Olev Mikiver was a multifaceted Estonian‑born artist, active as a painter, graphic artist, stage designer, and book illustrator who became an influential figure in Swedish and exile‑Estonian art. He studied graphic arts in Tallinn (1942) and continued at the Pallas Art School in Tartu, but his studies were disrupted in 1943 when he fled from Estonia, first via Finland and ultimately settling in Sweden from 1944 onward.
"White Ship", oil on canvas, clubbed for 8 504 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
A Wide Range of Art
Mikiver’s artistic style blended surrealism, cubism, and expressionism, eventually evolving into vibrant abstraction and bold color palettes. His motives ranged from mythological themes—such as Odysseus’s wanderings, reflecting his own journey—to dreamlike landscapes and lyrical nature scenes. Critics described his work as both “nature‑lyrical and mythical,” merging realistic elements in original, abstract compositions.
“Sculptures”, oil on canvas.
An international artist
Mikiver exhibited widely, debuting in Stockholm (1946, Estonian and Latvian Art at Liljevalchs) and participating in over sixty group and around ten solo exhibitions across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the USA, Canada, and Finland. In 1991, the Estonian Art Museum held a solo exhibition in honor of his work. Today, Olev Mikiver’s works are held in public collections, including Malmö City and Region collections, as well as KUMU (Estonian Art Museum) and Tartu Art Museum.