And beauty is born. In the midst of brown mud, slush and mire: a hum, a tremor, germination, multiplication, flourishing. This is the force of nature, lower than the grass, taking root in dark depths, reaching toward the tender warmth of light to bloom. And it cannot be held back, and spring awakens, and summer bends in abundance… once, and always, and forever.
The NATURE’S UPRISING exhibition can be visited from March 20 in the A-Gallery showroom and will remain open until June 30, 2026.
Participating artists:
Anneli Tammik, Ene Valter, Erle Nemvalts, Ester Faiman, Guntis Lauders, Harry Tensing, Henry Mardisalu, Hyrv, Katrin Kosenkranius, Keesi Kapsta, Keiu Koppel, Kertu Tuberg, Krista Laos, Krista Lehari, Liisbeth Kirss, Lisa Kröber, Margit Paulin, Mari Pärtelpoeg, Merike Balod, Michael Schoorl, Robert Idvani, Riin Somelar, Tanel Veenre, Urve Küttner, Viktorija Lillemets, Ülle Voosalu
Estonian jewellery artists have selected the best A-Galerii safe exhibition of 2025.
At the A-Galerii VAULT, the most important exhibition space for local jewellery art, ten exhibitions took place last year. The best of these was selected as COMPOST by Kertu Tuberg.
Kertu Tuberg graduated from Tartu Art School in 1999 with a degree in graphic design and in 2008 she obtained a master’s degree in jewellery and blacksmithing from the Estonian Academy of Arts. She works in Tartu, in the studio Cirrus, which she founded with her colleagues in 2018. Tuberg has repeatedly improved her skills abroad and has been active in her profession for over 15 years. She has taught professional subjects at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Viljandi Culture Academy and Pallas University of Applied Sciences. She has participated in international exhibitions since 2001. Her work can be found in the collection of the Estonian Museum of Applied Arts and Design and in private collections.
The best safe exhibition has been selected at A-Galerii since 2007, with the aim of recognising artists’ mastery in their creative work. A-Galerii is a jewellery gallery representing the work of professional metal artists and organising exhibitions. The SAFE (SEIF) is a historical link between the building constructed in 1891 as the goldsmith workshop of jeweller Joseph Kopf and the exhibition space. Exhibition activities in the SAFE have been taking place since 2005.
This year, the largest annual group exhibition of Estonian jewellery art turns its focus to values. At a time when value is so often reduced to numbers, the artists highlight other forms of worth – those shaped by collaboration, community, and the relationships that emerge in shared space. The exhibition brings together works by A-Galerii’s community alongside artists who have recently engaged with jewellery from new angles, creating a meeting point across generations and backgrounds.
The exhibition design by artist Karl Joonas Alamaa features soft figurative objects made from leftover garment textiles, combined with organic wooden and metal structures. It intertwines jewellery with sculptural forms and invites reflection on the role of jewellery amid the complexities of being human and living through sharply contrasting crises.
The title “One to Many” points to the tension between valuing uniqueness and universality, carrying an ironic undertone: whatever, just one among many. Each artwork becomes a small world of its own, a question and a possible answer. In a large group exhibition, seemingly similar parts multiply and individuality may blur, yet something distinctly original still emerges, offering new perspectives and unexpected shifts.
The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
Curator: Sille Luiga
Exhibition design: Karl Joonas Alamaa
Graphic design: Villem Sarapuu
64 artists: Mirjam Aun, Andrei Balašov, Merike Balod, Jens Andreas Clausen, Margus Elizarov, Rita-Livia Erikson, Kati Erme, Elize Hiiop, Tatiana Iakovleva, Hedi Jaansoo, Ivar Kaasik, Keesi Kapsta, Mari Käbin, Liisi Kõuhkna, Keiu Koppel, Ülle Kõuts, Kalle Kotselainen, Olga Tea Krek, Kadi Kübarsepp, Triin Kukk, Valdek Laur, Kristiina Laurits, Krista Lehari, Claudia Lepik, Viktorija Lillemets, Elis Liivo, Urmas Lüüs, Keiu Maasik, Tõnis Malkov, Henry Mardisalu, Ülle Mesikäpp, Juulia Aleksandra Mikson, Paul Aadam Mikson, Maarja Niinemägi, Erle Nemvalts, Ulrika Paemurru, Õnne Paulus, Margit Paulin, Mari Pärtelpoeg, Darja Popolitova, Ane Raunam, Anne Reinberg, Mari Relo-Šaulys, Liisa-Chrislin Saleh, Tamara Sergijenko, Kairi Sirendi, Birgit Skolimowski, Riin Somelar, Kärt Summatavet, Hansel Tai, Sven Tali, Harry Tensing, Margus Tänav, Bianca Triinu Toots, Kertu Tuberg, Maria Valdma-Härm, Ene Valter, Katrin Veegen, Kadi Veesaar, Kertu Vellerind, Tea Vellerind, Raili Vinn, Ülle Voosalu
The exhibition COMPOST from Kertu Tuberg focuses on decay as a part of the life cycle. Here, the organic and the artificial, waste and possibility intertwine. The whole divides – and with it, meaning shifts. When a journey around the world narrows to a path from the armchair to the window, the focus turns from the external to the internal. Happiness may not disappear, but it assumes a new essence.
Kertu Tuberg graduated from Tartu Art School in 1999 with a degree in graphic design and in 2008 she obtained a master’s degree in jewellery and blacksmithing from the Estonian Academy of Arts. She works in Tartu, in the studio Cirrus, which she founded with her colleagues in 2018. Tuberg has repeatedly improved her skills abroad and has been active in her profession for over 15 years. She has taught professional subjects at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Viljandi Culture Academy and Pallas University of Applied Sciences. She has participated in international exhibitions since 2001. Her work can be found in the collection of the Estonian Museum of Applied Arts and Design and in private collections.
Exhibition is supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment and the printing house Feiss.
The exhibition SEASIDE STORIES, which covers the A-Gallery Safe and windows, is related to the theme of the Tallinn Capital of Culture year.
Curator of the exhibition is jeweller Tiina Käesel.
Participating artist are: Ulvi Haagensen, Leida Ilo, Urve Küttner, Heino Prunsvelt, Jüri Roosa, Aivar Simson ehk Simson Seakülast, Ketli Tiitsar ja Kertu Tuberg.
Since 2007, the A-Gallery has been selecting the best Vault exhibition every year. The aim of the competition is to appreciate the masterful achievements of jewellery artists in their work. The winner will be determined by the shareholders of A-Gallery.
The King of Serpents is a wise companion and powerful energy within the freely flowing body. In Estonian fairy tales and folklore this great and glorious mystical serpent will come to help people when they need to be saved and give them advice. Sometimes he also helps people to get medicine or heals them when they have been attacked by poisonous snakes. In many cultures around the World the King of Serpents are holy mythological powers who do not harm and protect people. Within the body of man, this is a circulation of energies as the serpent around the central axis or the Tree of Life, Sephiroth, the serpent of wisdom, Kundalini, timelessness and immortality.
Kärt Summatavet (PhD) is Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Tartu. She graduated in Tallinn as a metal artist (1982-1987) and exhibits since 1986. She made her doctoral dissertation in Finland in the Department of Design at the Aalto University in Helsinki (1998-2005). She is an artist, researcher, project manager, expert in creative industries, designer-entrepreneur and innovator.
COMIC “COMPOST” Kertu Tuberg
“after a meal the juicier part is consumed only remains bones and crumbs a matter of taste”
Kertu Tuberg is a freelance jewellery artist based in Tartu. She has higher education from the Estonian Academy of Arts. Tuberg has participated in exhibitions since 2001.
WORK NIGHT Kaire Rannik
These are pieces that are born at night, blind, sad and lonely. It’s good to bring them to light to see if they like it or to find someone they might like them. Whether there is a story hidden in them or not is up to the viewers to decide.
Kaire Rannik is a jewellery artist who graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts, whose works were already recognized in the early years with the Young Artist Award at the Tallinn Applied Arts Triennial in 1997. As the member of the artist group F.F.F.F. in 2002 with the annual award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment. The jewellery artist, who is active in the Estonian design landscape daily, loves the hidden beauty in simplicity and draws inspiration from domestic nature and basic geometric elements. Every Kaire Ranniku jewellery also has a timeless connection with the grandfather who worked in the Old Town of Tallinn as a goldsmith, which is reflected in the wonderfully clean finish of his charming jewellery and high-level goldsmithing.
R_R HI-TECH Risto Tali and Rait Siska
The central motive of the bracelet is a unique locking system that appears after a laser-cut titanium sheet has been formed to 3-Dimensional shape. In this function, it creates an effective and elegant visual pattern that technically holds the bracelet together, though it seems like it should not do so. This exhibition is introducing the process as well as the unique piece of jewelry created by the authors, who tend to think in metal. Inspirations are partly coming from the medieval the knights, and treads, Old town of Tallinn where both authors live and work, and keep the blacksmith non-profit association called “Porta Longi Montis MTÜ” at “seppade torn”(blacksmiths tower).
Rait Siska and Risto Tali are fruitful tandem of artists, who have participated in numerous art contest, winning and producing many pieces of art from 2003-2020. As well their art has been exhibited in so many occasions, if to list it all, we would need lots of paper and time. Most known are probably the works “Butterfly Gates” at Tartu University Narva College, situated in Narva. The biggest ongoing project is working with Bocuse d`Or Estonia. This cooperation has lasted so far for 10 years. It includes the design and production of an individual set of ceremonial dishes for each competition candidate of Estonia. This co-work was also been exhibited this year on the 24.th February Estonian Independence day reception at Viljandi, held by The Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia. The latest work that has been in public attention was the design of 15€ silver coin, dedicated to Jüri Jaakson, issued by Estonian Bank.
