Merike Estna

Merike Estna (1980) is an artist working in the expanded field of painting, often departing from the limits of canvas, encompassing environments, objects as well as bodies. In her paintings, Estna uses repetitive elements and patterns, increasingly focusing on mythological themes and performative aspects. Referring to traditional craft techniques, Estna questions the opposition between the femininity of craft and the masculinity of painting.

Merike Estna graduated from the painting department at the Estonian Academy of Arts (BA, 2005) and from Goldsmiths, University of London (MFA, 2009). She has received several Estonian art awards, among them the Hansapank stipend (2004), the Eduard Wiiralt Prize (2005) and Konrad Mägi Prize (2014). Her works belong to the collections of the Art Museum of Estonia and Tartu Art Museum as well as Loviisa City Collection, Finland. Estna has participated in international exhibitions in Europe, USA and Latin America, for example at the Karen Huber Gallery in Mexico, Kunstraum London, Galerie Georg Kargl in Vienna, Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius and Kim? Contemporary Art Center, Riga. Estna is among the recipients of the national artists’ salary between 2020 and 2022.