Honorary Doctors and Members
Honorary Doctors
On April 16th, 2024 Estonian Academy of Arts’ Senate bestowed the title of Honorary Doctor to:
Linda van Deursen
Professor Antoine Picon
On June 18th, 2019 Estonian Academy of Arts’ Council bestowed the title of Honorary Doctor to:
Professor Griselda Pollock
Professor, University of Leeds, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies.
Professor Reinhold Martin
Professor of Architecture at Columbia GSAPP (Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation).
On June 17th, 2014 Estonian Academy of Arts’ Council bestowed the title of Honorary Doctor to:
Professor Jan Kaila
Professor Jan Kaila played a major role in raising the EAA Department of Photography to world standards when he was Professor of Photography from 2001 to 2004, and in launching and developing the EAA practice based curricula.
Peter Skubic
Peter Skubic is a jewellery artist and sculptor. He has given numerous master classes at the EAA Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing, and has provided financial support to both the programme and its students.
On September 29th, 2009 Estonian Academy of Arts’ Council bestowed the title of Honorary Doctor to:
Professor Emeritus Riitta Nikula
She is a Finnish architectural historian who has researched Estonian architects and her research has influenced art history practices and research here. Prof. Em. Nikula is a longstanding member of the Doctoral School of Estonian Academy of Arts since its foundation in the the 1990s.
Professor Gerard Unger
Professor Unger is a world renowned typographer who has designed the information graphics for the Amsterdam metro, for the whole of Holland transportation networks and the city of Rome. He is also the author of the typography used in main Estonian newspapers “Sirp”, “Diplomaatia”, and “Eesti Ekspress” and “Areen”.
On June 22nd, 2004 Estonian Academy of Arts’ Council bestowed the title of Honorary Doctor to:
Professor Yrjö Sotamaa
For his outstanding professional accomplishments and activities as well as assistance and collaboration in the development of Estonian Academy of Arts and internationalisation.
Professor Udo Kultermann
For outstanding professional accomplishments and activities as well as promotion of Estonian art and architecture in the international arena.
Professor Juhani Pallasmaa
For outstanding professional accomplishments and activities as well as promotion of Estonian architecture in Finland and the international arena.
Professor Lars Olof Larsson
For outstanding professional accomplishments and activities as well as development of Estonian Acadey of Arts academic and research culture.
On October 22nd, 1999 Estonian Academy of Arts’ Council bestowed the title of Honorary Doctor to:
Professor Boris Bernstein
For longstanding remarkable research and cultural activities, which have aided in the rise of professional status and renomee of Estonian Academy of Arts.
Professor Enno Hallek
For outstanding creative activities as well as duties in preserving and developing Estonian high culture beyond Estonian borders.
Professor Ilja Kabakov
For outstanding creative activities as well as service to Estonia in building a bridge of collaboration between oppositional Estonian art scene and alternative artists of Moscow.
Honorary Members
On October 21st, 2021 Estonian Academy of Arts named the following honorary member:
AS Kapitel
On October 27th, 2020 Estonian Academy of Arts named the following honorary member:
Mariina Mälk
On September 17th, 2019 Estonian Academy of Arts named the following honorary members:
Jaan Holt
Ott Kikkas
Jaanus Mikk
On June 17th, 2014 Estonian Academy of Arts named the following honorary member:
Armin Kõomägi
He is one of the founders of the Young Artist Award of the Faculty of Fine Arts. The award has been a motivation for the graduating class to aim for better results and has helped them continue their studies abroad or start their professional career in the field of art.
On October 13th, 2009 Estonian Academy of Arts named the following honorary members:
Meelis Milder, Chairman of Baltika Grupp, longstanding partner of Estonian Academy of Arts’ Fashion Design Department.
On October 22nd, 2009:
Professor Emeritus Jaan Vares, sculptor, Rector between 1959-89, 1956-94
Professor Emeritus Bruno Tomberg, designer and interior architect 1949-94
We commemorate our Honorary Members
Professor Emeritus Jaan Vares (1927-2016) sculptor; professor from 1968, ERKI rector 1959-1989
Professor Emeritus Boris Bernstein (1924-2015) art historian, ERKI-EKA 1951-95
Professor Emeritus Rein Zobel (1928-2012) architecture historian and architect, ERKI-EKA 1972-2001
Professor Emeritus Evald Okas (1915-2011) painter, ERKI-EKA 1944-93
Professor Emeritus Kaljo Põllu (1934-2010) graphic artist, since. 1988, lector at the Department of Drawing
Professor Emeritus Helene Kuma (1921-2009) ceramic artist, ERKI-TKÜ 1947–1994
Professor Emeritus Arseni Mölder (1919-2009) sculptor and metal artist, ERKI-EKA 1946-94
Professor Emeritus Leili Kuldkepp (1931-2008) metal artist, ERKI-EKA 1963–95
Professor Emeritus Helmut Oruvee (1923-2007) architect, ERKI 1971–94
Professor Emeritus Paul Luhtein (1909-2007) graphic artist, TRTI-ERKI 1944–1982
Professor Emeritus Leo Gens (1922-2001) art historian and critic, ERKI-EKA 1951–95
Professor Emeritus Mari Adamson (1908-2000) textile artist, ERKI 1944–77
*TRTI – Tallinna Riiklik Tarbekunsti Instituut (Tallinn State Institute of Applied Arts)
*ERKI – Eesti NSV Riiklik Kunstiinstituut (Estonian SSR State Art Institute)
Honorary Medals
On September 17th, 2019 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medal to:
Ingrid Allik
Hilkka Hiiop
Andres Kurg
Martin Melioranski
Lennart Mänd
Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo
On June 18th, 2019 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medal to:
David Vseviov
On June 12th, 2018 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medal to:
Lilja Blumenfeld
Mare Saare
On December 13th, 2016 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medal to:
Mari Roosvalt
On June 17th, 2014 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medals to:
Krista Kodres
Evi Mardna
Arne Mesikäpp
Toivo Raidmets
Maiu Rõõmus
On October 13th, 2009 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medals to:
Elvira Mutt
Miralda Kangilaski
Uno Roosvalt
Maasike Maasik
Vilma Lang
On June 22nd, 2004 Estonian Academy of Arts Council bestowed honorary medals to:
Inge Teder
Rein Zobel
Vello Asi
Ellen Tamm
Naima Suude
Meritorious Employees
2017 Prize for Artistic Work
Pille Epner and Kaja Pae for curating the exhibition “Who Creates the City?”
Professor Mare Saare for active exhibiting in 2017 and for the longtime development of Estonian glass art
Associate Professor Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo for the exhibition “Immediate Gratification” and creative work that supports his pedagogical activities
2017 Research Publication
Oliver Laas
2017 Newcomer of the Year
Dagmar Raide
2017 Colleague of the Year
Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo
2017 Colleague of the Year
Elisabeth Kuusik
2017 Leader of the Year
Kristiina Krabi-Klanberg
2017 Team of the Year
Personnel Department – Dagmar Raide and Marika Kopõlova
2017 Deed of the Year
“Good Teaching Seminars” – Kristiina Krabi-Klanberg, Anne Pikkov, Maarin Ektermann, Lia Toro, Dagmar Raide, Kadri Tammik
2016 Prize for Artistic Work
Professor Piret Puppart, Head of Fashion Design
Associate Professor Taavi Talve, Head of Installation and Sculpture
Architects Maarja Kask and Ralf Lõoke, alumni, lecturers of Faculty of Architecture
2016 Prize for Research Publication
Indrek Rünkla for doctoral dissertation “Arhitektuursest mõtlemisest.: seosest tunnetuslike ja ühiskondlike konstruktsioonide vahel arhitektuuri praktika näitel”
2016 Honourable Mention
Professor Nithikul Nimkulrat for her book “Crafting Textiles in the Digital Age”
2016 Team of the Year
Administration Department – Kaido Kruusamets, Mart Saarepuu and Andrus Audova
2016 Colleague of the Year
Piret Ellamaa
2016 Newcomer of the Year
Kristjan Mändmaa
2016 Deed of the Year
The New EKA Building
2016 Leader of the Year
Mart Kalm
2015 Prize for Creative Work
Researcher Kärt Ojavee
Associate Professor Indrek Sirkel
Professor Andres Tali
2015 Prize for Research Publication
Senior Researcher Eva Näripea
Professor Maroš Krivy
2015 Team of the Year
Office of International Relations: Maria Jürisson and Sandra-Leena Sule
2015 Colleague of the Year
Kaido Kruusamets
2015 Newcomer of the Year
Professor Piret Puppart
2015 Deed of the Year
Wooden Megaphones, Department of Interior Architecture
2015 Leader of the Year
Professor Anne Pikkov, Vice Rector
2014 Prize for Research Publication
Professor Andres Kurg for his doctoral dissertation “Boundary Disruptions. Late-Soviet Transformations in Art, Space and Subjectivity in Tallinn 1968-1979”