Maria Lapteva

LAPPY MARY aka Maria Lapteva
My journey as an artist began in childhood, when I first experienced the enchantment of art. I vividly remember drawing streams of orange lava from an erupting volcano in kindergarten. Those bright, pulsating colors and shapes left an indelible impression on my young mind.

A pivotal moment in my life was my time in London, where I lived in a squat for almost a year, surrounded by creative individuals. This period was transformative, as I realized my true calling. Encounters with diverse artists and musicians inspired me to aspire for something greater than just a conventional job. I understood then that I wanted to dedicate my life to art and learn to create independently.

Upon returning from London, I resolved to follow my dream and enrolled in the Estonian Academy of Arts. There, I immersed myself in the world of art with renewed energy and determination. My studies at the Academy were not only an opportunity to deepen my knowledge and skills but also a guiding star on my path to self-realization in art.

During my time at the Academy and after graduation, many artists deeply inspired me. During my master's studies, the works of Georg Baselitz had a significant impact on me. To me, his inverted pain...

2012 - 2014 Estonian Academy of Arts painting MA
2008 - 2012 Estonian Academy of Arts Fine Arts BA

Selection of solo exhibitions:
2024 "It's All About the Girls" Haki gallery, Tartu, Estonia
2023 "What Happened with this Lovely Girl?" Draakoni gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2020 "Enter the Void" Staapli 3 Art gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2019 "Remember me" with Saskia Järve, gallery HOP, Tallinn, Estonia
2018 "The Soul of all Natuaral Things" Haus gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2017 "Three sights. Contemporary Estonian painting art." with Einar Vene and Holger Loodus, CDH, Moscow, RF
2017 "M.Robinson and other stories" Tartu Art Hall, Tartu, Estonia
2016 "Confucius hair" Draakoni gallery, Tallinn, Estonia 2016 "Looking for silence" Tushino gallery, Moscow, RF
2016 "Looking for silence" Estonian Embassy in Moscow, Moscow, RF
2014 "You broke my life" Tallinn City Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2013 "Thread from a ceiling" Cultural Factory Polymer, Tallinn, Estonia
2012 „Looking for own space” Metropol Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2011 „Imagine me”, Rotermann Atrium, Tallinn, Estonia
2010 „17”, M Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia

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