HOBUSEPEA GALLERY opened in January 2003. The gallery’s priority is showing non-profit contemporary art exhibitions, solo projects by top Estonian artists, while projects by the sub-associations are also given opportunities to exhibit. The gallery’s primary aim is to present, introduce and value contemporary art, and also to present the work of young artists, and create exhibiting opportunities for artists just starting their careers. Curator Elin Kard was the director of the gallery since the gallery opened on January 10, 2003 until June 22, 2025; she was also the director of Draakon Gallery. From 2013 to 2019, Sirja-Liisa Eelma worked as gallery assistant at Hobusepea and Draakon galleries, in 2020 that position was filled by Anna Mari Liivrand until 2025 when she took over as the gallerist of Hobusepea and Draakon galleries.
The majority of the artists active locally and internationally started their art careers at Hobusepea Gallery. On two occasions projects developing from exhibitions at the gallery have represented Estonia at the international Venice Biennale (Liina Siib, Marko Mäetamm), exhibitions at the gallery have received numerous prizes and nominations (Konrad Mäe Prize, Kristjan Raud Prize, Estonian Cultural Endowment Prizes, etc). Over the years, artists such as Andres Tali, Liina Siib, Marge Monko, Marko Mäetamm, Eve Kiiler, Jaan Elken, Kai Kaljo, Marco Laimre, Jüri Ojaver, Raoul Kurvitz, Paul Rodgers, Mall Paris, Erki Kasemets, Andres Koort and many others have had exhibitions they have considered to have had special importance in their creative careers.
The gallery archive can be found here: https://galerii.eaa.ee/hobusepea/