Andra Rahe ^{Emerging artist}

Artist is based in: Estonia

Rahe is a photographic artist from Kabli, whose work focuses on human-centered projects and analog photographic processes. Her work is often autobiographical, dealing with personal experiences or the human relationships around her. All projects originate from a strong visual sensation and then grow into a very personal journey.

The artist, who has a mobility impairment, arrived at self-documentation remembering the words of one of her former caregivers: “If you can’t empty your bladder on the commode, let water run from the tap and imagine you are in the middle of the sea.” Wounds, potty training, the caregiver’s foamy plastic glove – all of it became more bearable through the camera. Through art, Rahe has found a way to address disability not only as a personal story but also as part of visual culture that can be interpreted, normalized, and made visible.

Rahe’s more conscious creative practice began in 2021 when she purposefully started documenting Tartu’s nightlife and its colorful establishments like Sodiaak and Ümarlaua baar. A selection of these photos made it to the walls of the Estonian National Museum as part of the exhibition “Who Claims the Night?” (2024) and are now in the museum’s archive.

In 2025, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Photography from Pallas University of Applied Sciences and previously studied graphic design at Tartu Art School. In 2023, she was awarded the Eduard Wiiralt Scholarship and the Pallas Scholarship.