Museum of Photography

The Museum of Photography, located in Tallinn’s Old Town, is the only memory institution specifically focused on the history and culture of Estonian photography.

The museum’s permanent exhibition offers a comprehensive portrait of Estonian photographers: it provides an overview of the appearance and the cameras used by photographers from the mid-19th century to the end of the 20th century. From the permanent exhibition hall, a hidden staircase leads to the second floor, where the development history of cameras is displayed. The largest camera is 3.5 meters long.

Every year, the Museum of Photography curates various themed exhibitions, organizes public programs, museum lessons, and evening meetups. The location of the Museum of Photography is also worth exploring – the museum is housed in a nearly 700-year-old former prison building.

Currently, the exhibition “Gendered Lens,” centered on the body, is open on the three floors of the Museum of Photography. There are also works where the body primarily conveys symbolic meaning or emotion. For the first time in the history of Estonian art, a historical pornographic photograph, which has existed as an independent genre since the early days of photography, is showcased.