ELLSA

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 Sõprus 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

Bibliography

A Round Goby Is Looking For Home

2020

What Do You Dream About?

2019

Tommy

2018

The Swan’s Cry: Children’s Poetry 1974–2008

2016

Daniel the Second

2015

Mr. Tea and Mrs. Coffee

2014

May the Good Fairies Watch Over You

2012

Even Max Doesn't Believe Anymore

2012

Jüri's Housewarming Party

2011

Our great Achievers

2011

A Picnic at Ristineeme

2010

A Garden Party at the Rose Garden

2009

If You See a Chimney Sweep

2009

School Starts in Tirilinna

2009

Crocodile

2009

The Golden Book of Estonian Fairytales

2009

The Little Reindeer´s New Stories

2007

The Little Reindeer

2005

Beginning. A Piano Lesson Book for Kids

1994

Translations

Даниил Второй

2017

Чтобы добрые феи хранили тебя

2019

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. Söödi 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, “It’s Always Tea-Time”, 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, “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; 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, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom

2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia

2010
Solo exhibition; Estonian Children's Literature Centre

2006
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia