After spending 14 years abroad, artist Katrīna Tračuma has returned to Latvia, bringing with her not only internationally recognised education and professional experience, but also the conviction that life sometimes leads us back home to discover new opportunities.
Katrīna is a multidisciplinary visual artist from Jelgava. She studied in Ireland and Northern Ireland, graduating from Crawford College of Art & Design and the Belfast School of Art, before earning a teaching qualification at the University of Latvia. Her artistic practice explores humanity’s alienation from nature and our relationship with other species, expressed through a vivid and highly expressive painterly language.
Katrīna’s story began in childhood when her mother moved to Ireland for work. A few years later, Katrīna joined her. She studied both in Northern Ireland and Latvia, eventually completing secondary school in Ireland. Living between two countries broadened her outlook on the world and gave her the opportunity to experience different cultures, people and education systems.
After graduating from secondary school, Katrīna searched for her true calling. She tried several fields of study before realising that she wanted to dedicate her life to art. This was followed by seven years of intensive study, during which she earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art in Ireland and graduated with distinction from the Master's programme at the Belfast School of Art in Northern Ireland. These years provided not only an outstanding education but also the opportunity to build connections with internationally recognised professionals and establish her place within the creative community.
Katrīna speaks positively about her years abroad. In her view, the greatest benefits were strong social security, access to a competitive education and an environment where achievements are judged by the quality of one's work. In Ireland she found an open and diverse society that encouraged self-expression and allowed her to fully develop her creative potential.
Despite the professional opportunities and personal growth, she maintained a strong connection with Latvia. She was always inspired by Latvia’s four distinct seasons, childhood memories and the sense of belonging that comes from being at home. After completing her Master's degree, she carefully weighed her future options. On one side was life in Northern Ireland with its high rental costs; on the other was the possibility of living in her own home in Latvia while enjoying lower living expenses. Around this time she applied to the 'Mācītspēks' programme, which became a significant turning point in her decision to return.
Returning was not easy. Katrīna worried about the prospects of earning a living in the creative industries and building a sustainable career in Latvia. However, her desire to grow and make use of the knowledge she had gained proved stronger than her doubts. Today she is actively engaged in the arts, creating paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, installations and performance art. She also designs artistic jewellery, sells her original works and reproductions, and accepts commissioned projects. The education and professional network she built abroad continue to play an important role in her success, while enabling her to share her experience and inspire other creative professionals in Latvia.
Katrīna believes that every return story is unique, but the most important thing is to find a place where a person feels they belong and can fully realise their potential. In her view, home is not merely a point on the map – it is the people, the opportunities and the feeling that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
"I am, and always will be, an artist. No matter where I live, every journey, relocation and life change forms part of my story. It is these experiences that make life richer and more meaningful," says Katrīna. "I am an open person, and I believe that together we can lift one another up, strengthening creative talent and enriching Latvia’s cultural life as a whole."
Her experience demonstrates that the knowledge and skills acquired abroad can become a valuable contribution to Latvia, while returning home can mark the beginning of a new chapter of both professional and personal growth.
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If you or someone you know is considering returning to the Zemgale region, please contact remigration coordinator Anete Briņeca by email at anete.brineca@zpr.gov.lv or zemgale@remigracija.lv, or send a message through the dedicated Facebook page, "Atgriezties Zemgalē".