Sirly Oder was born in Rakvere in 1983. She studied Estonian philology at Tallinn University from 2002 to 2003 and graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2007 with a degree in scenography. She has previously worked as a theatre, film and advertising artist. She currently works as a designer of special displays for Rahva Raamat bookstores and illustrates children’s books as a freelancer. As an illustrator, her style is characterised by bold colours and a strong sense of atmosphere.
I quite often feel amazed by illustrations in picture books, I admire different artists and their unique styles. There’s a pure joy inside me when I look at the illustrations I love. While illustrating a book I aim for the kids to feel the same way. Every book I illustrate is a compromise between what I like now as an adult and what I would have liked when I was about seven years old. I was a book loving kid and it would make me very happy if I’d manage to make some kids fall in love with books and reading with my illustrations.Profile photo: Ersoy Mike
Awards
2025
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of Jury (Pille Kannisto.
Nella and Dreams)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Pille Kannisto.
Nella and Dreams)
2024
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Kätlin Vainola.
Cat Kipper's sea adventure)
Good Children’s Book (Tiina Laanem.
Liisu Runs Away)
2022
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Helen Käit.
Secret of the Golden Scarab)
2020Nukits competition, 2nd place (Anu Aun.
Eia's Countryside Adventure)
201625 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (
Revenge of the Green Mucus-Monster. New Horrible Tales of Estonian Children)
Exhibitions
2026Exhibition of illustrations from Estonian children’s literature "Children’s Rights: Protected Through Stories", United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA
Illustration and puppet exhibition “All Feelings Are Valid”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2025
Estonian 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
Illustration exhibition “Mycology, or the Secret Life of Fungi”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2024TIT 2023 and TIT 2020 Estonian illustrators, Płock Art Gallery, Poland
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023)
2019Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
