Biography
Kadi Kurema (1963) is an illustrator and printmaker who graduated in graphic arts from the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has illustrated 18 children’s books and collaborates regularly with the Estonian children’s literary magazine Täheke. Kurema has been awarded for her works in the 5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books competition. The artist’s illustrations, which are entrancing and packed with provoking ideas, mix etching with other techniques while using very little colour.
Profile photo: Piia Ruber
Fables for Robots (Robotite muinasjutud / Bajki robotów)
Illustrator: Katrin Ehrlich etc...
Translator: Hendrik Lindepuu
Päike ja Pilv
2021, 272 pp
ISBN: 9789916951279
fiction, fantasy, storybook
The Way Back Home. Kaarel and Jette's Adventures in World Wide Web
Varrak
2012, 151 pp
ISBN: 9789985326404
fiction, storybook
2024
IBBY Honour List (Indrek Koff. If I Were Grandpa)
2021
HIII Illustration 2020, nominee (Tia Navi. A Little Love Story)
Good Children's Book (Kadri Hinrikus. The Elephant)
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Indrek Koff. If I Were a Grandpa)
2018
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Tia Navi. A Little Love Story)
2017
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Jaanus Vaiksoo. Three Autumns)
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the National Library of Estonia
The Knee-High Book Competition, 3rd place (Tia Navi. A Little Love Story)
Good Children’s Book (Jaanus Vaiksoo. Three Autumns)
2016
Good Children’s Book (Wimberg. Ahoy!)
2012
Oshima International Handmade Picture Book Contest, Japan, Bronze Prize
IBBY Honour List (Indrek Koff. If I Were Grandpa)
2021
HIII Illustration 2020, nominee (Tia Navi. A Little Love Story)
Good Children's Book (Kadri Hinrikus. The Elephant)
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Indrek Koff. If I Were a Grandpa)
2018
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Tia Navi. A Little Love Story)
2017
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Jaanus Vaiksoo. Three Autumns)
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the National Library of Estonia
The Knee-High Book Competition, 3rd place (Tia Navi. A Little Love Story)
Good Children’s Book (Jaanus Vaiksoo. Three Autumns)
2016
Good Children’s Book (Wimberg. Ahoy!)
2012
Oshima International Handmade Picture Book Contest, Japan, Bronze Prize
Solo exhibitions
More than 20 solo exhibitions
Selected group exhibitions
2025
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2024
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Tell Me a Fairy Tale!”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
International exhibition of illustration "Magical Forest", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre; Jõhvi Art School Gallery
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023), Slovakia
Solo exhibition #OLD, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fresh Book Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Library, Kärdla Library
2022
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Estonian National Museum, Latvian National Library
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Italy and Latvia
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , Poland
„Secret Lives“ IV,Chișinău, Moldova
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, The Estonian National Museum
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Kiili Library
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "It's Christmas time", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2021
Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves. Werewolf”, Napoli, Rome, Italy
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fox Spirit. Fox Charm”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu, Estonia
Exhibition “Fables for Robots” Tallinn, Estonia; Gdansk, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian artists “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu, Estonia
Children's Books' Illustrations from Estonian artists, Kehra, Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian artists “Secret Lives III” Szczecin, Gdansk, Poland; Kondas Centre, Viljandi, Estonia, Estonian National Museum, Tartu
"Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
"Little Grimm", Kostivere, Estonia
Participation in international art project "Кицунэ. Лисьи чары", St. Petersburg, Russia
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian artists “Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
2019
Biennial on Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2018
“Memento Mori”, 8th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius
2018–2020
Travelling exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Poland, Italy, Lithuania
2018–2020
Travelling exhibition of Estonian Leatherwork Artists’ Union, “I Was Juhan Viiding”, Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Keila, Haapsalu, Kuressaare (Under the name "Inland Speeches")
2018
Exhibition of Estonian artists “Secret Lives II”, Skizza gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Tra ghiaccio e fuoco”, Rome, Pesco Sannita, Italy
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Masters of Estonian children’s books”/“Power of Pictures”, Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow, Russia
2017
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
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books I”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
“Art squared” exhibition of Alumni of Pärnu Art School, Pärnu Museum
2016
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perrault”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
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
2015–2020
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
2015
“Error”, 7th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius
Travelling exhibition of Estonian Graphic Art, “Olemisen äärellä”, Finland
Exhibition of Estonian Graphic Art “Wonder being“, Yerevan, Armenia
“Pärnu on a Picture”, Pärnu City Gallery
2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2013
“Kohtumised/ Träffar”, NK-villa, Nyköping, Sweden
“To a Library From an Artist”, National Library of Estonia, Tallinn
“Paper Park”, Kastellaanimaja Gallery, Tallinn
Exhibition by Estonian illustrators, “Old Fairy Tales” (Brothers Grimm), Izhevsk, Russia
More than 20 solo exhibitions
Selected group exhibitions
2025
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2024
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Tell Me a Fairy Tale!”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
International exhibition of illustration "Magical Forest", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre; Jõhvi Art School Gallery
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023), Slovakia
Solo exhibition #OLD, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fresh Book Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Library, Kärdla Library
2022
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Estonian National Museum, Latvian National Library
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Italy and Latvia
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , Poland
„Secret Lives“ IV,Chișinău, Moldova
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, The Estonian National Museum
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Kiili Library
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "It's Christmas time", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2021
Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves. Werewolf”, Napoli, Rome, Italy
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fox Spirit. Fox Charm”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu, Estonia
Exhibition “Fables for Robots” Tallinn, Estonia; Gdansk, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian artists “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu, Estonia
Children's Books' Illustrations from Estonian artists, Kehra, Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian artists “Secret Lives III” Szczecin, Gdansk, Poland; Kondas Centre, Viljandi, Estonia, Estonian National Museum, Tartu
"Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
"Little Grimm", Kostivere, Estonia
Participation in international art project "Кицунэ. Лисьи чары", St. Petersburg, Russia
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian artists “Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
2019
Biennial on Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2018
“Memento Mori”, 8th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius
2018–2020
Travelling exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Poland, Italy, Lithuania
2018–2020
Travelling exhibition of Estonian Leatherwork Artists’ Union, “I Was Juhan Viiding”, Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Keila, Haapsalu, Kuressaare (Under the name "Inland Speeches")
2018
Exhibition of Estonian artists “Secret Lives II”, Skizza gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Tra ghiaccio e fuoco”, Rome, Pesco Sannita, Italy
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Masters of Estonian children’s books”/“Power of Pictures”, Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow, Russia
2017
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
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books I”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
“Art squared” exhibition of Alumni of Pärnu Art School, Pärnu Museum
2016
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perrault”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
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
2015–2020
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
2015
“Error”, 7th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius
Travelling exhibition of Estonian Graphic Art, “Olemisen äärellä”, Finland
Exhibition of Estonian Graphic Art “Wonder being“, Yerevan, Armenia
“Pärnu on a Picture”, Pärnu City Gallery
2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom
2013
“Kohtumised/ Träffar”, NK-villa, Nyköping, Sweden
“To a Library From an Artist”, National Library of Estonia, Tallinn
“Paper Park”, Kastellaanimaja Gallery, Tallinn
Exhibition by Estonian illustrators, “Old Fairy Tales” (Brothers Grimm), Izhevsk, Russia
