On February 27, 1904, Adomas Varnas, Kazimieras Uljanskis, Adalberts Staneyka, Ignas Šlapelis and some students of the University of Krakow founded the "Rūtos" society. At the end of the year, Petras Rimsa joined its activities. It was in this society that the idea of ​​an organization was born that would unite Lithuanian artists living and studying in various European art centers, support them financially both in science and in creativity, organize exhibitions and print art publications. P. Rimsa was the first to publicly express this idea in an article published in “Vilniaus žiniose” in 1906. The author, who wrote about the general prerequisites for the need for such a society, also envisaged a specific organizational form - an exhibition, its structure (painting, sculpture and folk art) and location ("in Vilnius, our capital"). A little later, this idea was supported by Antanas Zmuidzinavičius in “Vilniaus žiniose,” emphasizing the importance of the growing artistic movement and describing the goal of the future exhibition: “to give a start to our art among the art of other peoples,” because “art exists among Lithuanians too.” This idea was supported by the artist Antanas Jaroševičius, the writer Gabriele Petkevičaite-Bite and others.

After a positive opinion appeared in the press, in 1906 A. Zmuidzinavičius came to Vilnius from Paris in the summer for an exhibition of Lithuanian art. On his initiative, a group was assembled to prepare the exhibition. On October 15, 1906, the editorial board of "Vilniaus žiniose" held its first meeting, a commission was formed, which included D. Jonas Basanavicius (elected chairman), engineer Petras Vileisis, publisher of "Vilniaus žinios", doctor Antanas Vileisis, lawyer Jonas Vileisis, priests Juozapas Kukta and Vladas Mironas, writer Kazys Puida and artist A. Zmuidzinavičius. The committee published an “Appeal to the Public,” in which it invited people to send exhibits to a future exhibition and support the event with donations. Invitations to artists of Lithuanian origin were sent to all their known addresses, notices were sent to foreign Lithuanian societies, to the editorial offices of the largest newspapers in France, England, the USA, Russia and Poland.

The artists quickly responded and sent their works. After agreement with P. Vileisius, work began on preparing the exhibition in the newly built palace in Antakalny (now the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore). The organizers of the exhibition were assisted by young doctors Maria Putvinskaite and Sofia Gimbutaite, writer Ona Pleirite-Puidene. The first Lithuanian art exhibition was opened on December 27, 1906 and ran until February 15, 1907. It was a great success: the exhibition was visited by more than two thousand spectators and received attention from the press. 23 professional artists, architects and 68 rural artisans took part in the exhibition. The exhibition featured 242 oil and watercolor paintings, drawings, architectural projects, sculptures and 206 works of folk art.

The success of the exhibition helped to realize an idea that had been incubated for several years - to create a society uniting Lithuanian artists. In the spring of 1907, A. Zmuidzinavicius, M. K. Čiurlionis, P. Rimša and lawyer J. Vileišis prepared the charter of the future society. On September 2, the founding meeting of the company was convened, at which the first 15 members were registered and the board was elected: the chairman was A. Zmuidzinavičius, the secretary was J. Vileišis, the treasurer was S. Gimbutaite, the members were M. K. Čiurlionis and P. Rimša. The general goals of this association were formulated in the charter: to develop Lithuanian art; unite and bring together artists of all art directions; provide material and moral assistance to artists and painters, especially those wishing to study in their specialties; to cultivate a taste for art among Lithuanians; collect works of art in various forms.

A member of the society could be anyone who sympathizes with the aspirations of the society and wants to participate in its activities, has paid a membership fee and is ready to financially support the society. In the initial period of its activity, the Lithuanian Art Society had 369 members. Basically, these were people of various professions: teachers, lawyers, doctors, clergy, industrialists, financiers, who lived not only in Lithuania, but also in Poland, Germany, the United States of America, Russia, Latvia, Estonia. The members of the society of artists themselves were 21. A. Zmuidzinavicius was the chairman of the board of the society during the entire period of the society's existence until 1915 in Vilnius and 1926-1928. in Kovno.

In 1910, the Lithuanian Art Society organized 11 survey art exhibitions in Vilnius, Kaunas, Siauliai, Riga and two exhibitions of the work of M. K. Ciurlionis in Vilnius and St. Petersburg, promoted Lithuanian art, collected exhibits of folk art, organized competitions, helped artists, published books, reproductions of works.

in 1908, on the initiative of M. K. Ciurlionis, a music fund was created at the Lithuanian Art Society. In 1913, the Čiurlionis company was founded, which took care of preserving the artist’s work.

In addition to the organizers, Tadas Daugirdas, Juozas Gedmiņš, Petras Kalpokas, Juozaps Kukta, Jonas Mackevicius, Kazys Puida, Justinas Venozinskis, Kazimieras Uljanskis, Juozas Zikars took part in the association's activities.