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CV — Keili Major

Finger Painting · Garessio, Val Tanaro

Keili Major

Born in southern Estonia. Lives and works in Garessio (CN), Val Tanaro, Italy.

For twelve months I return to a single point on the Tanaro river and paint it, with my hands, once a month. The place stands still; it is the year that moves through it: the water, the leaves, the snow, the angle of the light. Anno Tanaro is not an account of the seasons but of duration: one subject, seen twelve times.

Training

2015–21Artistic training and oil-painting practice under the guidance of master painter Bill Mackay, Noosa, Queensland (Australia)

Technique

Oil painting using the Finger Painting technique: oil applied with the fingers, no brushes, since 2018, on cotton canvas. Water-mixable oils only, no solvents.

Projects

2026–27Anno Tanaro: twelve paintings in twelve months from a single point on the Tanaro river, oil on cotton canvas, 60×80 cm each. Tanaro I, the first work, completed June 2026.

Exhibitions

2026Piccolo Sole, Ufficio Turistico, Garessio (CN) — solo show, 20–23 August
2026Vetrine in fiore, Garessio (CN) — group show across the town's historic shop windows, curated by Associazione culturale Ardena as part of Garessio è in Fiore, 8–30 August
2026Permanent display of 9 works at La Fabbrica del Cotone, Garessio (CN), since May
2019Noosa Open Studios, Queensland (Australia), open-studios art trail, 16–25 August

Talks & live painting

2023Teekond pintslist sõrmedeni (Journey from Brush to Fingers), artist evening with live finger painting, Võru (Estonia), 21 October; the work sold for charity
2017Live painting at a Tom Day and Daniel Champagne concert, Yallingup (Western Australia); the work sold in aid of Beyond Blue

Awards

2016First prize, painting competition, Queensland (Australia), with Watermelon Stand at Coalstoun Lakes

Press (updating)

Trucioli.it, “Ecco Garessio 2030: ricadute strategiche sull'Alta Val Tanaro. 2 / Keili Major e «Anno Tanaro»: dipinge solo con le dita un punto fisso del Tanaro, mese dopo mese, per catturare il mutare di luce e stagioni”, 3 September 2026

Cuneo24, “Garessio, i primi tre dipinti del ciclo Anno Tanaro sono stati esposti insieme per la prima volta”, 27 August 2026

Cuneodice, “A Garessio esposti insieme i primi tre dipinti del ciclo Anno Tanaro”, 27 August 2026

IdeaWebTV, “Esposti a Garessio i primi tre dipinti del ciclo Anno Tanaro”, 26 August 2026

Estonian World, “One river, 12 paintings: Keili Major’s year on the Tanaro”, 21 July 2026

Mägede Hääl, “Varstust pärit kunstniku teekond Itaaliasse” (The journey to Italy of an artist from Varstu), 16 July 2026

La Guida, “L'artista estone Keili Major racconta il fiume Tanaro e la sua valle attraverso il ciclo pittorico «Anno Tanaro»”, 27 June 2026 · interview by Michela Castellino

TargatoCN, “Garessio, completato il primo dipinto dell’artista estone Keili Major dedicato al Tanaro”, 16 June 2026

L’Unione Monregalese, “Stesso punto, stessa luce, per dodici volte. Nasce il progetto pittorico «Anno Tanaro»”, 10 June 2026

L’Unione Monregalese, “In mostra i dipinti realizzati con le dita”, 23 May 2026

Cuneo24, “Garessio, «Tanaro I» è completo. Restano undici dipinti e undici mesi”, 9 June 2026

Cuneodice, “Finger paintings: la pittrice estone Keili Major presenta la prima opera del progetto «Anno Tanaro»”, 9 June 2026

Cuneocronaca, “L’artista estone che dipinge il Tanaro con i polpastrelli: a Garessio nasce un ciclo lungo un anno”, 9 June 2026

Il Garessino, “Dall’Estonia a Garessio: Keili Major in mostra permanente a La Fabbrica del Cotone”, 19 May 2026

Noosa News, on Keili Major at Noosa Open Studios, 20 August 2019

Languages

Estonian, English, Italian

Contact

Studio: Garessio (CN), Italy
press@keilimajorartist.com · Contact · @keili_major_artist

Press and curatorial enquiries welcome.

© 2026 Keili Major Artist  ·  MAJORART DI MAJOR KEILI  ·  P.IVA 12742420016  ·  Regione Sparvaira 14, 12075 Garessio (CN)