Overview

Sculpture is a spatial or three-dimensional work of art, whose main means of expression are form, volume and material. While traditionally the dominant materials were stone, wood and bronze, today, with the expansion of the concept of sculpture, the choice of materials is essentially unlimited. Everything from natural to synthetic man-made materials is used. Modern sculpture can also be soft, light, flowing or shape-changing over time, made of textiles, clay or found objects.

Also, in addition to the previously common sculptural techniques – modeling, material removal (stone carving) or construction, many new techniques arising from the material itself are in use. Therefore, the concept of sculpture today cannot be linked to specifically mentioned techniques, materials or objects. Rather, it is a field of activity that is constantly changing, offering essentially unlimited freedom to artistic expression, which is very far from the cumbersome monumentality that is sometimes erroneously attributed to it. Today, we can talk about sculptural and installation art as the most common type of art in public space, in addition to architecture, both of which shape the everyday environment around us to a large extent.

Installation

Installation art, which took shape in dialogue with sculpture in the second half of the last century, is largely based on the space in which the partial objects that make up the whole of the work are placed with each other, with the space and with the viewer who experiences it. This special way of viewing and experiencing gives the viewer the opportunity to move in the environment created by the artist, in the space of the created work itself. The elements of such space creation can be sculptural objects, found materials, architectural details as well as sound and light.

News and events

Taavi Talve ARS Showroomisõ

Taavi Talve at ARS Showroom

The head of EKA Sculpture and Installation Department, Taavi Talve will open the exhibition "The Man who Fell Down on the Ground in His Head" at the ARS Showroom on March 6th. Taavi Talve lives in Tallinn. He graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a degree in sculpture. Since 2005, he has been involved in various collaborative projects and has also been involved in solo work. ARS ...
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Young Sculptor Award 2025 Laureates Announced

The EKA Department of Installation and Sculpture announced the Young Sculptor Award laureates on Friday. The first prize was awarded to EKA Craft Studies Master's student Kati Saarits and EKA Contemporary Art Master Katariin Mudist. Second and third place went to EKA Contemporary Art Master's students Jake Shepherd and Yvette Bathgate, respectively. The Young Sculptor Award Exhibition 2025 ...
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Young Sculptor Award Exhibition 2025

The annual Young Sculptor Award Exhibition 2025 of the EKA Sculpture and Installation Department, at the Estonian Museum of Contemporary Art (EKKM). Participating artists: Yvette Bathgate, Bob Bicknell-Knight, Aurelia Grace Talmon, Liisa-Lota Jõeleht, Uku Jürgenson, Denis Kudrjašov, Nele Kurvits, Katariin Mudist, Daniil Musesovs, Rosa-Maria Nuutinen, Kati Saarits, Jake Shepherd, Sonja Sutt, ...
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Young Sculptor Award Exhibition 2025

On February 28 at 4:00 pm, the Young Sculptor Award Exhibition 2025 of the Department of Installation and Sculpture of the Estonian Academy of Arts will open at EKKM. The winner of the Young Sculptor Award 2025 will be announced at the exhibition opening. The award winner will be selected by a 5-member jury independent of the organisers. The competition is open to individual authors with a ...
Mara Kirchberg. Separators 1,2 and 3

NOBA Award 2024 to Mara Kirchberg

The Nordic and Baltic Young Artist Award 2024 has revealed its winners, highlighting the region’s most promising emerging artists and  providing them with invaluable visibility among international curators and art professionals. This unique competition offers graduates of leading Nordic and Baltic art academies a platform to showcase their work globally, fostering new opportunities and ...
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Fine Arts Assessment Marathon 2.–19.12.2024

December brings an opportunity to experience, in an exhibition format, works produced by students in the Faculty of Fine Arts as their term projects: every day there will be a fresh crop of university students’ works on display in the gallery. Works in animation, contemporary art, installation and sculpture, painting, photography, graphic art, scenography curricula will be on display. On each ...
Mara Kirchberg

Young Sculptor’s Award 2025 Open Call

Installation and Sculpture Department of EKA announces Young Sculptor’s Award competition for 2025. The competition will be held in two stages - consultation and final round. The purpose of the consultation round is to provide feedback, recommendations for further work and practical advice on implementation based on initial concept designs. No selective decisions are made based on this. ...
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Raja TASE

MACA students Sandra Ernits, Mara Kirchberg, Sarah Noonan and Siim Preiman will present their graduation works at a satellite exhibition of TASE at Raja Monumental Sculpture House. The opening of the exhibition is on May 30 at 4PM, where the artists will give a brief introduction of the exhibition. From around 6PM the guests are welcome to visit the sauna (bring a towel!) and grill ...