Meru

Artist is based in: Estonia

Meriliis Rinne (MERU)** is an Estonian-born artist living and working in the United Kingdom. Her multidisciplinary practice centres on painting, exploring the dynamic relationship between abstraction and the human presence through richly layered surfaces, tactile materials, and an intuitive yet deliberate process. Her work investigates states of tension—between structure and freedom, control and spontaneity, concealment and revelation—transforming emotional and psychological experiences into materially expressive compositions. Working across abstract painting and abstracted female figures, Rinne constructs her own canvases and frequently incorporates recycled textiles, reclaimed fabrics, and found materials into her works. These elements are not merely aesthetic additions but integral components of the painting itself, carrying histories, textures, and physical memories that become embedded within each surface. Through repeated layering, sanding, stitching, and reconstruction, the paintings evolve as records of resistance, vulnerability, and transformation. Rather than depicting identifiable individuals, Rinne’s female figures emerge as atmospheric presences that shift between abstraction and figuration. They appear fragmented, obscured, or dissolving within expansive painterly fields, inviting viewers to navigate uncertainty rather than narrative. These works reflect ongoing investigations into identity, memory, femininity, emotional resilience, and the psychological landscapes that shape personal experience. The ambiguity within the figures allows space for multiple interpretations, encouraging an intimate dialogue between artwork and viewer. Central to Rinne’s practice is the physical act of painting itself. The surface becomes a site of negotiation where instinct meets structure, and where every layer records both action and revision. Marks are accumulated, erased, concealed, and rediscovered, resulting in paintings that reveal their own process of becoming. This emphasis on materiality reflects her belief that painting functions not simply as image-making but as a method of enquiry—a way of examining what exists beneath emotional and societal structures. In 2022, Rinne established her independent studio in Windsor, United Kingdom, creating a multidisciplinary space dedicated not only to her own artistic production but also to teaching, hosting creative events, and fostering artistic dialogue within the local community. Prior to this, she maintained studio practices in Crouch Hill and Angel, Islington, London, as well as in Süda Street, Tallinn, Estonia. Rinne has exhibited extensively throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. Her exhibition history includes participation in the Venice Biennale alongside projects associated with Frieze London. Her work has also been presented in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Mexico, while solo exhibitions in Estonia include Haus Gallery (2017), Solaris Gallery (2020), and Põhjala Factory (2020). She is an active member of Art Society Soho and ArtCan, and her work has been featured in the Estonian cultural publications ERR Kultuur and Sirp. For Rinne, painting is fundamentally investigative rather than decorative. Each work represents an exploration of material, emotion, and perception—an attempt to uncover hidden structures, embrace contradiction, and transform tension into visual and tactile resolution. Through abstraction, fragmented figuration, and materially rich surfaces, she invites viewers into spaces where certainty dissolves and meaning remains open, layered, and continually evolving.