Awards
2023
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
2022
IBBY Honour List (
The Prettiest Skirt)
Good Childrenâs Book (Kertu Sillaste.
In a Tiny House)
2021
Knee-High Book Comptition, 2nd place
2020International Illustration and Book Design Competition âImage of the Book/Obraz knigiâ, Moscow, laureate
201925 Best-Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kertu Sillaste.
The Prettiest Skirt)
20185 Best-Designed Estonian Childrenâs Books, special prize of the Estonian Children's Literature Centre (Kertu Sillaste.
I Am an Artist)
Good Childrenâs Book (Kertu Sillaste.
I Am an Artist)
2017Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate
2016The White Raven (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
20155 Best Designed Estonian Childrenâs Books, Special prize of the Estonian Graphic Designersâ Union (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
Raisin of the Year Award (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
Good Childrenâs Book (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
The Knee-High Book Competition, winner (Kertu Sillaste.
Astrid and Ott)
201425 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (illustrations and design â Liis Sillaste-Toots.
Cookery Tips Black on White)
5 Best Designed Estonian Childrenâs Books, Certificate of Merit, Special Jury Prize for Wonderful Illustrations (KĂ€tlin Vainola.
Where Is Love?)
2013The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (KĂ€tlin Vainola.
Where Is Love?)
The Knee-High Book Competition, honorary mention (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
2011The Knee-High Book Competition, 3rd place (Kertu Sillaste.
Itâs Pancake Time!)
Exhibitions
Since 2009, Kertu Sillaste has taken part in exhibitions in Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Solo exhibition "Assembled Pictures", Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre, Tapa Public Library
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023)
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fresh Book Pictures", Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre, Tapa Town Library, Kohila Library, KĂ€rdla Culture Centre
2022
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "It's Christmas time", Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek BiaĆoprÄ
dnicki , Poland
Estonian illustrators in the studio shop Karud ja Pojad R Gallery in Aparaaditehas (LUUP festival)
2021Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow; Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2021), Slovakia
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian artists "Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Little Grimm", Kostivere, Estonia
2020Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Tapa Public Library; Gallery DeĂĄk17, Budapest, Hungary
2019Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Gdansk, Opole, Poland; Tapa Public Library
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators âLeafing Through Estonian Childrenâs Books IIâ, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
2018Exhibition of Estonian illustrators âMasters of Estonian childrenâs booksâ/âPower of Picturesâ in Russia: Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow
2017Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators âA Window into the Fairy Tale Worldâ, Haapsalu, Estonia
2016Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators âFairy Tales Come to Visitâ, New York Estonian House, USA
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, âA Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perraultâ, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators âNeighbours Who Love Readingâ, Pskov, Russia
2015Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2015â2020 International illustration exhibition, âItâs Always Tea-Timeâ, Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre, Tallinn; Riga, Latvia; Uusikaupunki, Finland; Gdansk, WrocĆaw, ToruĆ, ElblÄ
g, Poland; Berlin, Germany; Szczecin, PĆock, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Oxford, the United Kingdom; Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Vyborg, St. Petesburg, Russia
2015â2018 Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, âOnce Upon a Time...â (Grimmâs Fairy Tales), Aosta, Anagni, Lagonegro, Bernalda-Metaponto, Corato, Matera, Roma, Lacco Ameno, Irsina, Siracusa, Sassari, Roma, Bologna, Italy; Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre, Tallinn, Estonia; Gallery âCulture Universityâ, Minsk, Belarus; KrakĂłw, BiaĆystok, Szczecin, PĆock, Warszaw, ElblÄ
g, GdaĆsk, Poland
2014â2017 Travelling exhibition âTallinn Illustration Triennial 2013. Estonian Illustratorsâ, Estonia, Poland
2013â2015 Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian illustrators, âCrisscross Storiesâ, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2013Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustration, âEtelĂ€stĂ€ tuulee â LĂ”unatuul puhubâ (The South Wind Blows), Finland
2012â2013 Exhibition by Estonian illustrators, âOld Fairy Talesâ (Brothers Grimm), Estonia, Russia
âA Handful of Book Illustrations by Estonian Artistsâ, Poland
2011â2018 Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, âSea Fairy Talesâ, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia
2011Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2010â2011 Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
2009, 2011 Solo exhibitions, Tallinn Central Library, Estonia
2009â2010 Exhibition of Estonian illustrators, âA House Full of Fairy Talesâ, Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre, Tallinn
Kertu Sillaste (1973) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in textile design in 1996, studied tapestry at the Ăcole SupĂ©rieure des Arts AppliquĂ©s DuperrĂ© (Paris) in 1997, and participated in Viive Noorâs illustration course at the Open Academy of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2009. She graduated from the Tallinn Universityâs in Master of Arts in Education in 2017. Sillaste has worked as a graphic designer at the Tallinn Central Library, and now teaches the Estonian Childrenâs Literature Centre Art Chamber. Kertu Sillaste is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers Association and the Estonian Section of IBBY. She has illustrated books and textbooks; written five picture books; designed books, posters, fliers, and more; and has collaborated with childrenâs magazine TĂ€heke. Her signature style comprises thick, vibrant India-ink brush strokes combined with acrylics or collage.
