Edith Karlson (b.1983) is an Estonian artist based in Tallinn. She acquired a BA (2006) and MA (2008) degrees at the Installation and Sculpture department, Estonian Academy of Arts.
In Karlson's sculptural practice, animals and people are the main protagonists. Her often large-scale sculptural pieces produced by means of mixed techniques show a variety of characters, from ceramic dogs to cement dinosaurs and Neanderthals, composed into intricate installations. Karlson has shown extensively in Estonia and participated in exhibitions abroad.
Recent exhibitions include Estonian Pavilion "Hora Lupi", 60th Venice Biennial (2024); ‘Return to Innocence’, Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, Tallinn (2021); ‘Roots and Ruins’, Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn (2020); ‘Sisters’, with Mall Paris, Tallinn Art Hall Gallery (2019-2020); ‘Do Come in, the Door is Open!’, with Mary Reid Kelley and Eva Mustonen, KUMU Art Museum, Tallinn (2019-2020); ‘The End’ with Dan Mitchell, Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn (2019); ‘Drama is in Your Head V’, Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig (2018), ‘Hudnoi’, with Jass Kaselaan, Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn (2017–2018); ‘Vox Populist’, Tallinn City Gallery (2016); ‘Beaten Up By A Thug, Saved By Kindness’ with Kris Lemsalu, Michèle Pagel, Ben Washington, Amatorska gallery, London (2015).
Drama is in your head, 2015-2019. Installation view
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Drama is in your head II, 2013, Tallin City Gallery, Tallin. Installation view.
Photography credit: Alana Proosa
Drama is in your head II, 2013, Tallin City Gallery, Tallin. Installation view.
Photography credit: Alana Proosa
Doomsday, 2019. Mixed media installation.
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Doomsday. 2017. Mixed media installation. Detail
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Doomsday, 2017-2024
Porcelain, metal, led light, weight - 60kg 200 x 80 x 80cm
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Doomsday, 2019. Installation view
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Doomsday, 2019.
Silicone. 160 x 160cm
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Short Story, 2019. Detail. Mixed media
Photography credit: Paul Kuimet
Short story, 2019.
Plastic, skeleton, polyester mucilage, 176 x 99 x103cm
Photography credit: Paul Kuimet
Family, 2019.
Concrete, metal, mixed media, dimensions variable, height approx 120cm
Photography credit: Hedi Jannsoo
Interspace, 2015. Mixed media installation.