​MAARJA MÄEMETS (b. 1991) is an Estoniancartist based in Stockholm whose work explores manual practices through narrative objects, working primarily with glass as well as installation and text. Through material-based storytelling, her practice investigates gaps and uncertainties in personal memory, searching for traces of hope and courage within what remains.

She holds BA and MA degrees in glass art from the Estonian Academy of Arts and is currently pursuing an MFA in CRAFT! at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design.  Her work has been presented internationally, including at major European design and craft platforms such as Milan Design Week and The Venice Glass Week. Since 2025, she is lead organizer of the next Tallinn Applied Art Triennial.
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MAARJA MÄEMETS
Creative savvy born in Estonia, currently living and working in Stockholm.

EDUCATION
2025–Present: Konstfack, University of Arts, Crafts and Design – MFA CRAFT!
2017–2019: Olustvere Service and Rural Economy School – Assistant Glassblower Studies
2015–2018: Estonian Academy of Arts, Faculty of Design – MA in Glass Art
2016–2017: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Faculty of Contextual Sculpture (Exchange Semester)
2012–2015: Estonian Academy of Arts, Faculty of Design – BA in Glass Art

RECOGNITIONS
2024: Recognized Glass Artist 2022/23 nominee
2018: Finalist, Stanislav Libenský Award – Prague, Czech Republic
2017: First Prize, Bild-Werk Frauenau Student Prize – Frauenau, Germany

​SCHOLARSHIPS
2026: Culture Moves Europe Mobility Grant
2025: Recipient of the Cultural Grant of the Republic of Estonia
2025: Estrid Ericsons Scholarship
2025: Konstfack Student Scholarship
2024: Estonian Academy of Arts Scholarship for Professional Development
2023: Nordic Culture Point Mobility Programme Grant
2017: Ene Silla Scholarship for MA Glass Art Studies
2017: Maks Roosma Creative Scholarship for Outstanding Glass Art Student
2016: Ott Kikkas Private Entrepreneur Scholarship for Outstanding Glass Art Student
2014: Ene Silla Scholarship for BA Glass Art Studies

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
2025 onwards: main organizer of the next Tallinn Applied Art Triennial
​2025: Jury Member for the National Design Award of Latvia
2022–2023: Guest Lecturer – Glass Art Department, Estonian Academy of Arts
2021–2022: Designer and Illustrator for Debut Poetry Books – Collaboration with *Värske Rõhk* Magazine
2019–Present: Teacher of Digital Portfolio, Photo Manipulation, and Vector Graphics – Sally Stuudio Art School
2018–Present: Freelance Artist, Designer, and Studio Owner – ARS Project Space
2017–2022: Arts and Crafts Teacher – Huvikool Loomekod

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE / PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
2024: EAA Muhu Art Residency – Muhu, Estonia
2022: Mazzano Romano Residency – Italy (Väino Tanner Foundation)
2021: Copper Leg Art Residency – Vaskjala, Estonia
2018: GlassEST Residency – The Glass Factory Boda, Sweden
2018: Professional Practice – GlassPoint Studio, Riga, Latvia

​WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
2024–onward: private collections
2024: Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design – Tallinn, Estonia

UNIONS
Since 2018: Estonian Glass Artists’ Union
Since 2019: Estonian Artists' Association

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS / COLLABORATIONS
2026: BIP Glass Symposium – Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Sweden
​2023: DAMA 33 Workshop *Enlightened Boredom* – University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
2020: 4th International GlassJazz Symposium – Glasremis Studio, Panevėžys, Lithuania
2019: Workshop on Handblown Glass Design by Torsten Rötzsch and Eili Soon – Olustvere Glassblowing Studio, Estonia
2017: Experimental Hot Glass Workshop by James Labold and John Moran – Bild-Werk Frauenau, Germany
2017: Collaborative Project *New Archaeology* with Kazushi Nakada – Tallinn, Estonia
2016: Collaborative Project *Estonian Poetry in the Old SUVA Sock Factory* with Kazushi Nakada – Estonia
2016: 10th International Blown Glass Symposium – Lviv, Ukraine
​2016: International Art Project *Things of Water* – Vilnius Art Academy, Nida, Lithuania

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023: *liivaloss / sand castle* – ARS Project Space, Tallinn, Estonia
2022: *sabotöör / saboteur* – Jakobi Gallery, Tartu, Estonia
2017:  *aega on küll / there’s time* – Positiiv Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia

​UPCOMING
2026: Córtex Frontal Artist Residency at Arraiolos, Portugal

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2026: *LÄBI / THROUGH* with Evelina Lindström (SE), curator Lilian Hiob-Küttis – Hobusepea Gallery, Estonia
2026: *Craft Edit*– Stockholm Design Week, Etage1 studio, Stockholm
2025: *TAKAS* – ArtVilnius Art Fair, Vilnius, Lithuania
2025:  Stockholm Craft Week – Stockholm, Sweden
2025: *Old Venus* – PUNCTUM gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2025: *Tactile Baltics* –  Concert Hall Great Amber Liepāja, Latvia
2025: *Tactile Baltics* – PACAI Hotel gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2025: *Between Borders, Between Materials* – Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn, Estonia
2025: *Tactile Baltics* – Milan Design Week, Palazzo Litta, Milan, Italy
2025: *The Secret Soul of Shiny Things* – Estonian Glass Artists’ Union Annual Exhibition, Viimsi Artium, Estonia
2025: *Unfortunately, You Were Not Selected This Time* (Katariin Mudist & Keithy Kuuspu) – Tartu Art House, Estonia
2024: *Recognized Glass Artist 2022/23*, Nominees Exhibition – Okapi Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2024: *Imagine* – glass and print exhibition, ARS Project Space, Tallinn, Estonia
2024: *Next: Young European Design* – Berlin Design Week, Berlin, Germany
2023: Estonian Glass Artists’ Union Annual Exhibition Vol. 2 – Kondase Keskus, Viljandi, Estonia
2023: *The Venice Glass Week HUB Under 35* – Palazzo Loredan, Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Venice, Italy
2023: *salvesta kui / save as* (with Andra Jõgis) – Pärnu City Gallery, Pärnu, Estonia
2021: *pillows–blankets* (with Andra Jõgis) – Hiiumaa Art Gallery, Kärdla, Estonia
2021: *Colours of Corals* (with Liisa Kruusmägi) – HOP Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2021: *Current Realities* – Levant Art Gallery, Shanghai, China
2021: *The Voice of Glass Collaborative* – Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia
2020: *Colour – RED II* – Estonian Glass Artists’ Union Annual Exhibition, City Gallery of Rakvere, Estonia
2020: *Colour – RED* – Estonian Glass Artists’ Union Annual Exhibition, ARS Project Space, Tallinn, Estonia
2020: *under the water on the moon II* – Okapi Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2020: *under the water on the moon* – Rummu Quarry, Harjumaa, Estonia
2018: *ARS Concept – Estonian Art* – T1 Mall of Tallinn, Estonia
2018: *Stanislav Libensky Award 2018* – DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Republic
2018: *Glass @ The Forge* – Craft Central, London, United Kingdom
2017: *Kooskõla. Ongoing / Going on* – Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2016: 10th International Blown Glass Symposium – Lviv, Ukraine
2015: *Interpretation* – Mentzentorffs’ House, Riga, Latvia

CURATED EXHIBITIONS
2024: *Dark Ground* – Collaborative project with Tiina Sarapu, HOP Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2021: *Colour – RED 2.0* – EGAU Annual Exhibition, White Hall of the Kohtla-Järve Oil Shale Museum
2020: *Colour – RED* – Estonian Glass Artists’ Union Annual Exhibition, ARS Project Space, Tallinn, Estonia

​SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2025: *Archive of Objects* – 'Maarja Mäemets on Courage, Glass, and Letting Things Grow'
2025:  *Homes & Gardens* – 'Craft Champions'
2025: *Financial Times Weekend* – 'Hedonism in the Hotshop: The New Glassware'
2024:  Online coverage on *Designboom* (designboom.com)
2024: *Design, Interior, and Architecture* Magazine
2024: *Kodu & Aed* Magazine
2024: *DIIVAN* Magazine
2022: *POSITIIV* – Estonian Photo Magazine
2019: *POSITIIV* – Estonian Photo Magazine
2018: *New Glass Review* – published by Corning Museum of Glass
2017: *GLASSHOUSE* – International Magazine for Studioglass
2015: *POSITIIV* – Estonian Photo Magazine
2015: *MAJA* – Estonian Architecture Magazine

Photo: Anna-Maria Vaskovskaja

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