| Artist

Artist Biography

Tauno Kangro’s art forms a fascinating mix of mythology and realism

Artist Background

Sculptor Tauno Kangro was born on 25 May 1966 in Tallinn. Kangro began to study art already in his school days, at Kalju Reitel’s Sculpture Studio. In 1984, he graduated from Tallinn Secondary School No. 20, in 1993 from the Estonian National University of Art, majoring in sculpture.

Kangro’s distinctive sculptures have become the symbolic objects of a number of places in Estonia. He mostly uses bronze, granite and dolomite as the material. Kangro is best known for his monumental sculptures, many of which are displayed in various public spaces like in town squares, parks, and art collections in Germany, Denmark, France, Sweden, and Finland.

Over 50

Solo Exhibitions

Tauno Kangro has presented his work in Estonia, Belgium, Holland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Russia, and elsewhere.

7000kg

Largest Monument

The Aurochs is the symbol of Rakvere city in Estonia since 2011. The monument is made of bronze and granite. It is 9 metres long, and weighs over 7 tonnes. The Aurochs is said to bring good luck and is also a symbol of fertility.

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Public Monuments

Tauno’s monumental sculptures can be found in Estonia, Germany, Finland and Denmark. The most well known are Lucky Chimney Sweep, The Aurochs and Suur Tõll and Piret Got a Good Fish Harvest.

The Artworks

Kangro’s work is very versatile and themes have developed over the years into fascinating mix of mythology and realism. Animals and wildlife is one of the prominent themes through the sculptures and pastel drawings over time. When some pieces are very realistic, then others are rather humorous.

Also humans are a prominent theme with various professions turned into exhibition collections like Chefs or Musicians or Dancers. For the more delicate and natural taste there is the Nudes collection, which symbolises life in its purest and most romantic form. For example two granite sculptures of lovers are at one of the Tallinn Old Town parks called Musumägi. They show us the powerful moments that we have in our lives, which are seemingly small, yet they are powerful enough that they can be carved into stone forever. These sculptures are named “A Moment Before and a Moment After the Kiss.”

Mythology is one of the sculptor’s fascinations. The old Estonian and Scandinavian folk lore stories and epics like “Kalevipoeg” have had a major influence on Tauno’s works. He has created sculptures from many of these characters and some of these monuments can be seen in various Estonian locations. For example in 2002 Tauno opened the 7.5m bronze and dolomite sculpture in Saaremaa island “Suur Tõll and Piret Got a Good Fish Harvest.”

Tauno also does commission sculptures and pastel portrait drawing. Please contact in case of interest.

Exhibition Themes

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WILDLIFE

People often attribute human qualities to animals. It is more likely the people who have comparable qualities. The search for these connections is fascinating, particularly in art!

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PEOPLE – Musicians

Another strike with the bow, saxophone solo, chamber note, and the musicians freeze in their pose, which the sculptor has chosen for them. But this will not stop the tune. This is not the end of the music, just like it is not the end of the joy offered by the moment that is captured in the sculptures.

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NUDES

Human body is made to be perfect by nature. Babies know that they are perfect, but when people grow older they forget, or get shy or worry about their bodies. But truly everyone should celebrate their own selves the way they are and why not show off this perfection which lies within us all!

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MYTHOLOGY

Many folklore stories have given birth to strong heroes who protected their people and were therefore honoured and admired by many. In bronze they are cast into long-lasting reminders of strength, preservance, honour and love.

Tauno Kangro

Sculptor – Born on May 25, 1966, in Tallinn, Estonia

CV / Exhibitions

  • STUDIES AND CAREER

    • Since 1994 – member of the Estonian Artists’ Association
    • Since 1993 – a freelance artist
    • 1992-1999 – art teacher at the Old Town Educational College & Tallinn Secondary School no 32
    • 1986-1993 – studied at the Estonian Academy of Arts, specialty – sculpture
    • 1976-1984 – studied at the Kalju Reitel Sculpture Studio, Tallinn Children’s Hobby Centre

  • PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS IN ESTONIA

    • 2017 Sculptures – Rotermann’s Salt Storage, TALLINN
    • 2016 Sculptures – Swissôtel, TALLINN
    • 2016 May – Exhibition at the Tallinn Freedom Square “Ancient Force in Rock and Metal”
    • 2016 Sculptures – Tehtud ja tegemata monumendid, National Library of Estonia, TALLINN
    • 2015 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Estonian Design Studio, TALLINN
    • 2015 Sculptures – Nordea concerthall, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2014 Sculptures – Paide kultuurimaja, Paide
    • 2014 Pastel paintings on textile – The Koch, TALLINN
    • 2012 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Nõmme Museum, TALLINN
    • 2012 Sculptures – The Three Sisters Hotel, TALLINN
    • 2012 Pastel paintings – The Koch, TALLINN
    • 2010 Sculptures – The Three Sisters Hotel, TALLINN
    • 2010 Pastel paintings – Conference and cultural center Ateena, TARTU
    • 2010 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Viru Inn, TALLINN
    • 2010 Sculptures – National Library of Estonia, TALLINN
    • 2007 Sculptures, pastel paintings – National Library of Estonia, TALLINN
    • 2007 Sculptures, pastel paintings – IN Gallery, RAKVERE
    • 2006 Sculptures, pastel paintings – National Library of Estonia, TALLINN
    • 2004 Sculptures – Foyer of Estonia Concert Hall, TALLINN
    • 2002 Sculptures – Jõgeva Culture Centre, JÕGEVA
    • 2001 Sculptures – Vanemuise Concert Hall, TARTU
    • 2001 Sculptures – Nõmme Gallery, TALLINN
    • 2001 Sculptures – Jõgeva Culture Centre, JÕGEVA
    • 2001 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Seto Museum at Saatse, PÕLVA COUNTY
    • 1999 Sculptures – Viljandi Resort, VILJANDI
    • 1999 Sculptures – Tallinna Kaubamaja store windows, TALLINN
    • 1998 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Kuressaare Town Hall, KURESSAARE
    • 1996 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Halinga Gallery, PÄRNUMAA
    • 1996 Sculptures, pastel paintings – TEA Language Centre, TALLINN
    • 1995 Sculptures – Sammas Gallery, TALLINN
    • 1994 Sculptures – Sammas Gallery, TALLINN
    • 1993 Sculptures – Sammas Gallery, TALLINN
    • 1992 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Kuressaare Castle, KURESSAARE
    • 1992 Sculptures – Gallery G, TALLINN

  • PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS ABROAD

    • 2018 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Krasnoyarsk, RUSSIA
    • 2017 Sculptures – Toronto, CANADA
    • 2016 Sculptures – Helikon Opera, Moskva, RUSSIA
    • 2016 Sculptures – Clos des Rose, SPAIN
    • 2015 Sculptures, animal/nude pastel paintings on textile. – Art Center Almintalo, Loviisa, FINLAND
    • 2015 Sculptures – Galerie espace-murandaz, Nyon , SWITSERLAND
    • 2014 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Helsingi, FINLAND
    • 2013 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Gallery Art Alex, Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2011 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Gallery Art Alex Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2011 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Gallery Art Alex Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2010 Sculptures – Suzhou Garden, Beijing in CHINA
    • 2010 Sculptures – JMA Gallery, Vienna, AUSTRIA
    • 2009 Sculptures – JMA Gallery, Vienna, AUSTRIA
    • 2009 Sculptures – Gallery Art Alex Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2007 Sculptures, pastel paintings – On the Ship THE WORLD, TALLINN
    • 2006 Sculptures – Krakow and Warsaw, POLAND
    • 2005 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Minsk, Republic of Belarus
    • 2004 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Vilnius, LITHUANIA
    • 2004 Sculptures, pastel paintings – St. Petersburg, RUSSIA
    • 2004 Sculptures – Rostock, GERMANY
    • 2003 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Vilnius, LITHUANIA
    • 2003 Sculptures – Kiel, GERMANY
    • 2003 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Frankfurt am Oder, GERMANY
    • 2002 Sculptures – Kiel, GERMANY
    • 2002 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Bruges, BELGIUM
    • 2001 Sculptures – Kiel, GERMANY
    • 2001 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Riga, LATVIA
    • 2001 Sculptures – Town Hall of Lyon, FRANCE
    • 2001 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Oldenzahle, THE NETHERLANDS
    • 2000 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Zwolle, THE NETHERLANDS
    • 2000 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Gallery of the State Bank of Hamburg, GERMANY
    • 1998 Sculptures, pastel paintings – The Kiel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, GERMANY
    • 1998 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Visby, SWEDEN
    • 1997 Sculptures – Riga, LATVIA
    • 1997 Sculptures – The Kiel Week, Kiel, GERMANY
    • 1996 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Bergen, NORWAY
    • 1996 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Randers and Arhus, DENMARK
    • 1996 Sculptures – Kiel, GERMANY
    • 1995 Sculptures, pastel paintings – The Schleswig-Holstein Data Centre, GERMANY
    • 1993 Sculptures – Kiel, GERMANY
    • 1992 Sculptures – Kiel, GERMANY

  • JOINT EXHIBITIONS

    • 2018 Sculpture – Paris, FRANCE
    • 2018 Sculpture – Estonian Artists Association annual exhibition “Jubilee spring 2018”, Tallinn art hall, ESTONIA
    • 2018 Sculpture – Minsk, BELARUS
    • 2018 Sculpture – Estonian Sculptors Association “100 Sculptures”, TALLINN
    • 2017 Sculpture – Estonian Sculptors annual exhibition, TARTU, TALLINN
    • 2017 Sculpture – Spring exhibition, Tallinn art hall, ESTONIA
    • 2016 Sculpture, pastel paintings – Saint Petersburg, RUSSIA
    • 2016 Sculpture – Paris, FRANCE
    • 2016 Sculpture – Raegalerii, Kuressaare, ESTONIA
    • 2015 Sculpture – Spring exhibition, Tallinn art hall, ESTONIA
    • 2012 Sculptures – Haapsalu City Gallery, ESTONIA
    • 2012 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Gallery Art Alex Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2011 Sculptures – Narva-Jõesuu, ESTONIA
    • 2010 Sculptures, pastel paintings – Gallery Art Alex Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2010 Sculptures – Eduard Vilde Museum, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2010 Sculptures – Art and Antique Fair, LUXENBOURG
    • 2010 Sculptures – Garden Fair in Mulhouse, FRANCE
    • 2010 Sculptures – Foire International Fair, LUXENBOURG
    • 2009 Sculptures – Art Manege Art Fair, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
    • 2009 Sculptures – Foire International Fair, LUXENBOURG
    • 2009 Animal experiments with bronze and canvas – Vanemuise Concert hall, Tartu, ESTONIA
    • 2008 Animal experiments with bronze and canvas – Valga Museum, Valga, ESTONIA
    • 2008 Animal experiments with bronze and canvas – Hotel Ammende Villa, Pärnu, ESTONIA
    • 2008 Animal experiments with bronze and canvas – Kuressaare Castle, Kuressaare, ESTONIA
    • 2008 Sculptures – SED ARTE Gallery, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2007 Kinsmen – National Library of Estonia, TALLINN
    • 2005 Sculptures – National Library of Warsaw, Warsaw, POLAND
    • 1993 Miniature sculptures – Sammas Gallery, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 1992 Sculptures – Hanseatic Days, Münster, GERMANY
    • 1992 Large sculptures – The Flower Pavilion, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 1989 Sculptures – Exhibition of Estonian young artists, Tallinn, ESTONIA

  • MONUMENTAL SCULPTURES

    • 2018 Bill Gates and Steve Jobs – Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2018 Ants Paju Memorial Bench – Jõgeva, ESTONIA
    • 2017 Big Catch (4.0 x 1,7 x 1,5) – Saue, ESTONIA
    • 2016 Smiths (3,0 x 4,0 x 2,5) – Viitina, ESTONIA
    • 2015 Meeting with sweetheart (3,4 x 1,3 x 1,2) – Maardu, ESTONIA
    • 2014 Good house spirit (1*0,7*0,6m, bronze) – Kiel private yard GERMANY
    • 2013 Black Angus – Helsinki, FINLAND
    • 2013 Põhjakonn – Viimsi, ESTONIA
    • 2013 English bulldog – Viimsi, ESTONIA
    • 2012 Owl family (2.5 x 1,8 x 1.5, bronze and granite) – Maardu, ESTONIA
    • 2012 Sower (2,0 x 1,2 x 0,8 m, height 2,3 m) – Väätsa, ESTONIA
    • 2012 The seafarers protector (6.5 x 3,8 x 1.6m) – BLRT, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2011 Black Angus (2.2 x 1.7 x 1.10m) – Old Town, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2010 Lucky chimney sweeper (1.85 m, bronze) – Old Town, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2008 Linda (2,2*1,3*0,7m, bronze) – Tallinn Airport, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2008 With love (2,2*0,9*0,7m, granite) – Maardu Central park, ESTONIA
    • 2007 Short stay on the blue meadow (1,6*0,9*0,5m, granite) – SPA Hotel Rüütli, Kuressaare, ESTONIA
    • 2007 Short stay on the red meadow (1,6*0,5*0,3m, granite) – SPA Hotel Rüütli, Kuressaare, ESTONIA
    • 2007 Moment before the kiss (75*60*2,1m, granite) – Musumägi, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2007 Moment after the kiss (1,68*60*1,75m, granite) – Musumägi, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2006 Kalevipoeg plowing (12*3*2m, bronze) – Sõpruse Park, Põltsamaa, ESTONIA
    • 2005 Violinist (1,7*0,5*0,4m, bronze) – TTP office building, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2005 Flute player (1,2*0,8*0,6m, bronze) – TTP office building, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2005 The TV-tower Monument (3*1*1 m, granite/bronze) – Pirita, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2005 The Mustamäe Beauty (3,5*1,5*1,2 m, granite) – Mustamäe, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2004 Path to the Olympos (7*5*2 m, granite) – Sõpruse Park, Põltsamaa, ESTONIA
    • 2004 Jackline’s Bridge (2*0,8*0,6 m, granite) – Pühajärve Spa Hotel, Pühajärve, ESTONIA
    • 2004 Fairy of the Lake (1,6*1,2*0,8 m, granite) – Pühajärve Spa Hotel, Pühajärve, ESTONIA
    • 2002 The Aurochs (9*4*4,2 m, bronze) – Rakvere stronghold, Rakvere, ESTONIA
    • 2002 The Reflective Man (4*3*2,3 m, granite) – Männi Park, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 2002 A Summer Day (4*1,5*0,7m, bronze) – Landespank, Hamburg, GERMANY
    • 2002 Suur Tõll and Piret Got a Good Fish Harvest (7,5*3,8*2m, bronze/dolomite) – Spa Hotel Meri, Kuressaare, ESTONIA
    • 2002 The Spirit of the City (1*0,7*0,6m, bronze) – Kiel Town Hall Square, GERMANY
    • 2001 Good Town Spirit (4*3*1,2m, granite) – Jõgeva Culture Centre, Jõgeva, ESTONIA
    • 1999 Beauty as a Goddess Passing By (2,3*1*0,6m, bronze) – Private clinic Clinika, Tartu, ESTONIA
    • 1997 The Happy Man (2,2*1,5*0,7 m, bronze) – Randers, DENMARK
    • 1998 It Was a Beautiful Summer Day (4*1,5*0,7 m, bronze) – Randers, DENMARK
    • 1995 The Resting Man (7,5*1,6*2 m, granite) – Shnelli Park, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 1994 The Rhinoceros (3,6*1,7*1,4 m, bronze) – Ergo Insurance, Tallinn, ESTONIA
    • 1989 The Bull (4*2,8*1,4 m, granite) – Luige, ESTONIA