Edward von Lõngus

Edward von Lõngus is an Estonian stencil artist based in Tartu whose identity remains a mystery. Often compared to Banksy for his anonymous, socially charged work, he has been active since the early 2000s, blending pop culture, Estonian folklore, and biting commentary on consumerism. A recurring hedgehog character — described by the artist as a hacker and the real brain behind his work — serves as his trademark across Europe. His augmented-reality project (R)estart Reality, which travelled to eleven European capitals including Vilnius, Paris, London, Rome and Berlin, earned him Estonia's Foreign Ministry Culture Award in 2018.