Meriliis Rinne

Meriliis Rinne (MERU) is an Estonian-born artist based in the United Kingdom. Her practice investigates tension between structure and release, control and intuition, surface and depth.
Working across large-scale abstraction and abstracted female forms, Rinne constructs her own canvases and incorporates recycled textiles and found materials. The physicality of the surface is integral to her process; layered interventions create resistance, erosion, and transformation within the painted field.
Her female figures emerge and dissolve within abstraction — atmospheric presences navigating identity, memory, vulnerability, and psychological space.
Rinne established her independent studio in Windsor, UK, following earlier studio practices in London and Tallinn. Her work has been exhibited in the United Kingdom and internationally, including projects presented during the Venice Biennale period and in association with Frieze London. She has shown in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Mexico, and Estonia, including solo exhibitions at Haus Gallery and Solaris Gallery.
Her work has been featured in ERR Kultuur and Sirp.
For Rinne, painting is investigative rather than decorative — a material process of confronting and resolving emotional and structural...

Law, University of Tartu, Estonia

Art, University of Tallinn, Estonia

❋ Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023 — “Rejoice”, Ülemiste City, Tallinn, Estonia
2021 — “I Wish You Were Here”, Põhjala Tehas, Tallinn, Estonia
2020 — “There is a Monster Inside Me – Feed Her Love”, Solaris Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2018 — “The First Time I Saw Pink, I Wanted to Scream”, Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2015 — “Serendipity”, Old Dairy Mews Gallery, London, UK
2014 — “Selected Works”, NORR11, Tallinn, Estonia
2013 — “Basic Elements”, Red House Gallery, London, UK
2013 — “It’s Time for Plan B”, Refinery Gallery, London, UK
2013 — “Kaotamas ilu = elu”, Tallinn Design Night,
Telliskivi Loomelinnak, Tallinn, Estonia

2012 — “Love the Bird”, Islington Company Gallery, London, UK
2011 — “PARADOX”, Café de Concert, Oslo, Norway
2011 — “So Deep in”, Gallery Kriis, Tallinn, Estonia
2011 — “Art in Different Form”, Athena Center of Culture and Art, Tartu, Estonia
2010 Clerkenwell Design Week Showcase, Ahrend Showroom, London, UK
2010 — “Pay it Forward”, Athena Center of Culture and Art, Tartu, Estonia
2010 — “Night Mare”, Soo Soo Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
❋ Group Exhibitions & Special Projects (Selected)
2019 — “Minuscule Part 2”, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
2019 — EMPIRE II, in association with Museo...