About me

Katrin Valgemäe (born 1979) is an artist living and working in Tallinn. Valgemäe studied painting and ceramics at Estonian Academy of Arts and furthered her skills at the painting department of Art Academy of Latvia.

Valgemäe's works are somehow irrational, not in technique, but in psychological way. At first sight, they are beautiful, decorative and well painted, but after a while, more layers reveal the intriguing underlying storylines. The figures depicted, often classical beauties, seem to embody both attractiveness and grotesque features, creating a sense of tension and ambiguity for the viewer. The technical skill and sensuousness of the figures adds to this complexity, as the viewer is drawn in by the beauty of the work while also feeling a sense of unease or repulsion. With this, the artist invites the viewer to dig deeper and consider the hidden meanings and layers that lie beneath the surface of her art. Still, there are answers and viewers can find them themselves.

CV

Education MA

2016— ....... Estonian Academy of Arts, Department of Painting

2017—2018 Estonian Academy of Arts, Department of Ceramics, exchange programme

Education BA

2010—2015 Estonian Academy of Arts, Department of Painting, BA

2012—2013 Art Academy of Latvia, painting. Erasmus exchange student

2004—2009 Tallinn College of Tallinn University of Technology, Economics, BA

Solo Exhibitions

2023 "Queens of Chaos", Gallery Myymälä2, Helsinki, Finland

2022 "Estonian Preacher" Castellan House Gallery, Tallinn

2021 "16 Round Princesses", Staapli Gallery, Estonia

2017 "Paranoia in an Art Hall", Gallery 3,14, Estonia

2016 "I Am Romantic at Heart, But Life Has Gone Trivial", Rakvere Theatre, Estonia
2016 Solo show, during the BALTOSCANDAL festival, Rakvere Theatre, Estonia
2013 "Stranger" in Draakoni Gallery, Estonia
2012 "One Story" in Draakoni Gallery, Estonia

Group Exhibitions

2024 "Feminisphere", Gallery Volta, Estonia

2023 "White Ship", Plaza Gallery, Estonia
2022 "Sea" HAA Gallery,  Rantakasarmi, Suomenlinna
2021 "Impulse" 6th Tallinn Drawing Triennial, ARS
2021 "Park and City", Plaza Gallery, Estonia
2020 "WOMAN.REPLACEMENT BODY", Gallery Noorus, Estonia
2020  "Triennial Inside Biennial", Gallery 3,14, Estonia
2019 "La Grande Bellezza", Pärnu City Gallery and Tallinn Art Space
2018  "Naked. Woman in Estonian Art Scene", Gallery 3,14, Estonia
2018  "EST.ETHICAL?", MONA The Museum of New Art, Pärnu, Estonia
2017  "The Wall of Shame", Gallery 3,14, Estonia
2016  "Bedroom Paintings", Gallery Kопли, Estonia
2016  "LABYRINTH", Pärnu City Gallery, Estonia
2016  "Tallinn Makes Tartu", Tartu Jakobi Gallery, Estonia
2015  "Liquid" Autumn Exhibition, depot in Balti Jaam, Estonia
2015 "Master and Margarita" Pärnu City Gallery, Estonia
2015  Estonian Modern Painting in Modern Art of Pärnu, Estonia
2014  "Liquid" Spring Exhibition, Pääsküla garage, Estonia
2013  Christmas Show 2013, Young Blood Gallery, Cologne
2011  Open Artists 'Studios, Tallinn 2011, European Capital of Culture 2011, Estonia
2011  Tase 11, Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonia

Membership

2015 Estonian Painters Association

Art in Collections

The D‘Albret Collection in Switzerland

Private collections in Estonia, Taiwan, UK, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium

Products in Retail Locations

Ceramics in Estonian Kumu Art Museum shop and in TEKE ceramics shop

Aprons and mitts in Tallinn Design House and Levi Design shop