Biography
Jüri Mildeberg (1965) is an illustrator, painter, and graphic artist. He has illustrated over a dozen children’s books and has collaborated with several magazines. Mildeberg painted the shutters in the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre in 2008, and has worked on video clips for Estonian Public Broadcasting. His works have been described as warm, kind, humorous, and riddled with mystery. At the same time, his style is also powerful and expressive. The artist has created his own mythical artistic world ruled by limitless fantasy. Mildeberg’s works can be found in the art collections of the National Library of Estonia and the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, as well as in private collections around the world. Every year, his solo exhibitions travel to far-flung places ranging from Finland to Japan. Mildeberg is on the directors’ board of the Estonian Graphic Designers’ Association, a member of the Estonian Section of IBBY, and a member of the Estonian Artists' Association.
My father was friends with a lot of craftsmen: metalworkers and locksmiths and all kinds of other wonderful artisans. Because of that, I knew since I was just a little boy that I had to become a craftsman, too! Of course, I didn’t know what kind of craftsman that would be. And I suppose I’m not entirely sure yet, either. But I’ve always liked books, and becoming an illustrator has been a gradual process: one incidental opportunity has followed another, and so forth. In the end, you’re an illustrator before you even know it!
Profile photo: Piia Ruber
The Golden Book of Estonian Fairytales
Illustrator: Ülle Meister etc...
TEA Kirjastus
2009, 334 pp
ISBN: 9789985718346
fiction, storybook, fairy-tale, folktales, folklore
Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers
Ajakirjade Kirjastus
2005, 108 pp
ISBN: 9985963342
fiction, storybook
Hempa and the Union of Beasts
Translator: Oskar Tanner
Fonet
2002, 46 pp
ISBN: 9519677372
fiction, storybook
Hempa- A Gorilla of Korkeasaari Zoo
Translator: Oskar Tanner
Huma
1999, 44 pp
ISBN: 9519677348
fiction, storybook
2023
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Leelo Tungal. What Children Like)
2016
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Anti Saar. Storybook)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Anti Saar. Storybook)
2011
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Mihkel Ulman. The Tale of a Prince Who Lost His Face)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Edgar Valter. Tall Tales of Traphead, Jüri Mildeberg. Putkamissu)
2010
Raisin of the Year Award (Aino Pervik. In an Odd Little Town)
2009
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (The Golden Book of Estonian Fairy Tales)
2008
IBBY Honour List (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
Raisin of the Year Award (Once Upon a Time…)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Once Upon a Time…), Special prize of The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (F. R. Kreutzwald. Lopi and Lapi)
2007
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (August Jakobson. Estonian Fairy Tales)
2006
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Mihkel Ulman. Puppet Theater, The Big Book of Fable)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Mihkel Ulman. Puppet Theater, Grigori Oster. Bad Advice)
2005
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
2005 5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
Raisin of the Year Award (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
2003
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonian Children’s Literature Centre prize for best original illustration by an Estonian artist
1999
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Teppo Vuoristo. Hempa–Korkeasaari gorilla)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Teppo Vuoristo. Hempa–Korkeasaari gorilla)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Leelo Tungal. What Children Like)
2016
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Anti Saar. Storybook)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Anti Saar. Storybook)
2011
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Mihkel Ulman. The Tale of a Prince Who Lost His Face)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Edgar Valter. Tall Tales of Traphead, Jüri Mildeberg. Putkamissu)
2010
Raisin of the Year Award (Aino Pervik. In an Odd Little Town)
2009
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (The Golden Book of Estonian Fairy Tales)
2008
IBBY Honour List (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
Raisin of the Year Award (Once Upon a Time…)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Once Upon a Time…), Special prize of The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (F. R. Kreutzwald. Lopi and Lapi)
2007
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (August Jakobson. Estonian Fairy Tales)
2006
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Mihkel Ulman. Puppet Theater, The Big Book of Fable)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Mihkel Ulman. Puppet Theater, Grigori Oster. Bad Advice)
2005
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
2005 5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
Raisin of the Year Award (Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers)
2003
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonian Children’s Literature Centre prize for best original illustration by an Estonian artist
1999
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Teppo Vuoristo. Hempa–Korkeasaari gorilla)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Teppo Vuoristo. Hempa–Korkeasaari gorilla)
Mildeberg’s works have been displayed in a multitude of exhibitions around the world. To date, he has had 47 solo exhibitions in countries including Estonia, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States, Japan, and France.
Selected exhibitions:
2024
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Capturing Wonder with Pictures", Kärdla Culture Centre
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, Poland
2022
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Estonian National Museum, Latvian National Library
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , Poland
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Italy and Latvia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, The Estonian National Museum
2021
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Napoli, Rome, Frigento, Italy
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Secret Lives III", Szczecin, Gdansk, Poland; Kondas Centre, Viljandi; Estonian National Museum, Tartu
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Moscow
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu
Children's Books' Illustrations from Estonian artists, Kehra
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Haapsalu
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
Solo exhibition "Rehepapp" (November), Haus-Gallery, Tallinn
Joint exhibition with Viive Noor, Piret Pusa Bergmann, Aleksei Kornilov, Lido, Vytebsk, Minsk, Belarus
Participation in international art project "Museum of Supernatural History", St. Petersburg
Participation in the 12th international doll exhibition "The Art of the Doll", Moscow
2020
Tallinn Illustration Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books III”, Moscow, Russia
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Viljandi
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time" (Grimm's Fairy Tales), Tapa Public Library; Gallery Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare
Solo exhibition "Rehepapp" (November), Haus-Gallery, Tallinn
Joint exhibition with Viive Noor, Aleksei Kornilov, Piret Bergmann (Pusa), Minsk, Grodno, Orša, Belarus
2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój,
Elbląg, Poland
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
Joint exhibition with Piret Mildeberg "Mythomania", Kolga Manor Gallery
International art projects with Studio 14: "Running with Wolves", Hiiumaa Museum; "Factory of Dreams. Anthropology in mixed media", Berlin; "Room of Fears", St. Petersburg; exhibition project "5 emotions", St. Petersburg; international art festival, Latvian Railway Museum, Riga
2018–2020
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, London, the United
Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (“Wolf Run”), Tallinn; Gdańsk, Wrocław,
Białystok, Warsaw, Płock, Szczecin, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania
2018–2019
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Running with Wolves”, Estonian Children’s
Literature Centre, Tallinn; selected works, Pskov, St. Petersburg, Russia
2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2016
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators “Neighbours Who Love Reading”, Pskov City Library, Russia
2016–2018
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives I”, hotel Sofitel in Strasbourg, Embassy of Estonia in Paris, France
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
2015–2019
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
2014–2017
“Tallinn Illustration Triennial 2013. Estonian Illustrators”, Estonia, Poland
2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2013
Biennial 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
2012
Group exhibition „Four Is Better than Three”, Estonia, Finland
2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia
2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
Selected exhibitions:
2024
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Capturing Wonder with Pictures", Kärdla Culture Centre
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, Poland
2022
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Estonian National Museum, Latvian National Library
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , Poland
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Italy and Latvia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, The Estonian National Museum
2021
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Napoli, Rome, Frigento, Italy
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Secret Lives III", Szczecin, Gdansk, Poland; Kondas Centre, Viljandi; Estonian National Museum, Tartu
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Moscow
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu
Children's Books' Illustrations from Estonian artists, Kehra
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Haapsalu
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
Solo exhibition "Rehepapp" (November), Haus-Gallery, Tallinn
Joint exhibition with Viive Noor, Piret Pusa Bergmann, Aleksei Kornilov, Lido, Vytebsk, Minsk, Belarus
Participation in international art project "Museum of Supernatural History", St. Petersburg
Participation in the 12th international doll exhibition "The Art of the Doll", Moscow
2020
Tallinn Illustration Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books III”, Moscow, Russia
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Viljandi
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time" (Grimm's Fairy Tales), Tapa Public Library; Gallery Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare
Solo exhibition "Rehepapp" (November), Haus-Gallery, Tallinn
Joint exhibition with Viive Noor, Aleksei Kornilov, Piret Bergmann (Pusa), Minsk, Grodno, Orša, Belarus
2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój,
Elbląg, Poland
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
Joint exhibition with Piret Mildeberg "Mythomania", Kolga Manor Gallery
International art projects with Studio 14: "Running with Wolves", Hiiumaa Museum; "Factory of Dreams. Anthropology in mixed media", Berlin; "Room of Fears", St. Petersburg; exhibition project "5 emotions", St. Petersburg; international art festival, Latvian Railway Museum, Riga
2018–2020
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, London, the United
Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (“Wolf Run”), Tallinn; Gdańsk, Wrocław,
Białystok, Warsaw, Płock, Szczecin, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania
2018–2019
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Running with Wolves”, Estonian Children’s
Literature Centre, Tallinn; selected works, Pskov, St. Petersburg, Russia
2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2016
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators “Neighbours Who Love Reading”, Pskov City Library, Russia
2016–2018
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives I”, hotel Sofitel in Strasbourg, Embassy of Estonia in Paris, France
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
2015–2019
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
2014–2017
“Tallinn Illustration Triennial 2013. Estonian Illustrators”, Estonia, Poland
2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2013
Biennial 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
2012
Group exhibition „Four Is Better than Three”, Estonia, Finland
2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia
2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
