Ado Lill

Artist's country of origin: Estonia

Ado Lill (born 1932) graduated from the University of Tartu as a lawyer but found his true calling as a painter and graphic artist. After decades of being focused on abstract expressionism, Lill turned to figurative painting at the beginning of the new millennium.

In addressing his favourite subject, the female nude, Lill has derived inspiration from the 19th century artists, whose paintings of the female body held the flavour of sublime erotica and exclusivity. Sharp, intense colouring is highly characteristic to his works.

Ado Lill is a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association and Estonian Painters’ Association

Prizes: Sadolin Art Prize (2006), Annual Prize of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (2000), Kristjan Raud Prize (1995), Diploma of the Baltic Painting Triennal (1987), and many more.

Works in collections: Art Museum of Estonia, Jane Voorhaes Zimmerl’s Museum (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA), Tartu Art Museum, Tallinn Art Hall, Bank of Estonia, private collections in many countries all over the world. 

Photo: Toomas Huik, Postimees