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 childrenā€™s books, and has collaborated with various Estonian childrenā€™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 Tallinnā€™s Old Town ā€“ colored pencils and books were my friends. On Sunday mornings, Iā€™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 Iā€™m thankful things have gone the way they have.

Profile photo: Piia Ruber

 

Bibliography

Rooster

2024

Tommy

2018

Crocodile

2009

Translations

Awards

2023
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the National Library of Estonia

2022
5 Best Designed Estonian Childrenā€™s Books, Certificate of Merit (A Tiny Tree:Childhood songs and stories)

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the Estonian Artistsā€™ 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 Childrenā€™s Books, Certificate of Merit (Birthday Stories)

2012
Good Children's Book (Kadri Hinrikus. May the Good Fairies Watch Over You)

2011
5 Best Designed Estonian Childrenā€™s Books, Special prize of Estonian Graphic Designersā€™ Union (Lauri Vahtre. Our Great Achievers)
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Lauri Vahtre. Our Great Achievers)

2003
K. E. Sƶƶt Children's Poetry Award, artist prize, Luunja (Jaanus Vaiksoo. The Clockmakerā€™s Wife)

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

Exhibitions

2023
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Solo exhibition "A Tiny Tree", Tampere House (Tartu)

2021
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2020), Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books", Mytishchi, Russia

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

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

2015ā€“2020
International illustration exhibition, ā€œItā€™s Always Tea-Timeā€, Estonian Childrenā€™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;Ā  Viljandi, Estonia

2015ā€“2020
Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, ā€œOnce Upon a Time...ā€ (Grimmā€™s Fairy Tales), Aosta, Anagni, Lagonegro, Bernalda-Metaponto, Corato, Matera, Roma, Lacco Ameno, Irsina, Siracusa, Sassari, Roma, Bologna, Italy; Estonian Childrenā€™s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Minsk, Belarus; KrakĆ³w, Łomża, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Opole, Poland; Budapest, Hungary

2013
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

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

2011ā€“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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