Māra Brašmane (born in 1944) has been photographing since 1964. Since 1974 she has been recording works of art and architecture, and photographing portraits for albums, catalogues, magazines and papers.

More than 20 art books and an equal number of catalogues have been illustrated with Māra's photographs and reproductions. Her professional life has mainly been connected with museums. From 1973 until 1984 she worked as photographer for Rundāle Palace Museum, and from 1984 she has been the photographer of the State Museum of Art. "I work in the museum because I like history and art," is Māra's laconic explanation. She has taken part in group exhibitions in Latvia and abroad, and has exhibited her travel photography.

Māra has simply photographed everything that seemed important and interesting, and preserved it as her personal archive of memories of a cluster of feelings and experiences possible only at that particular place and time.

Prepared by Visual Arts Magazine, 2003 February - March, Latvia

© Mara Brašmenė