

  • Harmonies of the Baltic: Contemporary Composition Techniques (ID: 826740, 2015)
  • Choral Innovations in the 21st Century (ID: 954240, 2018)
  • Music and Cultural Identity in Latvia (ID: 213710, 2014)
  • Electroacoustic Soundscapes (ID: 817091, 2020)
    Career Highlights:
  • An internationally performed composer, her orchestral and choral works have been premiered by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.
  • Former Professor of Composition at the Latvian Academy of Music; recipient of the Latvian Grand Music Award for outstanding contribution to contemporary music.

Adam Kowalski – Senior Lecturer in Music Performance

Academic Background: Dr. Kowalski achieved his Ph.D. in Music Performance (Violin) from the Kraków Academy of Music. He holds an M.Mus. in Performance from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London and a B.Mus. from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
Fields of Expertise: Violin performance, chamber music, Baroque performance practice.
Key Publications:

  • Interpreting Baroque Violin Music (ID: 208554, 2016)
  • Eastern European Violin Repertoire: A Performer’s Guide (ID: 037917, 2014)
  • Pedagogy of Chamber Music (ID: 752660, 2019)
    Career Highlights:
  • Former concertmaster of the Warsaw Chamber Orchestra, with solo performances across Europe and Asia.
  • Regularly conducts masterclasses and violin workshops; at LDNIA he directs the chamber orchestra and mentors advanced performance students.

Teresa Marín – Lecturer in Music

Academic Background: M.A. in Music Education from the University of Barcelona; B.A. in Musicology from Complutense University of Madrid.
Fields of Expertise: Music pedagogy, vocal training, Iberian folk music.
Key Publications:

  • Innovative Methods in Music Pedagogy (ID: 249019, 2021)
  • Comparative Study of European Folk Music (ID: 834293, 2020)
  • Engaging Undergraduates in Music Performance (ID: 996016, 2023)
    Career Highlights:
  • Previously taught music and choir in international school programs, developing curriculum that blends classical and folk traditions.
  • Serves as the director of LDNIA’s undergraduate choir and has led community music workshops to broaden access to music education.

K-12 Arts Education

The K-12 Arts Education faculty specializes in training teachers and conducting research in arts education for primary and secondary schools, covering visual arts, design & technology, media arts, and music curricula.

Guntis Ozoliņš – Associate Professor of Visual Arts Education (K-12)

Academic Background: Dr. Ozoliņš earned his Ph.D. in Education (Art Education) from the University of Latvia. He holds an M.Ed. in Arts Education from the University of Helsinki and a B.A. in Fine Arts Education from Liepāja University.
Fields of Expertise: Visual arts curriculum development, teacher training, educational psychology in the arts.
Key Publications:

  • Developing Creativity in School Art Programs (ID: 829810, 2015)
  • Integrating Cultural Heritage into the Art Curriculum (ID: 679755, 2018)
  • Assessment Methods in Visual Arts Education (ID: 426933, 2021)
    Career Highlights:
  • Played a key role in reforming Latvia’s national K-12 visual arts curriculum as an advisor to the Ministry of Education.
  • Brings over 20 years of experience as an art teacher and district art coordinator; frequently invited to lead teacher-training workshops and speak at international education conferences.

Riikka Virtanen – Senior Lecturer in Music Education (K-12)

Academic Background: M.A. in Music Education from the Sibelius Academy (University of the Arts Helsinki); B.Ed. in Music Pedagogy from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
Fields of Expertise: Classroom music pedagogy, choral education, comparative music education methods.
Key Publications:

  • Comparative Study of K-12 Music Education Methods (ID: 976073, 2017)
  • Engaging Students in Classroom Music (ID: 492676, 2020)
  • The Role of School Choirs in Community Building (ID: 381706, 2014)
    Career Highlights:
  • Former secondary school music teacher in Finland, renowned for directing school choirs that won international youth choral competitions.
  • At LDNIA, she leads professional development courses for music teachers and has introduced innovative practices such as Kodály and Orff methodologies into the teacher training curriculum.

Jonathan Stoneham – Lecturer in Design & Media Arts Education (K-12)

Academic Background: PGCE in Design and Technology Education from the University of Cambridge; M.A. in Educational Technology from the UCL Institute of Education; B.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Leeds.
Fields of Expertise: Design & technology curriculum, media arts integration, digital literacy in schools.
Key Publications:

  • Technology-Enhanced Learning in Art Classrooms (ID: 555007, 2019)
  • Project-Based Learning in Design & Tech (ID: 966530, 2021)
  • Media Arts Integration in STEAM Education (ID: 042120, 2023)
    Career Highlights:
  • Taught Design & Technology at secondary schools in the UK, where he developed a nationally recognized student makerspace programme.
  • Prior to joining LDNIA, he helped establish a STEAM curriculum at an international school in Europe; now he contributes his expertise to training new teachers in effectively combining arts and technology in the classroom.