Biography
Kertu Sillaste (1973) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in textile design in 1996, studied tapestry at the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré (Paris) in 1997, and participated in Viive Noor’s illustration course at the Open Academy of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2009. She graduated from the Tallinn University’s in Master of Arts in Education in 2017. Sillaste has worked as a graphic designer at the Tallinn Central Library, and now teaches the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre Art Chamber. Kertu Sillaste is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers Association and the Estonian Section of IBBY. She has illustrated books and textbooks; written five picture books; designed books, posters, fliers, and more; and has collaborated with children’s magazine Täheke. Her signature style comprises thick, vibrant India-ink brush strokes combined with acrylics or collage.
I studied to become a textile artist. After graduating from the Estonian Academy of Arts, I wove quite a number of large tapestries and painted metres and metres of silk. It was by a pleasant stroke of fate that I started drawing illustrations for books, and now I like doing it more than anything else. I enjoy drawing (painting, cutting, pasting), coming up with pictures, and positioning them in books. I wrote and illustrated my first solo book a few years ago. Since then, I’ve also enjoyed the simultaneous creation of text and illustration: I tell a part of the story in pictures, and put a part into words, because one doesn’t have to repeat the other.
I personally learn a lot from children when I teach them about (book) art. I’d like my books to be able to offer something for both little children and ones a bit older. They should include the joy of recognition and an opportunity to have your own say. I’d like a book to encourage children to do something on their own; to unleash their seed of creativity.
I try out different techniques when I illustrate: drawing in Indian ink and pencil, as well as collage. I do this so that every book has its own visage, and because it’s interesting for me. I start with sketching, scribbling, and doodling – it’s like thinking on paper. Later, I draw a clean picture. You can colour and adjust images a little on the computer, but the most important effort and the most enjoyable part lies in the hand-drawing stage.
Profile photo: Piia Ruber
The Little Tree and the Wandering Moon
Dinnertime, Kids! Tasty Foods from Around the World
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
2022
IBBY Honour List (The Prettiest Skirt)
Good Children’s Book (Kertu Sillaste. In a Tiny House)
2021
Knee-High Book Comptition, 2nd place
2020
International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate
2019
25 Best-Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kertu Sillaste. The Prettiest Skirt)
2018
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, special prize of the Estonian Children's Literature Centre (Kertu Sillaste. I Am an Artist)
Good Children’s Book (Kertu Sillaste. I Am an Artist)
2017
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate
2016
The White Raven (Kertu Sillaste. No, It Isn't So!)
2015
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of the Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Kertu Sillaste. No, It Isn't So!)
Raisin of the Year Award (Kertu Sillaste. No, It Isn't So!)
Good Children’s Book (Kertu Sillaste. No, It Isn't So!)
The Knee-High Book Competition, winner (Kertu Sillaste. Astrid and Ott)
2014
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (illustrations and design – Liis Sillaste-Toots. Cookery Tips Black on White)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit, Special Jury Prize for Wonderful Illustrations (Kätlin Vainola. Where Is Love?)
2013
The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (Kätlin Vainola. Where Is Love?)
The Knee-High Book Competition, honorary mention (Kertu Sillaste. No, It Isn't So!)
2011
The Knee-High Book Competition, 3rd place (Kertu Sillaste. It’s Pancake Time!)
2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Solo exhibition "Assembled Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Public Library
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023)
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fresh Book Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Town Library, Kohila Library, Kärdla Culture Centre
2022
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "It's Christmas time", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , Poland
Estonian illustrators in the studio shop Karud ja Pojad R Gallery in Aparaaditehas (LUUP festival)
2021
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow; Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2021), Slovakia
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian artists "Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Little Grimm", Kostivere, Estonia
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Tapa Public Library; Gallery Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
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
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books II”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
2018
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators „Masters of Estonian children’s books”/“Power of Pictures” in Russia: Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow
2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
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
2016
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fairy Tales Come to Visit”, New York Estonian House, USA
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perrault”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators “Neighbours Who Love Reading”, Pskov, Russia
2015
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
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
2015–2018
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, Estonia; Gallery “Culture University”, Minsk, Belarus; Kraków, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Poland
2014–2017
Travelling exhibition “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
“A Handful of Book Illustrations by Estonian Artists”, Poland
2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia
2011
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
2009, 2011
Solo exhibitions, Tallinn Central Library, Estonia
2009–2010
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A House Full of Fairy Tales”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
2020
Story time with Kertu Sillaste (video)
2019
Estonian Illustrators at the Pop Up festival (UK)
Kertu Sillaste Will Perform in Leipzig and Berlin in March 2019
2018
Kertu Sillaste’s Book Chosen Among the 100 Best Books from 2017 in Germany
2017
Estonian Artists Take Part in the International Illustration Project Pop Up
Estonian Illustrators at the Literary Festival Berliner Bücherinseln in Berlin
2016
Estonian Children’s Books Chosen for The White Ravens Catalogue
Estonian Children’s Literature Days in New York and Toronto
Kertu Sillaste’s Book Launch in England
Estonian Author’s Children Book Published in English (Estonian World)
2015
Kertu Sillaste Won the Raisin of the Year Award
Winners of the Competition Põlvepikuraamat
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