Anu Kalm

Anu Kalm (1960) is a graphic artist, illustrator, and art teacher. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts as a printmaker and illustrator, and now teaches at the Tallinn Art School. Kalm has illustrated textbooks and more than 20 children’s books, and has collaborated with various Estonian children’s magazines. Her works have been included in the White Ravens catalogue twice. A strong sense for graphic art and classic drawing techniques are apparent in her works, which have a pleasant, childlike simplicity.

I grew up as an only child in a communal apartment in Tallinn’s Old Town – colored pencils and books were my friends. On Sunday mornings, I’d watch cartoons at the SƵprus Cinema. I wanted to become an artist or draw animated films like Walt Disney. I studied graphic art at the Estonian State Art Institute (now the Estonian Academy of Arts), created works for exhibitions, and was a freelance artist. At some point, I started getting offers to illustrate books, and I’m thankful things have gone the way they have.

Profile photo: Piia Ruber

 

Illustrated books

Tommy

2018

Crocodile

2009

Translations

Awards

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the Estonian Artists’ Association

2016
The White Ravens (Kadri Hinrikus. Daniel the Second)

2013
The White Ravens (Kadri Hinrikus. May the Good Fairies Watch Over You)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Birthday Stories)

2012
Hea lasteraamat (Kadri Hinrikus. May the Good Fairies Watch Over You)

2011
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Lauri Vahtre. Our Great Achievers)
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Lauri Vahtre. Our Great Achievers)

2003
K. E. Sƶƶdi lasteluule auhind, kunstnikupreemia, Luunja (Jaanus Vaiksoo. The Clockmaker’s Wife)

2001
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Hi, School! Parts 1 and 2)

Exhibitions

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

2015–2020
International illustration exhibition, ā€œIt’s Always Tea-Timeā€, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Riga, Latvia; Uusikaupunki, Finland; Gdansk, Wrocław, Toruń, Elbląg, Poland; Berlin, Germany; Szczecin, Płock, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Oxford, the United Kingdom; Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Vyborg, St. Petesburg, Russia

2015–2019
Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, ā€œOnce Upon a Time...ā€ (Grimm’s Fairy Tales), Aosta, Anagni, Lagonegro, Bernalda-Metaponto, Corato, Matera, Roma, Lacco Ameno, Irsina, Siracusa, Sassari, Roma, Bologna, Italy; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Minsk, Belarus; Kraków, Łomża, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Opole, Poland

2013
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, ā€œCrisscross Storiesā€, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom

2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, ā€œSea Fairy Talesā€, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia

2010
Solo exhibition; Estonian Children's Literature Centre

2006
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

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