Kris Lemsalu

1985– · Estonian contemporary artist (born 1985)
Eesti Kunsti Oksjonid; Tartu Kunstimuuseum; Temnikova & Kasela; Veneetsia biennaal, Eesti paviljon

trained at Academy of Fine Arts Vienna · trained at Estonian Academy of Arts

Kris Lemsalu (1985) is sculptor and installation artist often experimenting with ceramics. Her art combines porcelain with fur, wool textile, silicone, found objects, sounds and other materials. Lemsalu’s work is characterised by her attention to colour and surface effects, an interest in archetypal and symbolic motifs, and an ironic and reflexive relationship to the media she uses, as well as staged scenes and the absurd. Her work often touches upon timeless and profoundly human themes such as birth, transformation and death, pain and grief, passion and love, and a celebration of life. Lemsalu’s installations sometimes act as a stage for her performances; the sculptural artworks become props or part of her costumes. Lemsalu’s “things” – this is what the artist calls her installations – are imbued with a wayward sense of humour, ironically looking at things we have come to consider necessary, beautiful and desirable. She draws her inspiration simultaneously from pop culture, religious cults, death rituals, parties, friendships, and intimate relationships. Her poetic titles open an affective and Dionysian perspective that cannot be put into words. The curator Tamara Luuk has said that with her background in ceramics and the lifestyle of a nomad, Kris Lemsalu fills the gap in Estonian art history, which lacks artists with “primitive energy”, who create authentic and wild imagery. In addition to installations, Lemsalu also creates musical performances. Both in her performances as well as in many of her installations, birth and death are a natural part of life, laughter and sadness help to cope with loss (e.g. “Going Going” with Kyp Malone at the Performa Biennial in New York, 2017; “In Heaven Everything is Fine” at KOKO London, 2017; “The Birth of Venus”, 2010). Lemsalu blends art and life in the everyday, as well as in her work and her public presence. She often wears theatrical costumes and make-up, and uses her artworks as a stage or props. The circle of life and the celebration of life are recurring motifs in Lemsalu's works and exhibitions. In 2018, Lemsalu’s exhibition “4LIFE” (at Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art in London) presented installations depicting human life from birth to death. In 2019 Lemsalu represented Estonia at the 58th Venice Biennale with the project “Birth V – Hi and Bye”. At the heart of the exhibition stood a three-level and four-sided fountain/totem sculpture depicting ceramic vaginas with arms and legs, symbolising the three stages of life: birth, transformation and death. The show highlighted the matriarchal power in t.

1 auction lots · 1 sold · 2026 · €5,400 — as the auction houses published them; not a valuation

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Mother Gone Pissing I
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMother Gone Pissing II
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMother Gone Pissing III
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBiker, Bride, Builder, Businesswoman and Baby: Bride
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBirth V - Hi & Bye
2019 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaImmaterial Material Love
2020 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFlood
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMemory
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaChild
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFather of Stilts
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFine Sin
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMother of Stilts
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFire
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMorning
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaUntitled 2
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaUntitled 3
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaUntitled 4
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBeginning
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBorn As Bird
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaLike Water
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaFull Circle
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaSpeak Easy
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaLet Me Talk To The Boss
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaUnicorn
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBig Slow
2025 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPeace Sign
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaRainy Dayz
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPhantom Camp
2015 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaCar2Go
2016 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaI forgot, come back
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaMysteriously Conceived and Deeply Felt
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaHOLY HELL O
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaSally, Go Around the Roses
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaBiker, Bride, Builder, Businesswoman and Baby
2018 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaRot'n'Roll
2020 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaAngels Gone Pissing
2020 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaGive Us A Song
2022 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaV from VITA
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPut the lime in the coconut
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaOld Piano
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaUntitled 9
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaChará
2024 · shown at Temnikova & KaselaPea of Life / ELUHERNES
2025 · shown at Temnikova & Kasela

45 works with a picture; the first 43 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: Edith Karlson · Urmas Lüüs · Tanel Veenre · Neeme Külm · Terje Ojaver · Liisi Eelmaa

Also trained at Academy of Fine Arts Vienna: Joseph Kovátsch · Sebastian Langer · Josef Stöber · Clemens Kohl · Josef Kriehuber

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

Contemporaries in Temnikova & Kasela: Inga Meldere · Toni Schmale · Cloe Jancis · Nicholas Grafia · Sonja Yakovleva

By decade: 2010s · 2020s
By medium: Sculpture · Other · Installation · Painting · Mixed media
Where the works are: Tartu Art Museum

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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