See the Unseen for if You Don’t, You’ll Never See It Again at the Museum of Applied Arts and Design of the LNMA
Exhibition opening at 5 pm Friday, 12 December, 2025
The Museum of Applied Arts and Design (LNMA), the keeper of over 70,000 objects, introduces the idea of an open/visitable storage area and invites to see nearly a half of the Museum’s collection usually away from the public view.
“The collection is the core of the Museum’s activity, and is constantly growing in the objects of significance to the Lithuanian and world culture. This exhibition allows visitors to step backstage of the collecting institution and explore the world of thousands of exhibits kept in the storage facility. Part of them have not been on view for real long, finally their red-letter day of encountering visitors has arrived. We invite, therefore, not to miss this unique opportunity to see the yet-unseen treasures of our Museum,” Dr Arūnas Gelūnas, director general of the LNMA introduces the idea of the event.
“It is symbolical that on the very eve of Christmas we should open this exhibition with a mysterious title See the Unseen for if You Don’t, You’ll Never See It Again. What is the mystery behind this title? It is the first time when the Lithuanian National Museum of Art opens the doors of its storage facilities so broadly. The objects of the collection – the artefacts of ceramic, glass, bone china, metal, textiles, pieces of furniture and objects of design are presented in a form of an exhibition in display cases and shelf racks. Most of them have not ever been on view. It is a great opportunity to discover things in the fields of applied arts and design accumulated by the generations of the Museum keepers over the years of our existence. Please come to see it and you will not be disappointed,” Džiuljeta Žiugždienė, director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Design (LNMA) invites to see the exhibition.
An unexpected insight into the life of the Museum’s collections
The rising in popularity concept of an open and publicly accessible storage links two cornerstone museum functions: preservation and display. This exhibition will blaze like a comet, unexpected and bright, allowing an insider view into the life of the art collections. According to its curators, the concept offers multiple ways of reading the display, depending on individual preferences.
“Visitors will be able to browse it as a 3-D encyclopaedia, curate their favourite selection, or allow their gaze to wonder among the objects, and upon a chance encounter of a truly spectacular one, learn more about it and be surprised. This unorthodox exhibition is a move in reflection the Museum’s well-motivated intent to provide for a braver opening to its visitors. It is a special occasion for the public to step backstage and experience what is usually unseen, but cared for and treasured by us all,” Julijus Balčikonis, Živilė Intaitė and Monika Gedrimaitė, curators of the event explain the ins and outs of the event.
Exhibits turned part of opening-night performance
The exhibition presents a broad panorama of applied arts and design, from furniture, ceramic, glass and porcelain pieces to textile, metal and a variety of contemporary design objects. Each special collection is introduced via its highlights – the remarkable artefacts with a rich story that adds depth to the entire display. The classics of design and the rare pieces brought into light after many years spent outside public view will add equally to the experience of the whole.
The Honkin’ Dudes Brass Band will give an upbeat welcome to the public arriving to the opening of the event. The evening will culminate in a performance by the artists Elena Laurinavičiūtė and Adomas Palekas, who will combine sound with cameos of ceramic artefacts from the collection.
The exhibition is open until the 27th April 2026. Information on related events and education activities enhancing the experience of the exhibition is posted on the LNMA website and social media.
Project director Džiuljeta Žiugždienė
Curators: Živilė Intaitė, Julijus Balčikonis, Monika Gedrimaitė
Collection curators: Jūratė Meilūnienė, Nijolė Žilinskienė, Gražina Gurnevičiūtė, Monika Gedrimaitė, Giedrė Uzielienė, Eglė Pinkutė
Architect Eglė Jagminė
Designers: Rūta Ivaškevičiūtė, Jonas Liugaila
Lighting designer Simas Rinkevičius
Coordinator Mažvydas Truklickas
Consultants: dr. Algė Andriulytė, dr. Dainius Labeckis
Media partners: LRT, JCDecaux, Cgates
Special thanks to: Dr Arūnas Gelūnas, Aušrinė Mačėnienė, Mantas Markevičius, Tomas Orlovas, Laura Patiomkinaitė, Elena Prokopavičienė, Rasa Bieliauskaitė-Mikolaitienė, Lina Ona Adomaitytė, Audronė Petroševičiūtė, Elena Jazbutienė, Rima Tagonidzė, Austėja Janušaitė, Arūnas Baublys, Darius Varnas, Rimvydas Derkintis, Česlovas Petrauskas, Justas Bajoras, Augustinas Viršilas, Ričardas Pacauskas, Audrius Janušonis, Lithuanian Central State Archives, Lithuanian National Museum, Vilnius Academy of Art.
- Purchase an e-ticket for this exhibition
- Book a guided tour by phone +370 5 212 1813, +370 5 262 8080
- Plan your visit to the Museum of Applied Arts And Design
3A Arsenalo st, Vilnius, Lithuania
+370 5 212 1813;
+370 5 261 25 48; +370 5 262 80 80.
tddm@lndm.lt
