Krišjānis Zeļģis

Krišjānis Zeļģis (1985) is not only a brilliant poet, but also has worked in vineyards in France, worked in Mexico, has been a locksmith, baker, librarian, and a brewer. This diversity in experiencing the tangible world has allowed a wide and rich view of life to inform his writing. Even though he is an author of just two collections of poetry, his poems have been published in various magazines, literary periodicals, and web-publications since 2003. His first collection All Those Things/Visas tās lietas was published in 2010, well received, and nominated for several awards. In a review of his most recent collection Beasts (2016), its editor Kārlis Vērdiņš says: "The protagonist of Krišjānis Zeļģis’ collection of poetry – an educated and curious city dweller – goes into nature in search of impressions. His main focus is on the wild beast which does not avoid contact with human beings, is covetous and unpredictable, and has both fun and anger in store for the hunter”. His poetry is as if written by an intrigued cultural vagabond, someone capable of seeing the entirety of the world in delicate detail, seeing it honestly.  

Poetry collections
Skaistuma klātbūtne [The Presence of Beauty]. Riga: Neputns, 2020. 

Zvēri [Beasts]. Rīga: Neputns, 2016.

Mīļākie. [Loved Ones, mini-collection of poems]. Rīga: Ļoti, 2015.

Visas tās lietas [All Those Things]. Rīga: Mansards, 2010.

Children's literature
Patīk! [Like!]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2024.

Lettisches Literaturfilmfestival Berlin: In Riga, um Riga und um Riga herum // Tagesspiegel, May 2023 [DE]

In Estonian and Latvian poems, jokes are made about the neighbors // Viro-instituutti.fi, March 2023 [FI]

Žanete Vēvere. A Glimpse Into The Latvian Literature! // All about book publishing, February, 2023 [IN]

Don't look the Latvian in the eye. Ball of introverts. Anthology of new Latvian poetry // Sirp, January, 2023 [EE]

Latvian Literature at Frankfurt: When Introversion is a Bold Choice // Publishing Perspectives, October, 2022 [EN]

The nail of the day: beer, an interview with K.Zeļģis // Radio Eins, September 2022 [DE]

Poems by Krišjānis Zeļģis // Online magazine Punctum, 2021 [LV]

Video conversation with Kiršjānis Zeļģis // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV]

Conversation with Krišjānis Zeļģis // Diena.lv, 2020 [LV]

About The Presence of Beauty // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2020 [LV]

Excerpt from Beasts // European Literature Network, 2018 [EN]

Story "Grandfather" // Online magazine Punctum, 2016 [LV]

Anda Baklāne, Bez reliģijas un bez tizlībām, review of The Presence of Beauty // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]

Ilva Skulte, Žesti, review of The Presence of Beauty // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV}

Elīna Kokareviča, Porcelāna lauskas, review of The Presence of Beauty // LA.lv, 2020 [LV]

Anda Baklāne, Lietas, par kurām obligāti vajadzētu parunāt, review of Beasts // Online magazine Satori, 2016 [LV]

2016, the Prose Readings special award for the story "Grandfather"

2010, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for All Those Things