Awards
2023
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
2022
IBBY Honour List (
The Prettiest Skirt)
Good Children’s Book (Kertu Sillaste.
In a Tiny House)
2021
Knee-High Book Comptition, 2nd place
2020International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate
201925 Best-Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kertu Sillaste.
The Prettiest Skirt)
20185 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, special prize of the Estonian Children's Literature Centre (Kertu Sillaste.
I Am an Artist)
Good Children’s 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 Children’s Books, Special prize of the Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
Raisin of the Year Award (Kertu Sillaste.
No, It Isn't So!)
Good Children’s 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 – Liis Sillaste-Toots.
Cookery Tips Black on White)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit, Special Jury Prize for Wonderful Illustrations (Kätlin Vainola.
Where Is Love?)
2013The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (Kätlin 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.
It’s 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.
2025Estonian illustration exhibition “Hello! Tere!”, Bologna International Children’s Book Fair, Italy
Illustration exhibition “City of Stories”, Bologna Palazzo d’Accursio, Italy; Estonian National Museum, Estonia
2024International exhibition of illustration "Magical Forest", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre; Jõhvi Art School Gallery
TIT 2023 and TIT 2020 Estonian illustrators, Płock Art Gallery, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Tell Me a Fairy Tale!", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Solo exhibition "Assembled Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Public Library
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023)
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fresh Book Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Town Library, Kohila Library, Kärdla Culture Centre
2022
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "It's Christmas time", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , 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 Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
2019Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s 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 “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books II”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
2018Exhibition of Estonian illustrators „Masters of Estonian children’s books”/“Power of Pictures” in Russia: Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow
2017Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “A Window into the Fairy Tale World”, Haapsalu, Estonia
2016Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fairy Tales Come to Visit”, New York Estonian House, USA
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perrault”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators “Neighbours Who Love Reading”, Pskov, Russia
2015Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
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
2015–2018 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, Estonia; Gallery “Culture University”, Minsk, Belarus; Kraków, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Poland
2014–2017 Travelling exhibition “Tallinn Illustration Triennial 2013. Estonian Illustrators”, Estonia, Poland
2013–2015 Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2013Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustration, “Etelästä tuulee – Lõunatuul puhub” (The South Wind Blows), Finland
2012–2013 Exhibition by Estonian illustrators, “Old Fairy Tales” (Brothers Grimm), Estonia, Russia
“A Handful of Book Illustrations by Estonian Artists”, Poland
2011–2018 Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia
2011Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2010–2011 Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
2009, 2011 Solo exhibitions, Tallinn Central Library, Estonia
2009–2010 Exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A House Full of Fairy Tales”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
Kertu Sillaste (1973) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in textile design in 1996, studied tapestry at the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré (Paris) in 1997, and participated in Viive Noor’s illustration course at the Open Academy of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2009. She graduated from the Tallinn University’s 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 Children’s 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 children’s magazine Täheke. Her signature style comprises thick, vibrant India-ink brush strokes combined with acrylics or collage.
