Jaanus Samma

1982– · Estonian artist (born 1982)
Eesti Kunsti Oksjonid; Eesti Kunstimuuseum; Tartu Kunstimuuseum; Temnikova & Kasela; Veneetsia biennaal, Eesti paviljon

trained at Estonian Academy of Arts

Jaanus Samma (1982) is an artist working in several contemporary art mediums, ranging from printmaking and installation to textiles. Over the years, he has extensively researched themes of gender and nationality while focusing on the construction of the idea of nationality and highlighting relevant decisions and choices in the process. Rising to prominence in the Estonian art scene during the 2000s, Samma’s work employed an ambivalent camp play with male eroticism and gay symbolism; such as fountains, cannons and dolphins. He began to explore Estonian history in the project (2007/2011), Samma gave a voice to gay men who shared their experiences from a time when homosexual relations were criminalised. They talk about fear, norms, finding partners in Soviet Estonia, and the impact of sexual repression on their lives. (2015), Samma told the story, in the form of a fictional opera, of a kolkhoz chairman in the 1960s who was sentenced to prison for homosexual activity. He lost his job and his family as a result, but later found acceptance in gay circles. The artist traced the Chairman’s tragic fate through a spatial installation, videos, photographs, archive material, and found objects. The chairman was murdered in 1990, shortly before homosexuality was decriminalised. With this exhibition, Samma represented Estonia at the 56th Venice Biennale and attracted international attention.

2 auction lots · 2 sold · 2026 · €2,300 – €4,800 — as the auction houses published them; not a valuation

Nothing for sale now. Follow new works for sale (RSS)

Browse 90 works in the catalogue →

Artwall

Bench with a Rug
2021 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaVikings
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPortrait of a Hero
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaNational Utopia
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFlaminio Station II
2017 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFlaminio Station I
2017 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFlaminio Station IV
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMuseum Display (Stargazing). Mittens, Stockings, Birchbark Shoes
2019 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMuseum Display (Stargazing). Belts
2019 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMuseum Display (Stargazing). Rugs
2019 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaRiga Postcards
2020 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaJockstrap with a Black Waistband
2021 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaLepvalts’s Kalevipoeg I
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaLepvalts’s Kalevipoeg II
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaLepvalts’s Kalevipoeg III
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaWedding Rug. Sauna
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaWedding Rug. Alo and Jaak
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaStudy of a Glory Hole, from series "Study of a Toilet"
2016 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaStudy of a Toilet Brush, from series "Study of a Toilet"
2016 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaCollection of Toilet Pulls II
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaCollection of Toilet Pulls IV
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaReconstructed Histories. Belts
2019 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPieces of Antiquity
2019 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPattern no 11
2020 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPattern no 13
2020 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPersonal Mythology
2021 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaRug nr. 17
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaVase with painted Heads of Grain
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaLight Vase
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaS1_Harness
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaS1_Jockstrap
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaS2_Harness
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaS2_Jockstrap
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaS3_Harness
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaS3_Jockstrap
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaApollo
2023 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaNorthern Lights / Virmalised
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFool
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFlowers
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaForging Iron / Sepatöö
2026 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaSailing to Viljandi
2026 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaGoing to the City / Linnaskäik
2026 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaSailing to Viljandi / Laevasõit Viljandisse
2026 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBawdy Rhyme / Lorilaul
2026 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaIn the Sauna / Saunas
2026 · shown at Temnikova & Kasela

50 works with a picture; the first 45 here, all in the catalogue. Pictures for public-domain works, live gallery listings and the works galleries and artists show on their own pages, from those servers.

Similar artists — same period, media and subjects: Toomas Kuusing · Merike Estna · Tarrvi Laamann · Edith Karlson · Reti Saks · Sigrid Viir

Also trained at Estonian Academy of Arts: Eduard Wiiralt · Evald Okas · Andrus Johani · Johann Naha · Leonhard Lapin

Contemporaries in Temnikova & Kasela: Krista Mölder · Ilja Karilampi · Cloe Jancis · Tanel Veenre · Nicholas Grafia

By decade: 2000s · 2010s · 2020s
By medium: Print · Other · Photograph · Drawing · Installation
Where the works are: Art Museum of Estonia · Tartu Art Museum

← Jaanus Ermann · All artists A–Z · Jab →

Museum records from MuIS and the EKM Digital Collection; gallery stock from the galleries' own catalogues; auction results as Haus Galerii, Vernissage, Allee galerii, Vaal galerii, E-Kunstisalong, Eesti Kunsti Oksjonid and Kunstikoda published them, and the lots Osta Noort Kunsti offered (it publishes no results). Full catalogue · Corrections, removals, questions: info@museaal.ee · Privacy