Biography
Urmas Viik (1961) is an interdisciplinary artist and book designer. He graduated in graphic arts from the Estonian Academy of Arts, and worked as a freelance artist thereafter. Since 2005, he has been a professor and head of the Graphics Department at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Viik has illustrated about 30 children’s books. He was included on the 2010 IBBY Honour List, and has received several awards at annual illustration competitions.
As a child, I would find stories in gum wrappers, stamps, picture books, and magazines. Later, they came to me from concert posters, record liners, and art albums. I studied graphic art, but a large portion of my artistic activities fell quite far from children’s books. In retrospect, it seems entirely natural that picture books would re-enter my life one day, because a desire for that has always lain in the deepest corners of my heart.
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
A Woman's Touch, a.k.a. Comrade Kid and Dad
Tänapäev
2018, 256 pp
ISBN: 9789985622925
fiction, storybook, memoires
A Pioneer from Patriot Street: School Stories from the Soviet Stagnation
Tänapäev
2012, 151 pp
ISBN: 9789949272273
fiction, storybook
Velvet and Sawdust, a.k.a. Comrade Kid and the ABC
Tänapäev
2009, 216 pp
ISBN: 9789985627761
fiction, storybook, memoires
Mari and Jüri’s Ten Professions
Ajakirjade Kirjastus
2007, 67 pp
ISBN: 9789949427482
fiction, storybook
2023
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of the Jury (Jana Maasik. Ghost Way. The Riddle of the Key)
2022
Order of the White Star, IV Class
2021
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Theodor, the Santa Clause's Lonely Expedition)
2020
Pärnu Common Building art competition, 3rd place
Tabasalu State Gymnasium art competition, 3rd place
2019
Sillamäe State House art competition, 1st place
1999
Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
1998
Eduard Viiralt Award for Art
1997
Kristjan Raud Annual Award for Art
1995
Vaal Gallery Annual Award
Awards and certificates in the field of graphic book art:
2020
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Anu Kabur. Vasslis of Muhu Island)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Anu Kabur. Vasslis of Muhu Island)
2019
Astrid Lindren Memorial Award nominee
2018
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Anti Saar. Milda, Master Michel, and I)
Raisin of the Year Award (Anti Saar. Milda, Master Michel, and I)
2017
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the Estonian Artists’ Association
International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kadri Voorand. Giving Myself to the Sea)
2013
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
2010
IBBY Honour List (Tiia Soasepp. The Little River Man)
2009
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Tiia Soasepp. The Little River Man)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Tiia Soasepp. The Little River Man)
2008
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, three Certificates of Merit (Kadri Hinrikus. Miia and Friida; Heljo Mänd. Little Dandelions, Leelo Tungal. Comrade Kid and the Grown-Ups)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Kadri Hinrikus. Miia and Friida)
2007
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Mari and Jüri’s Ten Professions)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Mari and Jüri’s Ten Professions)
2006
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Eva Laantee Reintamm. Discovering Tallinn: A City Guide for Kids)
2005
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Unusual Sirel)
2003
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Olivia and the First World)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit, Special prize 'Golden Book' of the National Library of Estonia (Kerttu Soans. Olivia and the First World)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of the Jury (Jana Maasik. Ghost Way. The Riddle of the Key)
2022
Order of the White Star, IV Class
2021
Edgar Valter Illustration Award, nominee
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Theodor, the Santa Clause's Lonely Expedition)
2020
Pärnu Common Building art competition, 3rd place
Tabasalu State Gymnasium art competition, 3rd place
2019
Sillamäe State House art competition, 1st place
1999
Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
1998
Eduard Viiralt Award for Art
1997
Kristjan Raud Annual Award for Art
1995
Vaal Gallery Annual Award
Awards and certificates in the field of graphic book art:
2020
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Anu Kabur. Vasslis of Muhu Island)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Anu Kabur. Vasslis of Muhu Island)
2019
Astrid Lindren Memorial Award nominee
2018
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Anti Saar. Milda, Master Michel, and I)
Raisin of the Year Award (Anti Saar. Milda, Master Michel, and I)
2017
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma of the Estonian Artists’ Association
International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kadri Voorand. Giving Myself to the Sea)
2013
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
2010
IBBY Honour List (Tiia Soasepp. The Little River Man)
2009
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Tiia Soasepp. The Little River Man)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Tiia Soasepp. The Little River Man)
2008
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, three Certificates of Merit (Kadri Hinrikus. Miia and Friida; Heljo Mänd. Little Dandelions, Leelo Tungal. Comrade Kid and the Grown-Ups)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Kadri Hinrikus. Miia and Friida)
2007
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Mari and Jüri’s Ten Professions)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Mari and Jüri’s Ten Professions)
2006
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Eva Laantee Reintamm. Discovering Tallinn: A City Guide for Kids)
2005
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Unusual Sirel)
2003
25 Best Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Kerttu Soans. Olivia and the First World)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books, Certificate of Merit, Special prize 'Golden Book' of the National Library of Estonia (Kerttu Soans. Olivia and the First World)
2024
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Solo exhibition "Mega Flowers", VAAL gallery
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
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
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
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2021), Slovakia
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Moscow, Russia
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
"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", Haapsalu, Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian artists "Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time". Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books III”, Moscow, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare
Solo exhibition "The Unusual Case of Ruve Rääsa", ARS Studio 98
2019-2021
"Brave Bunch in India", cross media project. Pregio media, Poland
2019
International exhibition “Illustrating life IV”, Beijing, China
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Opole, Gdansk, Poland; Tapa Public Library, Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books II”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
2018
"Ruve Rääsk's Odd Incident" (with Sohvi Viik), Draakon gallery, Tallinn
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives II”, Skizza gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators „Tra ghiaccio e fuoco“, Rome, Pesco Sannita, Italy
2018–2020
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, London, the United Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, 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
2018
Tallinn 5th Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2017), Estonian illustrators, Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow, Russia
2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT)
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “A Window into the Fairy Tale World”, Haapsalu Cultural Centre, Haapsalu Children's Library
2016
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 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, 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
1st Riga Picture Book Quadrennial “Picture Story”, Latvia
2013–2017
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
2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Solo exhibition "Mega Flowers", VAAL gallery
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
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
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
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2021), Slovakia
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Moscow, Russia
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
"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", Haapsalu, Estonia
Exhibition of Estonian artists "Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time". Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books III”, Moscow, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare
Solo exhibition "The Unusual Case of Ruve Rääsa", ARS Studio 98
2019-2021
"Brave Bunch in India", cross media project. Pregio media, Poland
2019
International exhibition “Illustrating life IV”, Beijing, China
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's fairy tales), Opole, Gdansk, Poland; Tapa Public Library, Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books II”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
2018
"Ruve Rääsk's Odd Incident" (with Sohvi Viik), Draakon gallery, Tallinn
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives II”, Skizza gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators „Tra ghiaccio e fuoco“, Rome, Pesco Sannita, Italy
2018–2020
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves”, London, the United Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, 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
2018
Tallinn 5th Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2017), Estonian illustrators, Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow, Russia
2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT)
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “A Window into the Fairy Tale World”, Haapsalu Cultural Centre, Haapsalu Children's Library
2016
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 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, 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
1st Riga Picture Book Quadrennial “Picture Story”, Latvia
2013–2017
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
2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland
