Hilda Mikkelsaar
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HILDA  MIKKELSAAR,  artist

1906 - 1969


Have you bought one of Hilda Mikkelsaar's paintings at auction

and want to know more about the artist? 

Are you thinking of bidding for one of her works at auction?

Or perhaps you have inherited one?


This website will give you a brief overview of who she was.

Hilda Mikkelsaar


  • Artist, art teacher, founding member of EKKT Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto in 1950.

  • Born in Tartu, Estonia, 1906.  Died in Toronto, Canada, 1969.

  • Studied at Pallas Art College (now Pallas University of Applied Arts)  in Tartu 1926-1930, Estonia. 

  • Graduated in 1930 with the profession of artist and art teacher.  Taught drawing in the Tallinn Girls' High School from 1930 to 1940.

  • Her works are found in many private collections in Canada, USA, Estonia, Germany, Sweden, as well as in  several art museums in Estonia.

Hilda Mikkelsaar

1906 - 1969

Emotions

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s she produced a series of oil paintings in which the theme explored human emotions -- anger, pain, love, betrayal, sorrow, and so on.

Anger

Embrace

Anguish

Secrets

Passion

Betrayal

Abstract Paintings 

In the  same decade she had fun depicting the  then current social and cultural changes in music and dancing.  For example, in the advent of the Beatles, she painted "The Guitarist".

And of course there was dance,  starting with the "Twist".

Ballerina

Dancers

Cycle of Life
Dreamers

Dreamers

Twins

Mother with Infant

Refugee Camp 

Hilda Mikkelsaar had escaped from Estonia in 1944 at the tail end of the war and ended up in the American refugee camp in Geislingen, Germany, where she assumed the role of art teacher in the refugee high school. 

At right:  the refugees leaving Estonia. She referred to them  as "escapees".

In the post WWII years in Germany,  there was not much to be had in the way of material things.  Money had no value. Barter is how people lived as best they could.

She made a decent living from barter by painting portraits of people.

At right: a self-portrait painted while in the refugee camp.

In the  Geislingen refugee camp she shared a small room with her daughter Rutt (now the artist, Ruth Tulving).  The walls of their tiny one room abode were covered with portraits, waiting for their respective barter clients to pick them up.

Portraits for Barter and More

New Beginnings in Canada

In 1949 Hilda Mikkelsaar arrived in Canada as a refugee.  After completing her mandatory  one year of  servitude, where she worked in an orphanage,  she continued as a prolific portrait artist. 

Portraits

Private individuals  in the USA and Canada commissioned  her for portraits, sometimes for whole families.   Over the ensuing years she traveled regularly in the US and Canada undertaking her  commissions for portraits.

Flowers and Landscapes

Painting portraits always provided Hilda Mikkelsaar with daily "bread and butter."

But her true love was for flowers. 

Flowers and flower arrangements were painted in both water colour and oil.   They were  very popular at art exhibitions and sold out quickly.  Landscapes, too, were appreciated.

Initially motivated by memories and nostalgia for her homeland, Estonia, she painted Estonian flowers and landscapes from memory. Soon she branched into Canadian scenes.  She loved the Laurentians, spending several late summers and autumns there.  Motivated by sun and warmth, each winter she also traveled to Florida to paint commissioned portraits, Florida flowers and joyous  colourful landscapes. 

Kalevipoeg

In the 1950’s she produced compositions on the theme of Estonia’s folklore hero, Kalevipoeg and his exploits fighting the would-be conquerors of Estonia.  The conquerors were usually symbolized by wolves, or bears, or as the “Devil’s helpers”. 

Kalevipoeg with Devil's Helpers

Kalevipoeg with Wolves

Island Maiden with Kalevipoeg

Kalevipoeg's Mother, Linda, Mourning his Demise

Hilda Mikkelsaar

Hilda Mikkelsaar was my grandmother, and for this reason I have access to many photos of samples of  her work. Unfortunately they are not all clear, nor are they of uniform size.  Some are only in black and white. 

For more information you may contact me at my email address : 

info@hilda-mikkelsaar-artist.com

Elo Tulving-Blais

Copyright 2026  Elo Tulving-Blais