Carmen Ööbik ^{Emerging artist}

Artist's country of origin: Estonia

Carmen Ööbik is an Estonian sculptor and recent graduate of Pallas University of Applied Sciences, where she received the prestigious Amandus Award from the Estonian Sculptors’ Union. Her thesis culminated in the exhibition Here, in spite of it all, co-curated with Lotta Karoliina Räsänen and Silver Tsäko, featuring works created entirely by the three artists—many of which were completed in the final months of their studies.

Ööbik’s artistic practice explores themes of body image, identity, and motherhood, using materials such as plaster, bronze, and plasticine. Her thesis works include Beauty Has No Restrictions, a series of cast torsos celebrating bodily diversity, and When Does Mother Begin? When Does Liisa?, which reflects on the shifting sense of self that accompanies motherhood.

In addition to her studio practice, Ööbik is deeply engaged in community-based art and education. She has led several creative projects involving children and youth—including those from the STEP program—such as Põhja Konn, which focused on repurposing packaging materials, and Kolahoov, a collaborative playground initiative. She also taught art classes to children for nearly a year.

Her work has been exhibited widely, including in Metsik aed (Voronja Gallery, 2025, curated by Kalli Kalde), Päritud valgus (2024, curated by Elo Liiv), HAPPINESS (KunstWerk Gallery, Germany, 2024, curated by Uwe Schloen), and Asja armastajad (2022, curated by Eeva-Ruth Niitvägi). Following the Amandus Award, she is set to exhibit with the Estonian Sculptors’ Union and become a full member of the organisation.