Gerda MĂ€rtens

Gerda MĂ€rtens (1987) is an illustrator and art teacher. She holds a master’s degree in printmaking from the Estonian Academy of Arts; has studied illustration at the Academy of Arts in Macerata, Italy; and participated in the New York School of Visual Arts’ Summer Illustration Residency Program. MĂ€rtens has illustrated seven children’s books and regularly collaborates with the Estonian children’s magazine TĂ€heke. She is a highly unique, talented illustrator whose visual style blends influences from the Estonian and Italian schools in the best way imaginable. MĂ€rtens is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers Association. Her artworks are part of the collection of the gallery Tricromia in Rome, Italy.

A book illustrator’s aim is to create a visual universe along with the rules that apply to it exclusively. A world in its creation phase starts to expand as visions in the back of an artist’s brain, and before long, it takes over the artist’s hand, pencils, and papers. When a book’s imaginary world is finished, the artist leaves its door ajar in order to invite the reader in to experience and play along.

Gerda MĂ€rtens lives and works in Basel, Switzerland.

Illustrated books

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My City

2021

The Northern Lights

2020

Thanks, I’m Full!

2018

Stories of Brave Estonian Girls

2018

The King of the Valley of Woes

2016

The Creation

2016

Runt, Wah, and Friends

2015

A Drawer of Happy Bedtime Stories

2014

Awards

2020
5 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (The Northern Lights)

2019
 The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (Linn)

2017
 Prize at the Supergraphics Contest organized by the city of Tallinn

2014
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Newcomer’s Prize of the Estonian Graphic Designers’ Association (The Drawer of Happy Bedtime Stories)

To the animated film “In the Air”:

2010
 Animateka, Special Mention, Ljubljana
Forum for International Animation (FIA), Best Animation, Stockholm
Melbourne International Animated Film Festival, Best of the Fest, Melbourne

2009
Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Best Animated Film of the Year, Tallinn

Exhibitions

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

2019
 Solo exhibition “Creation”, Pirita Leisure Center
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books II”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia

2018–2020
 Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, London, the United Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (“Wolf Run”), Tallinn; GdaƄsk, WrocƂaw, BiaƂystok, Warsaw, PƂock, Szczecin, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania

2018–2019
 Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Running with Wolves”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; selected works, Pskov, St. Petersburg, Russia

2017
 Solo exhibition “Creation”, Nordea Concert Hall, PĂ€rnu Concert Hall, JĂ”hvi Concert Hall, the Small Building of Vanemuine Theatre
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books I”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia

2016
 „Zoografia”, Libriamoci festival of the illustrated book, Galleria Antichi Forni, Macerata, Italy
New York School of Visual Arts Philanthropy Poster Project,  Stavros Niarchos Foundation Philanthropy Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece
Solo exhibition „Scenes from the Picture Theatre”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
Solo exhibition “Niru, VÀÀks and Friends”, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Kuressaare, Loo, Estonia
Spring Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perrault”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia

2015–2020
 International illustration exhibition, “It’s Always Tea-Time”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Riga, Latvia; Uusikaupunki, Finland; Gdansk, WrocƂaw, ToruƄ, Elbląg, Poland; Berlin, Germany; Szczecin, PƂock, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Oxford, the United Kingdom; Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Vyborg, St. Petesburg, Russia

2015–2019
Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, “Once Upon a Time...” (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; KrakĂłw, ƁomĆŒa, BiaƂystok, Szczecin, PƂock, Warszaw, Elbląg, GdaƄsk, Opole, Poland

2015
 Poster exhibition, “Be My Queen”, Fabriano, Italy
The final SVA Summer Residency in Illustration exhibition, School of Visual Arts, Flatiron Gallery, New York, USA
Solo exhibition, “Maailma loomine” (The Creation), Saaremaa, Estonia

2014
 Group exhibition, “Una corona di piume” (A Crown of Feathers), Rome, Italy
Poster exhibition, “Magic City Boom”, Sforzacosta, Italy

2013–2014
 Group exhibition, “The Visions of Mother Goose. Tribute to Charles Perrault”, Tallinn, Estonia

2013
 Open air exhibition, “Colorata Camposano 2014”, Italy

About the author

2020
Story time with Gerda MĂ€rtens (video)

2017
Davide Calì’s interview with Gerda MĂ€rtens (Italian)

2016
Gerda MĂ€rtens’s Solo Exhibition “Scenes from the Stage of Pictures”'

2014
Young Estonian Illustrators

Contact info