VELLO VÄÄRTNÖU. Composition, oil on cardboard, signed and dated 1996.

60.5 x 91 cm.
Not framed.

Vello Väärtnöu was born in Estonia in 1951. His father was a captain in the navy and his mother was a doctor. As a teenager, Vello's great interest was drawing and painting. At the age of 22, he began studying at the Tallinn Academy of Art, studying graphics with Alo Hoidre and painting with Juri Arrak.
In 1978 he had to leave art school for political reasons - his painting was too controversial and the KGB had his eyes on him.
In 1981, his art was taken to a special exhibition in Tokyo as the first ever artist from Estonia.
Between 1982 - 1988 he worked as a teacher in his own studio and held courses in graphics, design and modern art.
In 1987, Vello became too oppositional for the Soviet state, and on orders from Gorbachev, Vello had to leave the country immediately. Thus his art became known in the Western world and exhibitions in the USA and Asia were well attended. In 1988 he moved to Sweden and settled in Stockholm.
Exhibitions have been held in: Argentina, Colombia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Holland, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, England, USA, etc.