Michael Rogatchi continues his participation in the Commemorative European Art Events 2026 series in cooperation with Lithuanian colleagues with a special exhibition at the inviting place. The Shtetl Songs exhibition commemorates Jewish life and legacy at the time of the Holocaust Remembrance Day Yom Hashoa ( April 13-14th, 20206), and remembering the 10th anniversary of Elie Wiesel’s passing ( which occurred on July 2nd, 2016).
The well-known Rogatchi’s Shtetl Songs collection will be displayed at the Zarasai County Museum/ Krastiecu Museum in the north-eastern Lithuania. The region is known as Little Switzerland, due to its stunningly beautiful nature and famous lake district.
The place is historically and culturally meaningful: it has been known as a town since the early 1500s, had a meaningful history throughout the time, and is the native place of Yehuda Pen, the teacher of Marc Chagall and many other Litvak stars of world modern art.
Zarasai shtetl which was quite populated, met the awful destiny of almost all shtetls all over Lithuania. On August 26th, 1941, 2 546 Jewish men, women and children who were living at the Zarasai shtetl for generations, were brutally exterminated by the Nazis and their local collaborants.
Michael Rogatchi and the Rogatchi Foundation would like to dedicate this exhibition to the 10th anniversary of the passing of the artist’s dear friend Elie Wiesel. The date of Elie Wiesel’s passing is July 2nd, 2016. This year, various commemorative events marking this important date are conducted world-wide. Michael Rogatchi has created a special Elie Wiesel collection to commemorate the date.
Artworks: Michael Rogatchi’s original drawings, works on paper and exclusive authored prints reflecting on the Yiddish world are part of the artist’s oeuvre on various aspects of Jewish heritage. They contain lyrical works, homages, visualisation of psalms, personal take on Jewish music, and specific focus on shtetl culture and tradition. All those works bear the artist’s distinctive style which is fine and detailed, conveying his knowledge and homage to the rich humane tradition in a loving and masterly way.
Quoting the Zarasai County Museum’s Introduction to the Shtetl Songs exhibition:
“ Shtetls, people, and their stories from the past come to life in the artworks of two artists, Inna and Michael Rogatchi.
From April 1st, 2026 the Kraštiečių Museum will host a special Shtetl Songs exhibition.
The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of the famous Lithuanian writer Grigorijus Kanovičius, and it invites you to take a look at the life of Lithuanian Jews in small towns, the shtetls, with their traditions, everyday life, relationships, and spiritual world.
The authors’ works intertwine melancholy, memory, and a sensitive narrative about the vanished world. This is an exhibition about people whose stories are still relevant today.”
As it come from a special essay analysing the Shtetl Songs and Memories collection by Inna and Michael Rogatchi:
” And today, this rare artist, Michael Rogatchi, transmits to us a special message through his art of memory and history, through the heritage received from the Jews of Lithuania but also the heritage transmitted by Grigory Kanovich, Elie Wiesel and Leonard Cohen, who all were his friends. Through Michael’s art, this message shines beyond the possible. His works from the Shtetl Stories collection transmit love and communion between those people in the past and us living today” – Dr Michael de Saint-Cheron, author of “Dancing Against Ashes” essay for the Shtetl Stories and Memories Catalogue ( 2024).
The Exhibition Venue:
The venue for the Michael and Inna Rogatchi Shtetl Songs exhibition ( April 1 – May 10th, 2026 ) is the Zarasai County Museum, Lithuania. The museum is a well-maintained centre of arts and culture in the north-eastern part of Lithuania, at the centre of its beautiful lake region known as Little Switzerland.
The museum is a well-maintained and thoughtful, caring arts and culture institution, which regularly holds interesting exhibitions and projects, many of which are providing historical perspectives on culture and humanity development, also contributing to the ongoing commemoration process. The museum also creates and carries on various educational events.
Shtetl Songs exhibition of the works by Michael and Inna Rogatchi in celebration of the Holocaust Remembrance Day Yom HaShoah 2026 and the 10th anniversary of Elie Wiesel’s passing – April 1st – May 10th, 2026.
The Zarasai County Museum
D. Bukonto g. 1, Zarasai, Lithuania
