Tartu Illustration Festival returns for third year with European guests

The Tartu Illustration Festival (TIF) is returning for its third edition, bringing together creators from Estonia and abroad for two days of workshops, talks, a market and other activities. The event will take place September 25–26 at the Aparaaditehas creative complex.

This year's theme, "Playful Patterns," invites visitors to explore and rethink texture, repetition, modularity and rhythm in illustration.

Activities and guests

Over the two days, visitors can join hands-on workshops, attend talks and a panel discussion, and browse both an international exhibition and an illustrators' market. Planned activities include designing and screen-printing a board game, speed meetings pairing writers with illustrators, drawing dogs, and making collages inspired by the Annelinn district.

This year's festival features several award-winning guests: Finnish pattern designer Lotta Maija, known for her work with Marimekko; British graphic artist and illustrator Ryan Chapman, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Economist and The Atlantic; Slovenian children's book illustrator Damijan Stepančič; and Estonian graphic designer and creative director Helene Vetik.

A gathering for professionals and hobbyists alike

Organizers Helena Pass and Liina Lember describe TIF as a meeting place for anyone drawn to visual storytelling and illustration culture, from professionals and students to hobbyists and curious visitors. They note that playfulness helps people move past familiar solutions and see illustration in a new light.

The festival program also includes the international exhibition "Bright Memory" at the University of Tartu Library, which combines classic Estonian illustration with contemporary work by international artists, exploring the connection between images, memory and visual storytelling.