Upė Foundation launches in London to foster Baltic-UK curatorial exchange

A new art foundation, Upė, has been launched in London by an unlikely duo: Justas Janauskas, co-founder of the Lithuanian tech unicorn Vinted, and art historian Adomas Narkevičius, co-curator of the Latvian Pavilion at the next Venice Biennale. The foundation aims to open channels of dialogue and exchange between the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) and the international contemporary art community, initially focusing on the UK. Upė will operate a reciprocal fellowship program for early-career curators. The first 18-month cycle begins on December 10, 2025, pairing curators from the Baltics with the Hayward Gallery in London, and UK curators with the Tallinn Art Hall in Estonia. Fellows will be involved in exhibition-making, public programming, and research, building skills and professional networks. Janauskas, who stepped down as Vinted CEO in 2017 and later developed a platonic dating app, entered the art world through his wife, writer and multidisciplinary artist Gabija Grušaitė. He met Narkevičius, 32, curator of the 2025 Kaunas Biennale and former curator at Cell Project Space London, at a cultural event. The name Upė means 'river' in Lithuanian and Latvian, symbolizing the desired flow of ideas and people. Narkevičius will serve as director. In spring 2026, Upė will partner with Camden Art Centre for a new open call for Baltic emerging curators, with further expansion planned through 2026.