“The Šlapeliai – Colonists of Patagonia” | Exhibition Opening

On September 30, 2026, at 6 PM, the exhibition “The Šlapeliai – Colonists of Patagonia” will open at the Marija and Jurgis Šlapelis House-Museum. It is a joint photographic research project by photographer Mykolas Juodelė and graphic designer Sandra Rivero, exploring the history of the Šlapelis family in Patagonia. The exhibition will be on view until November 28.

1897. Izidorius Šlapelis and his grandson Juozas set off with three horses on a journey across the harsh and unexplored Patagonian landscape towards Lakes Musters and Colhué Huapi. By decree of Argentina’s then-president José Evaristo Uriburu, the area had been designated for a new colony, and generous amounts of land were promised to the settlers. After 18 days of travel, Izidorius and Juozas reached the shores of Lake Colhué Huapi, where they were met by several families from the local Tehuelche tribe. Using a mixture of clay and straw, the Šlapeliai made bricks and built the first house, thus beginning the history of the town of Sarmiento.

In the Sarmiento area, the Šlapelis name remains well known to this day – streets, schools, and an airfield have been named after the family. Locals refer to them as pioneers: the Šlapeliai established the town’s first library, Juozas Šlapelis became Sarmiento’s first photographer, and Kazimieras Šlapelis is known as a forerunner of aviation in Patagonia.

Alongside the photographs taken by Mykolas Juodelė, the exhibition presents Juozas Šlapelis’s archival photographs, excerpts from his diary, and other documents bearing witness to the history of the Šlapelis family in Patagonia.