Edith Karlson: Dawn till Dawn

Mythical characters, for Karlson, are a vehicle for exploring questions that reason alone cannot answer. Prehistory, fossils, and archaeology also provide enduring inspiration. Humans and animals are united by instinct, a tenacious will to survive, and the ability to adapt – themes she consistently examines in her practice.

Karlson employs a diverse array of materials, including clay, concrete, and silicone, creating works that often retain a raw, unfinished quality. Many pieces are left unglazed, their surfaces rough, evoking processes of transformation and transition. Birds and snakes capable of shedding their skin are recurring motifs, symbolising continual renewal.

Tallinn-based Karlson has exhibited widely both in Estonia and internationally, including venues such as the Sapieha Palace Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius (2025), the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (2021), the KUMU Art Museum (2019–2020), and the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig (2018). She also represented Estonia at the 2024 Venice Biennale.