Kazio Varnelio namai-muziejus

About the museum

Painter and collector Kazys Varnelis (1917–2010) was born and grew up in Lithuania. During the Second World War he went to study in Austria, later lived in Germany, and in 1949 emigrated to the USA, where he became a well-known representative of optical art and a passionate collector of old art and rare books. In 1993 the Vilnius City Council assigned the historic buildings on Didžioji Street to the Kazio Varnelio muziejus (Kazys Varnelis Museum). In 1998 the artist returned to Lithuania after more than five decades in emigration, settled in these houses and founded the museum here. He continually refined the exhibition, and in time the museum itself became one of his works.

The museum consists of two neighbouring historic buildings: one, believed to have been built in the 15th century or at the end of the 14th century, and another that rose at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries; both were rebuilt many times. More than forty rooms combine old prints and maps, Western European sculpture and painting, historic furniture, Far Eastern art and Kazys Varnelis’s own optical-art compositions. The exhibition also includes one of the engravings from Francisco Goya’s series “Los Caprichos”, a 1631 map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the work “Convex and Concave”.

Highlights

• More than 40 exhibition rooms in historic buildings in the Old Town
• Engraving by Francisco Goya from the series “Los Caprichos” (1798)
• Map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1631 (the Radvila Orphan map)
• Optical-art compositions by Kazys Varnelis
• The rarest kind of hearth in Vilnius – a virenė, an open indoor hearth

Permanent exhibition

• Kazio Varnelio kolekcija ir optinio meno kūriniai – The rooms of the house show old prints, maps, Western European sculpture and painting, Far Eastern art and the painter’s own optical-art compositions.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On the last Sunday of every month admission is free for all visitors; holders of a Vilnius Pass card are also admitted free.

Reduced ticket – 50% discount on presentation of proof. Educational activities for children from 4 years of age and for pupils cost €3.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition is not adapted for people with mobility impairments. It is partly adapted for people with hearing impairments: video guides in Lithuanian sign language, presenting ten of the museum’s exhibits, are installed in the exhibition.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Family tickets and educational activities for children from 4 years of age. The historic house has many small rooms and stairs.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the museum is from Didžioji Street, next to the Vilnius Town Hall.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit