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Backyard of Viljandi St. John's Vicarage Readers at the backyard of Viljandi Library


History

Kondas Centre is a municipal art museum in Viljandi, founded in 2003. Its main area of activity is naive art and outsider art, the Centre is dedicated to one of Estonia’s best-known naivists  - Paul Kondas (1900-1985).  Paintings by Paul Kondas are displayed permanently.

Our centre shares its home with the vicarage of Jaani/St. John's Church, the building is very close to the ruins of Viljandi Order Castle. Imposing red brick house was built in 1895, during 1948-2002 it hosted  Viljandi Town Library.

Six smaller exhibition rooms are mainly used for short-term (4-6 weeks) exhibitions of contemporary art and outsider art, but also for thematic exhibitions. Besides making exhibitions, the centre collects all kinds of information about naive artists in Estonia.

Kondas Centre is financed by Viljandi Town Government, its activities are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Estonian Gambling Tax Board.

In 2006 seven big concrete strawberries were set on the streets of Viljandi. Strawberries were placed so that their tails would point towards the Kondas Centre. Strawberry has become the symbol of our centre, the idea originates from one of Paul Kondas’ best known paintings – “Strawberry eaters” (1965).



The Grand Opening of the Kondas Center in 2003, art historian Ants Juske The Grand Opening of the Kondas Center in 2003, in front of the house where Paul Kondas lived The Grand Opening of Kondas Center in  2003, procession through the streets of Viljandi The Grand Opening of Kondas Center in 2003, closure of Kilpkonna Gallery The Grand Opening of Kondas Center in 2003
Kondase Keskuse avamine 2003, esiplaanil Mark Soosaar Kondase Keskuse avamine 2003 Kondase Keskuse avamine 2003, kõneleb kunstiajaloolane Maire Toom Kondase Keskuse avamine 2003, Signe ja Kalju Kivi Kondase Keskuse avamisel mängib lõõtsa Margus Põldsepp
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  • EXHIBITIONS
    • Upcoming
    • 2023
    • 2022
      • A Long Engagement
      • Three talented generations - Härm`s family
      • Edmunds Jaudzems
      • Daukantė Subačiūtė „liar liar“
      • Mark Antonius Puhkan "Annual growth rings"
      • Elena Tkachenko
      • "OmaMood 10"
      • Ceramics exhibition “28 hours of fire”
      • Textiles by Tiina Puhkan
      • Graphical opinions by Olavi Fellman
      • Piret Mildeberg "Burrow"
      • Paintings by Merike Mitt
      • Masks
    • 2021
      • "Little Red Riding Hoods" by Kristi Kangilaski
      • Menders of the World
      • Hungarian art brut "Wildly and Passionately"
      • Secret Lives
      • Rembrandt comes to Viljandi
      • Debora Gutman
      • Sculptures by Kristiana Dimitere
      • Adib Fattal
      • Self-taught artist Juris Mihels
      • Appreciated and Abandoned Books IV. Reading
      • Jacqueline Molnar
    • 2020
      • International Exhibition of Bookbinding
      • Kondas 120
      • Treatment of Strawberry Mania
      • Veronika Garanina
      • It´s Always Tea-Time
      • Kaljo Simson
      • Hanno Härm - Metaphysical Viljandi
      • NOT out of sight, NOT out of mind
      • Drawings by Vellu Tänav
      • Special Art Exhibition
    • 2019
      • In search of nativeness
      • Kristi Kangilaski
      • Lars-Henrik Gahmberg
      • Textile design by Tatyana Tshursinova
      • Pora domoi - Aleksander Bushuyev
      • Edgar Valter
      • Road - Markku Arantila
      • Vue de la fenêtre - Juhan Muks (1899-1983)
      • Snow Flake’s Journey from Viljandi to La Gomera
      • Soda pop on asphalt - Liisa Kruusmägi
      • Nastaran Nasir Zadeh "Peace"
      • Tarja Heikkilä
      • Naive art by actress Piret Kalda
      • One Plant - Mae Kivilo and Silja Pihelgas
      • Stories of One Family - Kelli Valk and Karoliina Kagovere
      • Glenda Sburelin
    • 2018
      • Happy Openings!
      • The Many Faces of Clay
      • Margus Meinart - Falling in love...
      • Toys for Men
      • Aivar Juhanson
      • "Estonian Party" by Fred Kotkas
      • Irena Aizen
      • Anna Wildrose - Mystery at the colonial goods
      • Luciana Mariano - Woman`s Life
      • Estonian outsider art
      • The Estonian White
      • Sirpa Hammar - Embroidered wings
      • Works by Leida Kibuvits
      • Edgar Valter - Performance
      • Heino Lillepuu
      • Alma Maar - Statesmen
    • 2017
      • Textile Art by Valve Alamaa
      • Paintings by Alar Tuul
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
    • 2005
    • 2004
    • 2003
    • Gallery plans
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      • 2018-2020
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      • 2003-2007
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    • At the permanent exhibition
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  • ART COLLECTION
    • Martin Koppas
    • Kai Korp
    • Jaan Kriisa
    • Erik Kutti
    • Arnold Laugus
    • Linda Lepik
    • Heino Lillepuu
    • Lembar Linder
    • Jevgeni Logvinenko
    • Kristjan Lumi
    • Otto Mägi
    • Tõnu Nael
    • Viktor Novikov
    • Kaido Pung
    • Diana Rahuba
    • Mario Mart Rammo
    • Mait Rebane
    • Valter Riiner
    • Harry Rimmel
    • Nikita Rogatšov
    • Kaido Rätsep
    • Andres Saks
    • Merike Sild
    • Rando Suppi
    • Hugo Sturm
    • Heiki Säga
    • Tambet Tamm
    • Valdek Tiirik
    • Helmi Visnapuu
  • VIRTUAL TOURS
    • Menders of the World
    • Appreciated and Abandoned Books IV. Reading
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