New and Ongoing Exhibitions in Tallinn

World-renowned street artist Shepard Fairey's solo exhibition in Fotografiska Tallinn brings together over 200 works.

Kiek in de Kök's new post-renovation permanent exhibition reveals some of the most fascinating aspects of the history of Tallinn’s fortifications and brings visitors the oldest surviving image of Tallinn.

The exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Ülo Sooster, a great figure of Estonian modernism, will for the first time show works that have been in private collections until now.

Mikkel Museum – Sooster 100. View from Private Collections

The exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ülo Sooster's birth brings together for the first time works from private collections that belong to the heritage of Estonian modernism and surrealism. Sooster's playful yet profound creations combine Eastern European art movements with European surrealism, offering unique insights into his drawings and paintings.

The exhibition is open from 18 October 2024 to 4 May 2025.

Kumu Art Museum – Urmas Lüüs: Exhibition: “The Life and Death of Mr. N: Bourgeois Spaces”

Urmas Lüüs' exhibition introduces the fictional character Mr. N and his "house-museum". Lüüs presents new objects and works from museum collections on the emergence of the bourgeoisie in Estonia. The exhibition mixes imagination and historical reflection, offering an artistic take on the themes of class and memory.
The exhibition will be open from 4 October 2024 until 16 February 2025.

Kumu Art Museum – Sirja-Liisa Eelma: Longing for Lost Space

Sirja-Liisa Eelma’s minimalist and conceptual art examines emptiness, silence and the relationship between the visible and the invisible. Inspired by 19th-century Biedermeier-style interiors, the exhibition features the artist's latest paintings, sketches and photographs of historic houses. Eelma's works contain meditative moments that evoke a sense of sacral lightness and yearning for a lost paradise.

The exhibition is open from 5 September 2024 to 30 March 2025.

Kai Art Centre – 9th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial “The Fine Lines of Constructiveness”

This latest triennial focuses on artists from Nordic and Baltic countries and brings together 27 solo artists and one artist collective to present a diverse range of work. The exhibition is curated by glass artist Maret Sarapu.

The triennial's main exhibition focuses on new forms of applied art, emphasising sustainability and the importance of handicraft skills, with textiles, ceramics, glass and installations on display.

The exhibition will be open from 5 October 2024 until 16 February 2025.

PoCo Pop Art Museum – Antti Eklund. The Symphony of Power

The exhibit consists of original silk-screened portrait series of seven world impacting individuals by artist Antti Eklund. Eklund’s series juxtaposes portraits of men representing traditional political power with women embodying socially conscious grassroots movements. It also reveals the consequences of social division and imbalance of power.

The exhibition is open from 31 October 2024.

Kadriorg Art Museum – From Mittens to Köler. The Birth of the Museum’s Collection

The exhibition explores the history of the collection of the Art Museum of Estonia from its foundation in 1919 until World War II. In addition to traditional works of art, farm objects, ethnographic items and handicrafts are also on display. Many of the works, including paintings, prints and sculptures, are being shown for the first time. The exhibition gives a unique insight into how these cultural artefacts came to the museum and their role in the early history of the collections.

The exhibition is open from 21 September 2024 to 2 March 2025.

Niguliste muuseum – Unicorn in the Magical Forest

The exhibition explores the mythology and symbolism of the unicorn, which has its roots in Christian iconography of medieval art and literature. The unicorn was seen as a symbol of purity and power, and its magical horn and its meaning are revealed through artworks and historical artefacts.

The exhibition is open from 6 September 2024 to 6 April 2025.

Adamson-Eric Museum – Kaja Kärner: Friendship and Time

The exhibition showcases the works of Kaja Kärner, central member of the first informal art group in post-WWII Estonia, as well as part of a legendary circle of friends in Tartu. Her abstract compositions and rhythmically balanced collages reflect the tonality and subtle irony of the era. The exhibition also explores her role in the art movement of the 1960s, which sought new forms of self-expression in the midst of repression.

The exhibition will be open from 25 October 2024 to 16 March 2025.

Kumu Art Museum – Jevgeni Zolotko: The Secret of Adam

This exhibition by one of the most idiosyncratic contemporary artists in Estonia, Jevgeni Zolotko, explores existential themes such as the relationship between life and death. The artist uses a variety of media, including installations and sculptures, to create a profound and thought-provoking environment.

The exhibition is open from 31 May 2024 to 5 January 2025.

Fotografiska Tallinn – Nude.

The exhibition brings together 32 female artists exploring the human body and its contemporary representations. Breaking down traditional representations of nudity, the focus is on honest and multifaceted representations of the body, including gender identity, body positivity and societal taboos. The artists represented in the exhibition, including Estonians Cloe Jancis and Marlen Kärema, invite us to rethink historical narratives and discover new interpretations of bodily visuals.

The exhibition will be open from 13 September 2024 until 19 January 2025.

Fotografiska Tallinn – Shepard Fairey: Photo synthesis

Street artist Shepard Fairey brings over 200 works to Fotografiska, linking photography with graphic design, printmaking and painting. The exhibition explores themes of justice, identity and social change, showcasing both the artist's best-known and new works.

The exhibition will be open from 1 November 2024 to 9 March 2025.

Documentary Photo Centre – Alar and Saskia Kivilo: Photo Contact

A joint exhibition by cinematographer Alar Kivilo and photographer Saskia Kivilo explores the two creators' different worldviews and similar emotions through visual dialogue. Saskia's dreamy and dynamic visuals contrast with Alari's detailed and humorous approach, creating an engaging exhibition experience.

The exhibition will be open from 28 August to 24 November 2024.

Museum of Photography – Gendered Lens

The new theme year at the Museum of Photography will be focusing on the body and its depiction in photography. The exhibition “Gendered Lens” showcases works from the beginnings of photography in Estonia to the digital age, including nudes and portraits that reflect the history of artistic, technical and cultural changes. On display are rare and previously unseen photographs.

The exhibition will be open from 24 May 2024.

Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum – "A Fortress City, A Safe Haven”

The new permanent exhibition in the Kiek in de Kök artillery tower introduces the history of Tallinn's defences and how brave Tallinners have fortified and defended their hometown throughout history. The exhibition features fascinating historical artefacts and works of art, including the oldest surviving depiction of Tallinn: The epitaph of the Blackheads, a memorial to the members of the brotherhood who fell in defence of Tallinn.

The exhibition is open from 4 May 2023.

Seaplane Harbour – Famous sea voyages. The broadening horizons of Europeans

The exhibition introduces the great sea voyages of 18th-19th century Europe using maps, historical artefacts and navigational equipment. Estonian explorers, such as Adam Johann von Krusenstern, also feature prominently. The exhibition also looks at the contradictory legacies of colonialism and imperialism, which in the eyes of the scientific community overshadow valuable voyages of discovery to this day.

The exhibition also features a tall ship’s mast, which can be climbed high up under the dome of the Seaplane Harbour hangars. The more adventurous can also test themselves with a free jump from the top of the mast!

The exhibition is open from 19 October 2024 to 31 August 2025.

Seaplane Harbour – Estonia: The story of a ship

The exhibition tells the story of the ferry Estonia, from its construction to the tragedy that struck the ship in 1994. The Estonian Maritime Museum's commemorative exhibition reveals the story of the ferry, from its construction, different owners, furnishings and life, placing it in the wider context of Baltic ferry traffic.

The exhibition does not deal with the investigation of the causes of the shipwreck or the various legal aftermaths and processes, but culminates in an opportunity for quiet reflection and introspection.

The exhibition is open from 28 September 2024 to 30 March 2025.

The Peoples Museum of Tallinn – One Hundred Years Ago on Pikk Street

The exhibition tells the story of life on Pikk Street in 1924. The exhibition features ten news stories from 1924 on Pikk Street, covering different areas of public life, with commentary by museum staff. The exhibition is just a fragment of everything that has happened in one of Tallinn's oldest streets in the past, but it still gives a fascinating insight into everyday life in Tallinn a century ago.

The exhibition will be open from 15 September 2024 until 5 January 2025.

Kalamaja muuseum – Arrowgroup: “In Murky Waters II”

The interactive installation exhibit by the art group Arrowgroup (Triinu Jürves and Villem Jahu) combines collages, animations and found materials, playing with Kalamaja's industrial past and visions of the future. The exhibition invites viewers to actively participate, offering both fairytale elements and serious questions in a humorous format.

The exhibition is open from 28 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.

Tallinn TV Tower – Eiffel, Always Higher

The traveling exhibition from Paris “Eiffel, Always Higher” celebrates the 135th birthday of the Eiffel Tower. The exhibition provides a historical overview of Gustave Eiffel's work and engineering achievements, with 12 panels detailing the construction and endurance of the Eiffel Tower. This screen-free exhibition is accessible to visually impaired people via description translation.

The exhibition is open from 18 April to 5 January 2025.

Estonian History Museum – Maarjamäe Stables – Me, Estonian! An Exhibition about Bold People

The exhibition's central theme is the stories of foreigners who settled in Estonia after its re-independence and now consider it their homeland. People from Venezuela, Japan, France, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Turkey and other parts of the world who have relocated to Estonia are featured in the exhibition, with each sharing their personal journey as well as two items– one reflecting their origin and national identity and the other symbolising Estonia for them.

The exhibition is open from 7 June 2024 to 8 June 2025.

The Estonian History Museum’s Maarjamäe Palace – Inclusion or isolation? Multi-ethnic Estonia

The exhibition invites you to think about the multi-ethnic history of Estonia, the organisation of diverse societies and the rights of minorities. It addresses integration, identity and intercultural communication, providing a profound insight into the lives of various ethnic groups in Estonia. The main focus is on the intriguing historical periods of Jews and Baltic Germans who have established their own cultural governance in Estonia.

The exhibition is open from 10 April 2024 to 2 March 2025.

Kalamaja museum – Magical Realism of Kopli

The exhibition reveals the unique atmosphere and history of the Kopli district, combining artistic displays and historical photographs to depict the life and distinctiveness of Kopli. The exhibition includes works by both well-known and lesser-known artists, providing a profound and poetic look into everyday life in Kopli. In May 2024, Kalamaja Museum received the Silletto Award of the European Museum of the Year Award, which recognises community participation and engagement.

The exhibition is open from 26 April 2024 to 30 April 2026.

Estonian History Museum. The Great Guid Hall – Why is Estonia not a kingdom?

Estonian Museum of Architecture – Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2024: Resources for a Future

The 2024 Tallinn Architecture Biennal will focus on sustainable architecture and resource use. Curator Anhelina Starkova's exhibition focuses on the use of bio-based and local materials, presenting challenges related to climate change. The exhibition includes installations and multimedia presentations highlighting the role of architecture in shaping the cities of the future.

The exhibition is open from 11 October until 1 December 2024.

Theatre and Music Museum – Astounding stories about theatre and music

The centennial exhibition of the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum highlights colourful and often surprising stories from Estonian theatre and music life. Rare items, documents and photographs are on display, telling the stories of both famous and unknown figures and events. For the first time, the entire building of the museum is opened to the public, allowing them to explore rooms where the archives used to be and where historians once worked.

The exhibition is open from 23 March to 31 August 2025.

The Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design  and the Town Jail Photography Museum in the Old Town are open until 20:00 on Thursdays.

Fotografiska is open until 20:00 from Monday-Saturday and until 18:00 on Sundays.

The Kadriorg Art Museum and the Mikkel Museum in Kadriorg are places that can be enjoyed into the evening on Wednesdays as both museums are open until 20:00, while the Kumu Art Museum is open until 20:00 on Thursdays.

The Kalamaja museum is open until 20:00 on both Wednesdays and Thursdays.

If you plan on visiting several museums whilst enjoying a comfortable visit in the city and want to save time and money, get the Tallinn Card. You can buy the card for a validity period of 24, 48, or 72 hours and it allows you to visit nearly 50 of Tallinn's top museums and attractions. The card also includes free travel on public transport in Tallinn and discounts on tours, entertainment venues, restaurants and shops.

We recommend purchasing the Tallinn Card via the mobile app – this way you will receive personalised visit recommendations and easily find your way to all the interesting attractions using the convenient map function of the app.

Extra tip: with the Tallinn Card you can skip the line at the Tallinn TV Tower, Tallinn Zoo and Estonian Open Air Museum.

NOBA is an international web platform where exhibitions of contemporary art in Tallinn and other nearby cities are gathered together. The website includes an interactive map that allows you to find exhibitions that are open for a limited time in both larger and smaller galleries. The calendar's content is created in collaboration with exhibition establishments, who input the information themselves. The NOBA team ensures that all major exhibitions are available online.

View NOBA's exhibition map here: https://noba.ac/et/naitustekaart/