Olga Pärn (1976) is an Estonian animator, film director, and illustrator, born in Minsk. She graduated in graphic arts from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and completed a course in film direction at the La Poudriere animation school in Valence, France. With her husband Priit Pärn she co-directed 7 award winning animated shorts. 13 years she teached animation at Estonian Academy of Arts. Pärn’s style is sometimes fun, other times somewhat sarcastic and edging towards dark humour, but always warm and witty. Her illustrations provide food for thought. Her illustrations for children books won several awards in Estonia and abroad.
Profile picture: private collection
Awards
2021
Karl Eduard Sööt Children’s Poetry Award, Readers Choice (Anti Saar.
The Great Pancake-Make, for illustrations)
2020
Good Children’s Book (Anti Saar.
The Great Pancake-Make)
2018
25 Best-Designed Estonian Books (Aino Pervik.
From BonnyHead and Beyond)
Good Children’s Book (Aino Pervik.
From BonnyHead and Beyond)
20155 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Gianni Rodari.
Telephone Tales)
25 Best-Designed Estonian Books (Gianni Rodari.
Telephone Tales)
Exhibitions
2025
Estonian illustration exhibition “Hello! Tere!”, Bologna International Children’s Book Fair, Italy
2019Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2017Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books I”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
2016Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2013Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2008–2009 Olga and Priit Pärn’s exhibition “Life without Gabriella Ferri”, Tallinn, Tartu
