The official Nike running shirts of this season will feature artwork by Boriss Bērziņš
12 March 2026The art concept for the next four years will be developed in close cooperation with the Latvian National Museum of Art. As part of this new collaboration, one of the most significant
Latvian artists of the second half of the 20th century – painter and outstanding master of drawing Boriss Bērziņš (1930–2002) – has been selected as the artist for the 2026 Rimi Riga Marathon.
The museum’s collection of Boriss Bērziņš’s creative work includes more than 10,000 pieces, consisting of paintings and a large number of drawings that demonstrate the perfection and inseparable unity of line and form. One of these inspiring sketches will feature on this year’s marathon shirts.
The adaptation of Boriss Bērziņš’s artwork for the Nike running shirts was created by the studio KID Design, with designers Maija Rozenfelde and Jānis Kozinda.
About the artist:
Boriss Bērziņš
Boriss Bērziņš’s creative legacy includes paintings, drawings, and graphic works, however, painting always held the central place in his artistic work. A key aspect of the artist’s practice was continuous experimentation with means of expression – alongside color as a material substance, he actively incorporated drawing and collage elements into his works, creating a multilayered and dynamic visual language.
Already during his lifetime, Bērziņš’s works inspired his contemporaries to pursue bold searches for truth in art. Today, they transcend the boundaries of their time, offering viewers a liberated and complete sense of form that can be perceived in every drawing. The artist revealed the richness of the world by capturing simple everyday actions, which at times transform into symbols.
With the support of:
Māra Lāce
Māra Lāce is a Latvian art historian and the director of the Latvian National Museum of Art since 2001. She is also actively involved in the development of Latvia’s cultural policy and museum sector, serving as a member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture.
During her leadership, the Latvian National Museum of Art has undergone significant transformations – the main building was restored and rebuilt (reopened in 2016), the Art Museum “Riga Bourse” was established in 2011, and the modern Museum Storage Facility on Pulka Street was opened in 2020. Under Lāce’s direction, major international projects have also been realized, promoting the global recognition of Latvian art, including the exhibition “Symbolism in Baltic Art”, which was shown at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in 2018.
KID Design
Designers: Maija Rozenfelde and Jānis KozindaKID Design place the core message of the idea at the center of their process, and this project was no exception. Boris Bērziņš’s artistic work essentially celebrates and highlights the human body; however, the chosen drawing particularly stood out with its dynamism and relevance to the theme. Its story is about the body in motion, interacting with the environment, with obstacles, with nature and its power. Approaching the artist’s original work with respect, the goal was to preserve its nuance while at the same time presenting it in a contemporary execution. To authentically and truthfully convey Boris Bērziņš’s vision of beauty in every body, giving runners the opportunity to also appreciate their own remarkable strength.
