Ülo Õun

1940–1988 · Estonian sculptor (1940-1988)
E-Kunstisalong; Eesti Ajaloomuuseum; Eesti Kunsti Oksjonid; Eesti Kunstimuuseum; Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum; Tartu Kunstimuuseum

trained at Estonian Academy of Arts

Ülo Õun has influenced an entire generation of Estonian sculptors, even though he never worked as a teacher. With him came something essentially new to Estonian sculpture of the 1970s: a previously unencountered, friendly grotesque, which found expression both in the portraits created by the sculptor and in figurative free creation. Also surprising was a free modelling that indirectly recalled the late work of Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966). Thanks to Ülo Õun, Estonian sculpture became considerably more communicative. He was captivated by colour in sculpture, and by the fluidity and mutability of forms. Ülo Õun's working method differed significantly from the formal aspirations of contemporary Estonian sculptors. His sculptures generally lacked the nature-following modelling and the generalisation derived from it, which was generally considered important in Estonian sculpture of that period. The flowing forms of Õun's portraits and figures spread according to their own will. As a final material he preferred plaster, which had until then been regarded as an intermediate material, and he painted his sculptures with bright aniline colours, which unfortunately have by now mostly lost their intensity. He sought to bring into sculpture qualities usually considered to belong to theatre art and music. Ülo Õun graduated from the Estonian SSR State Art Institute in 1966 and, after briefly working as a taxidermist at the Estonian Museum of Natural History, was a freelance artist for the rest of his life. (machine translation of the holder's Estonian text, unedited)

2 auction lots · 2 sold · 2020–2026 · €1,900 – €6,800 — as the auction houses published them; not a valuation

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

Browse 60 works in the catalogue →

Similar artists — same period, media and subjects: Matti Varik · Mare Mikof · Ellen Kolk · Aime Jürjo · Aime Kuulbusch · Irina Rätsep

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

Contemporaries in Eesti Kunstimuuseum: Hugo Mitt · Ludmilla Siim · Tõnu Maarand · Rein Siim · Andrei Ender

By decade: 1960s · 1970s · 1980s
By medium: Sculpture · Painting
Where the works are: Art Museum of Estonia · Tartu Art Museum · Estonian Theatre and Music Museum · Estonian History Museum

← Ülo Vilimaa · All artists A–Z · Üüve Vahur →

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