Vello Vinn

Vello Vinn (born 4 October 1939) is an Estonia printmaker.

Life and work Vello Vinn was born in Sõrve, Saaremaa on 4 October 1939. He studied English philology at the University of Tartu in 1959 to 1962, and art in the Estonian Academy of Arts from 1963 to 1968 where he graduated in the field of glass art. However, in 1968 itself he ditched glass for print. His specialty became etching and drypoint. In the nineties he participated in the Estonian 'PARA'-Surrealist movement (Eller 1996; Kaevats 1998; Helme and Kangilaski 1999). The works of Vello Vinn form a noteworthy example of the oeuvre of an Estonian printmaker from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Vinn’s highly original work is grounded in his mastery of various printmaking techniques, delicate treatment of images and witty associations. The artist’s work reflects his play with space and images, and his attention to detail. Besides playful images, Vinn’s prints often present witty wordplay and warm absurd humour, which invite viewers to join in the artist’s thought and creative processes (Taidre 2020).

Solo exhibitions This is only a partial listing. Tallinn (Estonia) 1970,1977, 1984,1989,1992, 1994,1996,1996, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2020 Tartu together with (Estonia) 2020 Kuressaare (Estonia) 1980, 1995 Rapla (Estonia) 1983 Vilnius (Lithuania) 1985 Helsinki (Finland) 1987 Brandenburg (Germany) 1989 Paldiski (Estonia) 1997–98 Frederikshavn (Denmark) 2012

Awards Prix d`Emona IX Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, 1971 Diploma II Tallinn Print Triennial, 1971 Special prize V ja VII Tallinn Print Triennial, 1980, 1986 Special prize, Vilnius Biennale of Exlibris 1979,1981,1983, diploma 1993 Diploma, I Miniature Prints Triennal in Riga 1983 Special prize II Artist's Book Triennial Vilnius 1984 Main prize V Vilnius Biennale of Exlibris 1985 Gold Point Uzice V International Graphic Art Biennale, Dry Point, Uzice (Yugoslavia), 2001 Gold Point Uzice VI International Graphic Art Biennale, Dry Point, Uzice (Serbia and Montenegro), 2003 Kristjan Raud Prize, Tallinn, 2015 Lifetime achievement award from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tallinn, 2021 , Tallinn, 2025

Gallery