Biography
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 children’s books, and has collaborated with various Estonian children’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 Tallinn’s Old Town – colored pencils and books were my friends. On Sunday mornings, I’d watch cartoons at the Sõprus 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 I’m thankful things have gone the way they have.
Profile photo: Piia Ruber
The Swan’s Cry: Children’s Poetry 1974–2008
The Golden Book of Estonian Fairytales
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the National Library of Estonia
2022
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (A Tiny Tree:Childhood songs and stories)
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the Estonian Artists’ 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 Children’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 Children’s Books, Special prize of Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Lauri Vahtre. Our Great Achievers)
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Lauri Vahtre. Our Great Achievers)
2003
K. E. Sööt Children's Poetry Award, artist prize, Luunja (Jaanus Vaiksoo. The Clockmaker’s Wife)
2001
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Hi, School! Parts 1 and 2)
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
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; Viljandi, Estonia
2015–2020
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; Minsk, Belarus; Kraków, Łomża, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Opole, Poland; Budapest, Hungary
2013
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia
2010
Solo exhibition; Estonian Children's Literature Centre
2006
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
