Mihkel Ilus

Mihkel Ilus (born 1987) is a visual artist and academic faculty member at the Estonian Academy of Arts, specializing in the expanded field of painting. He has held visiting lecturer and assistant roles at the Painting Department since 2018 and 2020 respectively. His practice combines large-scale installations, critical examination of exhibition formats, and collaborative performance art projects.

• Education: BA in Arts (University of Tartu, 2010), MA in Liberal Arts (Estonian Academy of Arts, 2015)
• Teaching: Visiting Lecturer at Estonian Academy of Arts, structural carpenter at Tallinn School of Architecture (2017–present)

Ilus's research explores the spatial dynamics of painting, material objecthood, and the interplay between white cube/black box exhibition environments. His works often deconstruct traditional painting elements into architectural installations while maintaining painterly principles like tension, rhythm, and composition.

Notable solo exhibitions include Stick It to Your Wall (2017) and How else could I put it (2018). Collaborative projects like Dead-End (2016) with Marten Esko and Caprices (2011–2018) with Henri Hütt examine temporal exhibition formats and performative contexts.

Scientific Awards:
• Eduard Wiiralt Scholarship (2012)