Biography
Marja-Liisa Plats is an illustrator, graphic designer, photographer, and singer. She graduated from Tartu Art College in photography and is a member of the Young Authors' Association in Tartu and the Tartu Artists' Union. Plats has illustrated more than 50 children’s books and regularly contributes to the children’s magazine Täheke. She has designed posters, postcards, logos and board games. Also has designed exhibitions and worked as theater designer. She has received extensive recognition for her works and has been listed in the White Ravens catalogue three times. Her illustrations are inquisitive and experiment with a broad range of visual techniques. Collaboration with fashion designer Triinu Pungits has given her opportunity to express her love for clothes by designing patterns for 2020 and 2021 collections.
Marja-Liisa Plats has participated in the vocal ensemble Vaikuse Koosolek, later in the experimental electronic music ensemble Eeter.
When I was asked as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, I was terrified. I was too little to think about going to work! Since I drew all the time, though, I soon wanted to become an “artdist” – the word “artist” in Estonian was very difficult to pronounce (kunstnik), just like my own complex name, about which I was awfully shy. Luckily, Estonian kids have much harder names today, which is also logical – children are constantly getting smarter.
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
Marius, Magic, and Lisa the Werewolf
Päike ja Pilv
2017, 224 pp
ISBN: 9789949986255
fiction, storybook, fantasy
2023
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
2022
Nukits competition, 3rd place (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton's Goings-On)
Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition winner (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton's Goings-On)
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Juhan Voolaid. The Candy Monster)
Good Children's Book (Candy monster)
2021
The White Raven (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
International Illustration and Book Design Competition "Image of the Book/Obraz knigi", Moscow, laureate (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children's Books, Special Prize of the Estonian Graphic Designer's Union (Reeli Reinaus. Rahel, Anders and the Wormholes)
2020
Good Children's Book (John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of the Estonian Children's Literature Centre (John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nominee
2019
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit, special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Hasso Krull. The Evil Fish Café)
Good Children’s Book (Hasso Krull. The Evil Fish Café)
Edgar Valter Illustration Award nominee
2018
The White Raven (Reeli Reinaus. Marius, Magic, and Liisi the Werewolf)
Nukits competition, 2nd place (Mika Keränen. The Good Ship Jõmmu, The Phantom Cyclist)
2017
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit, special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Reeli Reinaus. Marius, Magic, and Liisi the Werewolf)
Good Children’s Books (Reeli Reinaus. Marius, Magic, and Liisi the Werewolf; Mika Keränen. The Phantom Cyclist)
2016
Good Children’s Book (Reeli Reinaus. How My Dad God a New Wife)
2015
Good Children’s Book (Juhani Püttsepp. The Society of Gibraltar Ship Dogs)
2014
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Indrek Koff. Homeward)
2011
Karl Eduard Sööt Children’s Poetry Award (Wimberg. Rock'n'Roll)
The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (Eva Koff. Miss Whirlwind)
Good Children’s Books (Mika Keränen. The Mysterious Flower Snatcher, Wimberg. Rock'n'Roll)
2008
The White Raven (Triinu Ojar. The Big Black Dog)
2007
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Estonian Graphic Designers’ Associations’ Special Prize for a young artist (Triinu Ojar. The Big Black Dog)
2006
The Knee-High Book Competition, Special Prize (Triinu Ojar. The Big Black Dog)
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
2022
Nukits competition, 3rd place (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton's Goings-On)
Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition winner (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton's Goings-On)
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Juhan Voolaid. The Candy Monster)
Good Children's Book (Candy monster)
2021
The White Raven (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
International Illustration and Book Design Competition "Image of the Book/Obraz knigi", Moscow, laureate (Triinu Laan. John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children's Books, Special Prize of the Estonian Graphic Designer's Union (Reeli Reinaus. Rahel, Anders and the Wormholes)
2020
Good Children's Book (John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of the Estonian Children's Literature Centre (John the Skeleton’s Goings-On)
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nominee
2019
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit, special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Hasso Krull. The Evil Fish Café)
Good Children’s Book (Hasso Krull. The Evil Fish Café)
Edgar Valter Illustration Award nominee
2018
The White Raven (Reeli Reinaus. Marius, Magic, and Liisi the Werewolf)
Nukits competition, 2nd place (Mika Keränen. The Good Ship Jõmmu, The Phantom Cyclist)
2017
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit, special prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Reeli Reinaus. Marius, Magic, and Liisi the Werewolf)
Good Children’s Books (Reeli Reinaus. Marius, Magic, and Liisi the Werewolf; Mika Keränen. The Phantom Cyclist)
2016
Good Children’s Book (Reeli Reinaus. How My Dad God a New Wife)
2015
Good Children’s Book (Juhani Püttsepp. The Society of Gibraltar Ship Dogs)
2014
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Indrek Koff. Homeward)
2011
Karl Eduard Sööt Children’s Poetry Award (Wimberg. Rock'n'Roll)
The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (Eva Koff. Miss Whirlwind)
Good Children’s Books (Mika Keränen. The Mysterious Flower Snatcher, Wimberg. Rock'n'Roll)
2008
The White Raven (Triinu Ojar. The Big Black Dog)
2007
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Estonian Graphic Designers’ Associations’ Special Prize for a young artist (Triinu Ojar. The Big Black Dog)
2006
The Knee-High Book Competition, Special Prize (Triinu Ojar. The Big Black Dog)
2024
International Illustration Exhibition "Telling the City”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
2023
"Fairy Tales of Robots”. Płocka Galeria Sztuki, Poland
2022
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Art Gallery “Spazio b5” (Bologna) and Museo Civico Bari, Italy; National Library of Latvia
2022
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fox Spirit. Fox Charm”, Cultural Center Dworek Białoprądnicki, Kraków, Poland
2021
Exhibition on Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Napoli, Rome, Frigento, Italy
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2021), Slovakia
"Fables for Robots", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu; Gdansk, Poland
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, Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu
“John the Skeleton’s Goings-On” illustrations, Võru Central Library, Estonia
2020
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Saare County
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Tapa Public Library, Estonia; Gallery Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi, Estonia
Joint exhibition of Edgar Valter Illustration Award nominees, Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare, Estonia
Solo exhibitions: "Between Two Worlds", Leevi, Estonia; "Woman-Looking-Into-the-World", Tartu
Group exhibition "On Monday We Still Had Snow Here", Tartu, Estonia
2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Gdansk, Opole, Poland; Tapa Public Library
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Group exhibition “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Lääne County, Estonia; Kraków, Rabka, Elbląg, Poland
Group exhibition "Retrospective", Kogo Gallery, Tartu
2018 - 2020
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Running with Wolves”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; London, the United Kingdom; Gdańsk, Warsaw, Płock, Białystok, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania
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
2015
Solo exhibition, Mooste, Estonia
“The Story of a Picture” (together with Kristina Viin), Tartu, Estonia
Baltic Illustration, Vilnius, Lithuania
2012
“Line”, Tartu, Estonia
2010–2011
“A Display of Affection” (together with Kristina Viin and Huup), Tallinn, Tartu, Võru, Estonia
2010
Spring Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
International Illustration Exhibition "Telling the City”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
2023
"Fairy Tales of Robots”. Płocka Galeria Sztuki, Poland
2022
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Art Gallery “Spazio b5” (Bologna) and Museo Civico Bari, Italy; National Library of Latvia
2022
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fox Spirit. Fox Charm”, Cultural Center Dworek Białoprądnicki, Kraków, Poland
2021
Exhibition on Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Napoli, Rome, Frigento, Italy
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2021), Slovakia
"Fables for Robots", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu; Gdansk, Poland
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, Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu
“John the Skeleton’s Goings-On” illustrations, Võru Central Library, Estonia
2020
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Saare County
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Tapa Public Library, Estonia; Gallery Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi, Estonia
Joint exhibition of Edgar Valter Illustration Award nominees, Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare, Estonia
Solo exhibitions: "Between Two Worlds", Leevi, Estonia; "Woman-Looking-Into-the-World", Tartu
Group exhibition "On Monday We Still Had Snow Here", Tartu, Estonia
2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Gdansk, Opole, Poland; Tapa Public Library
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Group exhibition “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Lääne County, Estonia; Kraków, Rabka, Elbląg, Poland
Group exhibition "Retrospective", Kogo Gallery, Tartu
2018 - 2020
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Running with Wolves”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; London, the United Kingdom; Gdańsk, Warsaw, Płock, Białystok, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania
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
2015
Solo exhibition, Mooste, Estonia
“The Story of a Picture” (together with Kristina Viin), Tartu, Estonia
Baltic Illustration, Vilnius, Lithuania
2012
“Line”, Tartu, Estonia
2010–2011
“A Display of Affection” (together with Kristina Viin and Huup), Tallinn, Tartu, Võru, Estonia
2010
Spring Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
