Ilze Dambe

Is a graduate of Riga School of Applied Art, the Graphic Design Department of the Latvian Academy of Art and the master class of A. Dembo. For ten years, starting in 1997, she was art editor of the magazine Zīlīte. She regularly collaborates with advertising agencies and publishing houses on various projects, creating greetings, invitations, corporate image designs and other advertising material. In 1997 she was production designer for the animated film “The Little Dog” (director: R. Stiebra, Dauka, 1999). She has been a regular participant in the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, and from 2003 onwards she has also taken part in three Tallinn Illustration Triennials.

Dambe has received acclaim in various book art competitions: already in 1994 she received the Indriķis Zeberiņš Prize for her illustrations to the volume of Latvian folk-song “On Christmas Eve” (Ziemassvētku vakarā. R.: Dzītars, 1994). She was nominated for the Jānis Baltvilks Prize in 2007 for the book “We Must Stop Over at Owl Hollow” by M. Cielēna (Pūčumuižā mums jāpietur. R.: SIA Lietusdārzs, 2007). She has received Annual Prizes for Book Publishing in the children’s and young people”s book category: third prize in 2000 for illustrations to the book “Party in Grīziņkalns” by P. Brūveris (Grīziņkalnā groziņvakars. R.: AKA PRINT Poligrāfija, 2000); first prize in 2002 for illustrations to the book “Poems for Children” by V. Plūdonis (Dzejoļi bērniem. R.: Preses Nams, 2002); and first prize in 2004, as well as the Pastariņš Prize in 2005, for illustrations in the project “Lullabies: Latvian folksong music, texts and recordings” (Miega dziesmas: Latviešu tautas dziesmas notīs, tekstos, mūzikā. Design: D. Ābele, compiled by U. Smilgaine; songs arranged and performed by B. Ozoliņa and the ethnojazz group Patina, CD. R.: Valters un Rapa, 2004).

For me the children’s book and illustration is where I can be friends with my mice, bears, hares and wolves... (Ilze Dambe)