Curator, Writer, Researcher

Šelda Puķīte is a Latvian curator, writer, and researcher based in Estonia. She holds a BA (2010) and MA (2012) in Art History and Theory from the Art Academy of Latvia. Her research-driven curatorial practice focuses on immersive exhibition narratives that explore sociopolitical issues, women’s histories and spaces, high and popular culture, and ecological thought.

Since 2020, Puķīte has been part of the curatorial team at Kogo Gallery in Tartu, where she works as International Project Manager and curator of the exhibition programme. Her recent curatorial projects include Thrifters and Transformers (2026) at Kogo Gallery, Tartu; Silver Girls. Retouched History of Baltic Photography (2025), co-curated with Agnė Narušytė and Indrek Grigor at the National Gallery of Art in Vilnius; and White Dwarfs and All Those Beautiful Nebulas (2024) at Kim? Contemporary Art Centre in Riga.

In 2026, Silver Girls received the Latvian Annual Art Award for Event of the Year, recognising both the exhibition and its accompanying publication.

Stella Runnel is the founder and designer behind the Stella Soomlais brand, as well as a workshop facilitator.

Tõnu Runnel is a designer, photographer and entrepreneur.

Together, this exceptional and dynamic duo will take the audience of Foto Tallinn on a special tour, offering their personal perspectives and insights. A tour not to be missed!

Curator, Educator, Founder of Pitted Dates

Sakari Tervo is a curator and educator whose curatorial practice is informed by his background in fine art. He founded the Helsinki-based exhibition platform Pitted Dates in 2023 and works as a university teacher at Aalto University. Prior to founding Pitted Dates, he curated a series of online exhibitions (2018–2021) and co-directed the artist-run spaces Titanik in Turku (2012–2014) and Sorbus in Helsinki (2014–2019).

Curator, Co-Director of the photography publishing house Polycopies

Sara Giuliattini Co-Director of the photography publishing house Polycopies, contributes in-depth knowledge of the history of photography and the latest developments in contemporary photographic practice.

After studying art history in Florence and political science in Paris, Sara Giuliattini took part in the creation of Le BAL, an exhibition space dedicated to documentary photography in Paris in 2010.

Today she co-directs, together with Laurent Chardon and Sebastian Hau, Polycopies, a non-profit organization for the dissemination and promotion of independent and experimental publishing practices in photography.

In 2024, she joined the team at La Chambre, an exhibition and training space dedicated to photography in Strasbourg, as a curator.

Her professional career combines knowledge of the contemporary and international photography scene with extensive experience in the development of artistic and cultural projects. For nearly 15 years, she has been committed to working with photographers in art centres, publishing houses and other exhibition spaces.

Art Historian and Critic

Sabina Ummelas is a young art historian and critic based in Tallinn. She studied at the Department of Art History and Visual Culture at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She currently works as an assistant at Punctum Gallery and promotes Estonian contemporary art through social media.

CEO and Founder of Sunly

Priit Lepasepp is the co-founder and CEO of renewable energy company Sunly. Alongside its business activities and engagement with local communities, Sunly is a major supporter of contemporary art, regularly acquiring works, primarily by Estonian artists, for its curated collection and supporting important art events. Sunly is a long-standing supporter of Foto Tallinn.

Management Board member, and the Head of Retail Banking of SEB

Monika Kallas-Anton is a Member of the Management Board of SEB Bank and Head of Retail Banking. Much of Kallas-Anton’s career has unfolded in the world of numbers, complemented by a strong commitment to contributing to the wider community through culture and the art, both through the international organisations she has worked for and through her personal passion for art and collecting.

In the panel discussion, Monika Kallas-Anton will share her perspectives, strategies and principles, with a particular focus on corporate art collecting.

Director at Tütar Gallery

Mailis Timmi is the founder and director of Tütar Gallery, established in 2023. Her work is dedicated to strengthening the position of contemporary Estonian art on the international art market and creating long-term international opportunities for artists. In addition to Estonia, Tütar has presented the work of Estonian artists in Latvia, Lithuania, Germany and Mexico, while actively building connections across the international network of galleries, art fairs, collectors and art institutions.

Artistic Director of Foto Tallinn 2026,
Curator, Co-Founder of ELLELL

Lilian Hiob-Küttis is a curator and gallerist. Her international expertise stems from her long-standing work at Temnikova & Kasela Gallery and at ELLELL, Estonia’s first art advisory firm.

She holds a Master’s degree in Art History and Visual Culture from the Estonian Academy of Arts, where she is also a guest lecturer in curatorial studies. She teaches the course The ABC of Art Collecting at the Estonian Academy of Arts Open Academy.

She has curated exhibitions at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Punctum Gallery, Kogo Gallery, Rüki Gallery, Margot Samel Gallery in New York, Asni Gallery in Riga, Vaal Gallery, Dr. Eva Kahan Foundation in Budapest, and elsewhere.