Artūras Valionis (b. 1973) is a Lithuanian writer, poet, and translator. He has published five poetry books, one poetry anthology and the e-book of short essays.

His most recent book, the selected poetry collection “Slow Tolerance” (Lėta medžiagų apykanta (2021) contains new, previously unpublished poems as well as a selection of works from his previous poetry books – Skrendant nelieka pėdsakų (2003), Apytiksliai trys (2012), Daugiau šviesos į mūsų vartus (2014), Iš natų. Kameriniai kūriniai vienišam balsui (2015), π-moll (2018).

A member of Lithuanian Writers’ Union from 2010. The Status of Art Creator that is given to the persons who create professional art was granted to Artūras Valionis by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania in March 2011.

Short bio

The literary career of Artūras Valionis started 30 years ago, with the first poetry publication in Lithuanian literary press in 1994. His poetry books received a number of awards and nominations: in 2014, the second poetry book “Approximately Three” was announced in Lithuania “The Poetry Book of 2013”. In 2019, A. Valionis received Vilnius Mayor’s Prize for his poetry books published in 2015 and 2018 and for his artistic activity (as it was expressed by the Mayor, “for the music in poetry and for the poetry in music”).

From the very beginning of the literary career, A. Valionis is constantly looking for new forms of poetic expression and collaboration. He initiated and participated in joint projects with prominent jazz musicians Vladimir Tarasov, Liudas Mockūnas, Eugenijus Kanevičius, Vytautas Labutis, Arkadij Gotesman, Vytis Nivinskas, Tuomas Ojala, multi-instrumentalist Saulius Petreikis, Vinyl DJ Tomas Boo. The collaboration with composer and conductor Prof. Vaclovas Augustinas and Vilnius Municipality Chamber Choir “Jauna muzika” is worth of separate mentioning.

Valionis’s poems have been translated into 14 languages, English and Swedish among them. Some of the poems translated into English could be found at: https://vilniusreview.com/poetry/480-arturas-valionis
Internationally, A. Valionis represented Lithuania in Poetry festivals in Sweden (Stockholm International Poetry Festival, 2003), Slovenia (Vilenica Literary Festival, 2011) and Latvia (Poetry Days, 2015).