The first years of Latvia’s independence were marked by two projects whose importance and scale prevent them from being placed within the narrow confines of any particular genre: the Freedom Monument and the so-called Brothers’ Cemetery by Kārlis Zāle. The travertine and granite Freedom Monument represents universal symbols: Homeland, Work, Culture, Mind, Family, Song, Dreams.

Mūsu īpašās tēlniecības trumpis ir nesadrumstalotība sīkdetaļās. Latvian sculpture tends to be devoid of small detail; our classics, Teodors Zaļkalns, Gustavs Šķilters and Kārlis Zemdega, concentrated on monumental, serene figures addressing the viewer through allegory and symbol. In the Soviet period, many a talented sculptor --Aleksandra Briede, Lea Davidova-Medene, Valdis Albergs, Juris Mauriņš, Oļegs Skarainis, Arta Dumpe, Bruno Strautiņš and others – were expected to produce monuments around “socially important and topical themes,” yet first and foremost they concerned themselves with the problems of  technique and artistic expression.

The best example of the new era in our sculpture is neither a single stone or bronze figure in the centre of Riga: Latvian sculptors prefer to place their work in a natural environment. Using twenty-five free standing granite boulders Indulis Ranka created a sculptural ensemble in Turaida, reflecting the motifs found in Latvian folksongs and dedicated to the collector and systematizer of folksongs Along with enthusiasts who share his convictions, Ojārs Feldbergs has created a unique open air museum in Pedvāle near Sabile. The sculptures that are carefully placed to harmonize with their surroundings are supposed to reflect the five basic elements of the Universe – earth, fire, air and water. Another emotionally charged symbol is the Door by Gļebs Panteļejevs, placed by the former headquarters of the KGB and dedicated to its victims.

Sculptors Jānis Karlovs, Andris Vārpa, Igors Dobičins and Pauls Jaunzems are frequent participants in international art shows. Aigars Bikše and Kristaps Gulbis are the organizers of an international sculpture quadriennial held in Riga; in 2005 the two of them represented Latvia at the Venice biennial.