Adamson-Eric was born on Aug 18, 1902 (Gregorian calendar) in Tartu as the fourth child of a draper Jaan Adamson and his wife Anna. He was christened by the name of Erich Karl Hugo Adamson.

He received his primary school education at home and at Kooritse Primary School.

1910–1918 Studied at Alexander I Gymnasium in Tartu.

1919–1920 Studied at Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in Tartu, but did not graduate.

1920–1923 Attended lectures at Tartu University, Faculty of Law, as an auditor-student. He was also enrolled for the courses at "Pallas" art school.

1923–1924 Studied at Charlottenburg School of Applied Art and Handicrafts in Berlin under Prof. Harold Bengen.

1924–1927 Studied art in several art schools in Paris:

•  F. Colarossi Academy (under Bernhard Naudin, Charles Guérin)
•  P. Ranson Academy (under Roger Bissière and Georges Braque)
• Montparnasse Academy (under Andrè Lhote and Moïse Kisling)
• Vassili Shukhayev Academy

1925 Exhibited his paintings in Tallinn at II Exhibition of Estonian Art (Sept 15 – Oct 15). Exhibited two paintings in Berlin at "Novembergruppe" non-juried exhibition.

A study tour to Italy. Travelled from Genova to Naples, also stayed on Capri.

1926 Was invited by Jaan Koort to show his works at the exhibition of the Estonian Artists' Union in Tallinn together with Nikolai Triik.

Toured in Finland in autumn.

1927 Joined the Estonian Society of Figurative Artists (EKKKÜ) (member until 1936).

Displayed his works at major exhibitions in Paris in Autumn Salon (Salon des Automne), Independent Salon (Salon des Independants) and Tuileries Salon (Salon des Tuileries).

1927–1937 Displayed his works in Paris in the salons mentioned above.

1928 In May displayed his works in Blomqvist Gallery in Oslo together with Kristjan Teder and Eduard Wiiralt at the exhibition of the "Group of Estonian Artists in Paris".

June 29–July 12 a group exhibition of Adamson-Eric, Kristjan Teder and Eduard Wiiralt at 22 Vene Street in Tallinn. The same exhibition was organised in Pärnu, Anton Starkopf joined the group there.

1929 An exhibition of Estonian art in Helsinki (Feb 9 – March 3).

The State of Finland bought "Portrait of Siuts Barbarus" (1928) for their Ateneum collection.

A trip to the Soviet Union, visiting art collections in Moscow and Leningrad.

An exhibition of Estonian art in Lubeck (Apr 2 – 23).

An exhibition of Estonian art in Paris (May 4 – 18). Adamson-Eric was one of the organizers of the exhibition and also displayed his works of art. His "Portrait of the Artist's Father" (1928) was purchased for Jeu de Paume Museum in Luxembourg, nowadays belongs to Pompidou Centre in Paris.

His works were shown at exhibitions of Estonian art

• in Kiel (Aug 15 – Sept 20),
• in Königsberg (Oct 6 – Nov 3)

Travelled in Europe. Stayed in Warsaw and Krakow in Poland, then in Vienna in Austria and finally Zurich, then went back to Paris.

One-man exhibition in the Art Museum of Estonia in Tallinn (Nov 24, 1929 – Jan 7, 1930): there were 17 works at the exhibition (oil paintings, also textiles which were woven in Tallinn Vocational School for Women).

Spent half a year in Paris as a grantholder of the Board of the Figurative Art Foundation.

1930 Exhibition in "Pallas" art school in Tartu, 2 Karlova Str (March 3 – 23) with Kristjan Teder (there were 39 oil paintings by Adamson-Eric at the exhibition).

Spent half a year in Paris as a grantholder of the Board of the Figurative Art Foundation.

His works were displayed at the exhibitions of Estonian art

• in Berlin (Jan 4 – 19),
• in Cologne (March 15 –30),
• in Copenhagen (May 10 – 25).

1931

Toured in the Pyrenees. Stayed in Basque Country in the village of St. Jean Pied du Port.

Left for Spain in autumn. Stayed in Majorca for the winter.

1932  In spring a tour in Spain, visiting several art centres and museums.

After coming back to Estonia he lived mostly in Tallinn. He represented the Estonian Society of Figurative Artists (EKKKÜ) at the Board of the Figurative Art Foundation, member of the board of the foundation and vice-chairman 1932 - 1935.

1933 Travelled through Central Europe to Greece in late autumn, stayed in Athens until the end of May 1934. Composed a large series of paintings and drawings of views of Athens, landscapes and royal bodyguards.

1934 Returned from Greece in early summer, went to South Estonia, painted Puka landscapes in Komsi farm, which belonged to his mother.

The opening exhibition of Tallinn Art Hall (Sept 15 – Oct 8).

Adamson-Eric got a studio in the new Tallinn Art Hall and also had a one-man exhibition there – the so-called studio-manifestation, where he displayed his paintings composed in Greece.

1934–1935 vice-chairman of the Estonian Society of Figurative Artists (EKKKÜ) and vice-chairman of the Club of Figurative Artists.

An amendment was made to the statute of the Board of the Figurative Art Foundation of the Estonian Culture Foundation. According to this amendment the organisation was not to be elected by art organizations as it had been earlier.

1935 Exhibition of Estonian art in Moscow. Adamson-Eric was the commissary of the exhibition. His "Portrait of the Artist's Father" II (1930 – 1932) was purchased for the collection of New Western Art Museum in Moscow. It was given to the Art Museum of Estonia in 1971 (EKM M 4448).

1935–1940 member of the Union of Applied Art (RaKü).

1936 Jan 2 married Mari Adamson in Tallinn.

One-man exhibition in Strindberg Gallery in Helsinki (Oct 24 – Nov 4). The exhibition displayed 42 works created from 1929 to 1936. A catalogue was published (prefaces by Ludvig Wennervirta, lecturer at Helsinki University, and Prof. Sten Karling, Tartu University).

1937 Paris World Exhibition was opened on May 26, the Baltic Pavilion on June 17. Adamson-Eric received two diplomas (Diplômes d’honneur) for his carpets, porcelain and ceramics. He also participated in designing the exhibition.

1938 One-man show in Tallinn Art Hall (Feb 12 – 20). 148 works on display. A catalogue was published (preface by Prof. Sten Karling, Tartu University).

Received an award for his leatherwork at the international exhibition of applied art in Berlin. A trip to Finland: in Klippula painted several compositions, landscapes and nudes.

According to the Business Licence Act the artists had to be registered and the registration licence could be obtained on the basis of the diplomas of educational institutions. Adamson-Eric, Ants Laikmaa, Kristjan Raud, Karl Pärsimägi, Eduard Wiiralt and several other well-known artists were not able to obtain the registration licence.

1939 One-man exhibition in Stockholm House of Artists (Stockholm Konstnärshuset, May 6 – 18). 64 pieces of art were on display: paintings, textile, porcelain, leatherwork.

A catalogue was published (preface by Prof. Sten Karling, Tartu University).

Exhibited his paintings at the exhibition of Estonian art

• in Rome (Feb 18 – 28),
• in Budapest (March 24 – Apr 10),
• in Antwerp (May 20 – June 7).

At the exhibition in Antwerp the painting "Estonian Girl" was purchased.

An exhibition of paintings in Tallinn Art Hall (Sept 8 – 18) – the so-called exhibition of six artists – Adamson-Eric, Aleksander Bergman-Vardi, Jaan Grüünberg, Kaarel Liimand, Karl Pärsimägi, Kristjan Teder.

1940 The same exhibition in Tartu (Jan 21 - Feb 5).

In June the Soviets seized power in Estonia. A new government was formed - Prime Minister J. Vares-Barbarus, Minister of Education J. Semper, etc.

At the beginning of July an organising committee of the Soviet artists' union was elected, which included representatives from both Tallinn and South-Estonia.

The Tallinn group comprised Adamson-Eric (secretary), Johannes Greenberg, Voldemar Mellik, Richard Sagrits and Ferdi Sannamees, the members of the Tartu group were Aleksander Bergman-Vardi, Ernst Jõesaar, Arkadi Laigo, Juhan Nõmmik and Kaarel Liimand.

1941 Evacuated to the area behind the front line in the Soviet Union.

1940–1942 Secretary of the Organising Committee of the Artists’ Association of the Estonian SSR, 1942 - 1943 chairman.

1942 Artist-in-chief of the State Art Ensembles of the Estonian SSR in Kuibyshev.

1943 Nominated Merited Artist of the Estonian SSR. Participated in orgnising the exhibition dedicated to the 600th anniversary of the Uprising of St George’s Night in Moscow (together with Hans Kruus and several others).

1943–1944 Chairman of the Artists' Association of the Estonian SSR.

1944–1948 Took an active part in establishing the Centre of Applied Art, which was the predecessor of the Applied Art Workshop ARS.

1945–autumn 1949 Rector of the Tallinn State Applied Art Institute.

1946 Became a professor.

1947 Soviet Estonia Award.

1949 Apr 25 - 26 the so-called artists' meeting. Adamson-Eric made a long and extensive presentation (23 pages), in which he analysed his work and art and which was full of self-criticism. It was followed by several speeches by the members of the Estonian Communist Party (Kaarel Ird, Priidu Aavik, Lilli Promet, etc.). In the resolution of the meeting he was accused of formalism.

According to the decree number 236 of the Art Directory of the Estonian SSR of Sept 12, 1949 Adamson-Eric was forced to resign from the office of the Rector of the Tallinn State Applied Art Institute. F. Leht was appointed as the new rector of the Institute. The members of the commission were E. Kuusik, I. Leesment, V. Haas, P. Luhtein, B. Lukats, E. Vaino, A. Margevitsh, J. Liigman. The renomination was effective since Sept 20, 1949.

1950 8th plenary session of the Communist Party of Estonia. Adamson-Eric was expelled from the Artists' Union of the Estonian SSR and as well as from the Estonian Communist Party.

1951–1953 Worked in footwear factory "Kommunaar" as a regular blue collar worker.

From 1953 until the end of his life in 1968

Professor at the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR, first at the chair of composition, then at the chair of leatherwork.

1955 Suffered from a serious heart attack followed by apoplexy, which resulted in the paralysis of the right side of the body.

1955–1958 As a result of serious efforts managed to start painting again, now using his left hand. Spent most of his summers in Lohusalu, which was a good holiday and health resort and well suited for art and creativity.

1962 One-man exhibition in Tallinn Art Hall (in August) and in Moscow (in September). Exhibited more than 900 works, a catalogue was published (compiled by Vilma Reinholm, preface by Leo Soonpää).

1967 One-man exhibition in the Art Museum of Tartu (November - December), more than 500 works were exhibited. A catalogue was published (preface by Maire Toom).

1968 An extensive one-man exhibition in Kaunas.

Adamson-Eric died on Dec 2 of heart attack, he is buried at Metsakalmistu.

Later expositions of Adamson-Eric’s works:

1972 An exhibition commemorating the 70th birthday of Adamson-Eric "Adamson-Eric: paintings which have never been shown before" in the Art Museum of Estonia in Kadriorg Palace. A catalogue was published (compiled by Hilja Läti), included more than 70 works.

1977 An exhibition "Adamson-Eric 75" in Kadriorg Palace commemorating the artist’s 75th birthday. An illustrated booklet was published, which included a list of his works, compiled by Hilja Läti. Exhibited 74 works.

1982 An exhibition in the Museum of Applied Art (a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia).

1983 Dec 2 Adamson-Eric Museum was opened at 3 Lühike Jalg, in Tallinn. The artist's widow Mari Adamson donated almost 1000 works by Adamson-Eric to the museum provided that they are preserved and exhibited in the same building as a whole collection.

1984 Exhibition "Sketches for Carpets by Adamson-Eric" (Oct 17, 1984 - June 1985). Compiled by Ãœlle Kruus.

1985 Exhibition "Decorative Paintings by Adamson-Eric" (June 17, 1985 - Apr 27, 1986). Compiled by Piret Selberg.

1986 Exhibition "Adamson-Eric and Estonian Nude Painting" (May 14 - Sept 28). Compiled by Jüri Hain.

1988 Exhibition "Adamson-Eric's Greek Landscapes of 1934" (Dec 2, 1988 - Apr 23, 1989). Compiled by Anne Lõugas.

1989 Exhibition "Adamson-Eric and Estonian Portraiture" (Oct 25, 1989 - Jan 7, 1990). Compiled by Anne Lõugas.

1990 Exhibition "40 Years of Adamson-Eric's Still-lifes" (Dec 12, 1990 - Feb 10, 1991). Compiled by Ãœlle Kruus.

1991 Exhibition "THE VERY BEST OF ADMSON-ERIC" in Heinola, Finland (June 1 - Sept 1). Compiled by Mai Levin, Anne Lõugas, Ülle Kruus.

1992 - 1993 Adamson-Eric Museum was closed for public, as it housed the graphic art collection of the Art Museum of Estonia

1993 Oct 15 Adamson-Eric Museum re-opened. The new permanent exposition compiled by Ãœlle Kruus and Kersti Koll.

Exhibition "Adamson-Eric’s Textiles" (Oct 15 - Nov 14), compiled by Ülle Kruus.

1994 Exhibition "Unknown Works by Adamson-Eric from the Collections in the USA, Sweden and Estonia" (Sept 15 - Dec 11) compiled by Ãœlle Kruus and Kersti Koll.

1997 Exhibition "Flowers on the Window-sill" (July 10 - Sept 21) to commemorate Adamson-Eric's 95th birthday, compiled by Ãœlle Kruus.

Exhibition "Flowers on the Window-sill / Kukkia ikkunalaudalla / Blommor pa fönsterbräder" (Oct 3 - Nov 30) in Loviisa Town Museum, Finland, compiled by Ãœlle Kruus.

1998 Exhibition "15 Years of Adamson-Eric Museum" (Dec 2, 1998 - Jan 24, 1999), compiled by Ãœlle Kruus and Kersti Koll.

2002 "ADAMSON-ERIC 100" (Aug 16 - Dec 1) - a conference and a programme of various events and major exhibitions in the building of the Knighthood House of the Art Museum of Estonia and in Adamson-Eric Museum; compiled by, Ãœlle Kruus, Kersti Koll and Hanno Soans.

2003 Exhibition "ADAMSON-ERIC 100" in Provoo Museum, Finland.