Ilja Jakovlev (2003) is an Estonian artist born in Narva. Since 2024 - official member of Tartu Artist`s Union. He graduated with honours from Tartu Art School's decorator major and Narva Art School, but he also completed his training at Ljubljana School of Design Technology. Currently he is studying Art Science and Visual Culture Researches BA at Estonian Art Academy. His art is dominated by themes such as folklore and its effect on man and space; rethinking aspects of religion, as well as non-standard views of the world around us through emotional connections between places and memory. Recently, he is also interested in the issues of collective memory and his search for identity.
In 2023, he curated his personal conceptual exhibition "Narrative" in the Tallinn City Museum (Tallinn Nations Museum), in 2023 the exhibition "Turgor" in Berlin at the roam art association, in 2024 exhibition “And I leave, and bird will sing” at HAKI gallery, Tartu. In 2023, he was also one of the founders of the "Signatura" project and curated some group exhibitions in Tartu and Tallinn. In 2023/24 he also worked at the "Look Into My Ice" project, what was a part of Tartu 2024 - European Culture Capital offcial programm.
In 2021, he became the owner of the "Golden Pen" award, and in the following years was also a multiple nominee for it.
In 2021, he participated in a series of interviews for an article about young Estonian artists published in the EKKM magazine.
In 2023 and 2024, his artworks were sold at the Estonian Young Art Auction in Tallinn.
