Stasys Žirgulis was born in Radviliškis on June 10, 1944. In 1963 he graduated from Radviliškis V. Valsiūnienė Secondary School. In 1974 he finished the State Art Institute (present Vilnius Art Academy), where he obtained the sculptor’s specialty. Between 1975-83 he worked as an art manager at Kaunas Dailė factory, metal shop, in 1983-87 – as a responsible secretary of Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Artists’ Union. From 1988 he has been lecturing sculpture, painting and composition at Kaunas Art Institute of VAA. The sculptor was a member of Kaunas and Republic Art Council, the Lithuanian Art Fund and the Lithuanian Artists’ Union Council for a number of years. He was elected the Chairman of Sculpture Section of the Lithuanian Artists’ Union, Kaunas Branch for two terms and a member of the Committee of Art Experts of the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture for one term. From 2003 he is working as a Council member of Kaunas City Municipality. He has been participating in exhibitions since 1975. The artist is working in the field of sculpture.

Personal exhibitions

1989 – gallery Arka, Vilnius.

1990 – gallery Arka, Vilnius (along with V. Venckūnienė, R. Dalinkevičius).

1992 – Kaunas Exhibition Centre.

1993 – Ada Goosen gallery, Bilderdam, the Netherlands.

2003 – gallery Meno Niša, Vilnius (along with M. Levitan-Babenskienė).

2004 – gallery Doxa, Česky Krumlov, Czech Republic.

2013 – gallery La Capitale, Paris, France

Major group exhibitions

1975 – Republic exhibition of art “Our Village”, Art Exhibition Centre, Vilnius.

1975 – Exhibition of young Kaunas artists “Variations of Form and Content”, Artists Home, Kaunas.

1976 – Republic exhibition of young painters, Art Exhibition Centre, Vilnius.

1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 – quadrennial of Baltic sculpture, Riga, Latvia.

1976, 1979, 1983, 1988, 1992 – exhibition of fine arts of Kaunas artists, Kaunas Picture Gallery.

1979 – 1st exhibition of fine arts of young Baltic painters “Youth”, Art Exhibition Centre, Vilnius.

1982 – “Kaunas Sculptors – to Kaunas”, Kaunas Picture Gallery.

1983 – 1st republic exhibition of sculpture, Art Exhibition Centre, Vilnius.

1984 – Union exhibition “Earth and Man”, Central artists home, Moscow, Russia.

1985 – Exhibition of Kaunas artists, Latvian Art Museum, Riga.

1985, 1988 – Republic exhibition of fine arts, Art Exhibition Centre, Vilnius.

1985 – Exhibition of ten Lithuanian sculptors, Koln, Germany.

1987 – Exhibition of Kaunas sculptors, Tartu, Estonia.

1987 – Exhibition of Lithuanian fine arts, Central artists’ home, Moscow, Russia.

1989 – Exhibition of Lithuanian painters, Pavia, Italia.

1993 – Exhibition of Kaunas painters, Porv, Finland.

1994 – Exhibition of individualists, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius.

2000 – Exhibition of sculpture, yard of Presidential Palace of RL, Vilnius.

2000 – Exhibition of lead symposium participants, gallery Meno Parkas, Kaunas.

2001 – Exhibition of sculpture, yard of Presidential Palace of RL, Vilnius.

2002 – Exhibition of sculpture, Medals gallery, Vilnius

2002 – Republic exhibition of fine arts “Collection 2002”, Art gallery, Šiauliai.

2003 – Republic exhibition of portraits, gallery Arka, Vilnius.

2004 – “The Best Artwork of the Year”“, Kaunas Picture Gallery.

2004, 2005 – Festival of snow sculptures, Sapporo, Japan.

2005 – “Art + Art of Communication. Sculpture”, Kaunas Picture Gallery.

2005 – “Laisvės Alley = Sculpture Gallery”, Kaunas.

2006 – Exhibition of Kaunas artists, Tartu, Estonia.

Major awards

1978 – Diploma of the 2nd degree for metal plastics in the Republic exhibition of art business.

1980 – 1st prize and medal for sculptures “Morning”, “Evening”, “Problem” in the quadrennial of Baltic sculpture in Riga.

1981 – Letter of honour of the State Nature Protection Committee of the former USSR for attempts while furnishing the Museum of T.Ivanauskas.

1981 – Letter of honour of the Aviation Sports Federation Presidium of the former LSSR for valuable artistic works-prizes.

1985 – Prize of the Ministry of Culture of the former LSSR for sculptures “Dzūkija”, “Pilėnai” in the republic exhibition of fine arts in Kaunas.

1987 – Prize of Kaunas radio factory Banga for the sculpture “Homeland” in the exhibition of fine arts in Kaunas.

1988 – diploma for sculptures “Yung”, “Dialogue with Oneself”, “Echo of Epochs” in the quadrennial of Baltic sculpture in Riga.

1999 – Medal of the 1st degree of the Grand Lithuanian Duke Gediminas Order for merits to Lithuania.

1999 – State stipend of the highest degree of the Republic of Lithuania.

2000 – Letter of gratitude of V. Landsbergis, Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, for the artistic contribution while commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Parliament.

2004 – Knight’s Cross of Vytautas Magnus Order.

2008 – Golden badge and prize of the Lithuanian Artists’ Union for the monument in memoriam of residence victims “Calmed Bell” in Alytus.

Major works in public spaces

Decorative door and wall in the café interior of Jonava Nitric Fertilisers Factory (along with V. Juzikėnas, arch. S. Jonelis), 1975.

“Birds”. Plastic accent in the yard of Jonava Nitric Fertilisers Factory near the administration building, 1975.

Sculpture for the fountain “Baltic”. Production association Baltija, Kaunas, 1979.

Bust and portrait of Tadas Ivanauskas. Zoology Museum, Kaunas, 1980.

Sculpture for the fountain “Source”. Švara AB, Kaunas, 1980.

“Path of Life”. Memorial composition for the late alpinist E.Bajoras. Kaunas Petrašiūnai graveyard, 1983.

“Midnight”. Klaipėda park of sculptures, 1983.

“Eglė and Žilvinas”. Sanatorium Eglė, Druskininkai, 1984.

Fountain “Birds”, factory Azotas, Jonava, 1984.

Tombstone for Doctor P. Jašinskas. Kaunas Petrašiūnai graveyard, 1987.

V. Dubeneckis memorial board with a bas-relief. Vilniaus Str., Kaunas, 1988.

B. Buračas portrait-bust. Kaunas Photography Gallery, 1988.

“Bat”. Zoology Museum, Kaunas, 1988.

Memorial board for J. Tallat-Kelpša. Laisvės Al., Kaunas, 1988.

A. Kučingis monumental bust. Aušros Str., Kaunas, 1989.

Bust of archbishop J. Skvireckas. Central nave of Kaunas Arch-cathedral, 1989.

P. Galaunė memorial board with a portrait. Vydūno Al., Kaunas, 1989.

Memorial board to Lithuanian officers, exiles of Lama. Vytautas Church, Kaunas, 1990.

“Blessing Christ”. Marijampolė region, homeland of Monsignor Vytautas Kazlauskas, 1990.

Monument for the test pilot R. Stankevičius. High Šančiai graveyard, Kaunas, 1991.

Monument for P. Višinskis (along with arch. E. Makštutis). Šiauliai, 1991.

Restored monument for St. Michael Archangel. Kuktiškės Church yard, 1991.

Restored monument for St. Virgin. Leipalingis, 1991.

Memorial board for the composer K. Jakubėnas. A. Mickevičiaus Str., Kaunas, 1993.

Memorial board with a portrait of the signatory K. Bizauskas. Vydūnas Al., Kaunas, 1993.

Restored sculpture “Blessing Christ”. Tiškevičiai palace park, Palanga, 1993.

Memorial board with a portrait of the first burgomaster of Kaunas P. Vileišis. V. Putvinskio Str., Kaunas, 1993.

V. Vizgirda memorial board with a portrait. Tulpių Str., Kaunas, 1995.

Decorative sculpture “Travelling Turtle”. Zoology Museum, Kaunas, 1996.

Monument for the President of the Republic of Lithuania Kazys Grinius. Presidential Palace yard, Kaunas, 1997.

Monumental bust of V. Kudirka. Šakiai, 1998.

Plastic accent dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Parliament of Lithuania. Kaunas Musical Theatre square, 2000.

Monumental bust of S. Kairys. Kauno Vandenys AB, 2001.

Tombstone to the Parliament member of RL Rimantas Ruzas. Kaunas Petrašiūnai graveyard, 2003.

“Tower of Light. Guardian of the City” (along with arch. L.Adomkus). Jonava, 2004.

“Calmed Bell”. Memorial to the torment of the Lithuanian nation (along with arch. L.Adomkus). Alytus, 2007.

Works of the sculptor have been purchased by: Koln Museum of Modern Art, National M.K.Čiurlionis Art Museum, Riga National Art Museum, Lithuanian Art Fund, private galleries and persons in Holland, Germany, Finland, the USA, etc.