12 ways to enjoy Helsinki art

Queen illustration by Laura Laine. Highly stylised image of a girl sitting crossed legged with very puffy jacket and skirt looking thoughtful
Lead text
The walls of our homes have become very familiar to us in recent months, but are they missing something? Would a painting or illustration by a local artist suit the wall above the sofa? We picked six interesting artists from Helsinki whose works you can purchase online, as well as six online art stores!

6 artists and illustrators from Helsinki 

Matti Pikkujämsä 

With a reputation that stretches all the way to Japan, Matti Pikkujämsä produces both paintings and illustrations. Pikkujämsä has studied graphic design and held exhibitions in Finland and abroad, and he was named Illustrator of the Year in 2019. The Atelier Matti Pikkujämsä online store offers a diverse selection of his works: paintings on canvas and paper, posters and postcards, books, paintings on wood and original illustrations. The online store also has products designed for the Japanese market, such as his “Lokki” seagull wine glasses. You can also order a portrait of yourself or a loved one directly from the artist. Pikkujämsä has his own gallery boutique at Laivurinrinne 2a.

Laura Laine 

Known for her long-legged, surreal female characters, Laura Laine has made Illustrations for Vogue, Givenchy, The New York Times, and GQ, among others. She has also designed stamps and prints, made illustrations for books, and held a glass art exhibition at the Design Museum in 2015. Laine is a fashion designer by training and was named Young Designer of the Year in 2011. Laine’s works have been seen in art exhibitions in Tokyo, Dubai, Los Angeles, New York and London. You can buy her prints on the Laura Laine website.

Minni Havas 

The dreamlike works of Minni Havas portray women who appear confident and strong. Her colourful, realistic drawings have been seen on the pages of magazines and in advertising campaigns. For example, Havas has made illustrations for Hennes & Mauritz, Refinery29, Minna Parikka, Trendi magazine and Monk. Her background is in fashion design, and her textiles are more stylised and abstract than her realistic illustrations. Havas has designed rugs, snooze blankets and clothing prints. She has even made ceramic art. You can buy her textiles and ceramic sculptures from UU Market, and you can find her original drawings on the Minni Havas website. You can also purchase works directly from the artist by e-mail.

Minni Havas: Marble Blanket. Woman lying on a white floor face down, hugging herself.
Show in landscape format
On

Aura Saarikoski 

Aura Saarikoski is a photographic artist from Helsinki whose works wander in an essayistic way. Her “Research Into Gray” series explores fog, environmental issues, being visible and hiding. The artist often appears in her own photographic works, usually from the back or blending in with fog. Her new photographic art book Gray Days is a meditation on art-making and an ode to her love of fog through images and autobiographical writings.

Lina Jelanski 

Lina Jelanski examines the seam between man and the landscape: man’s alienation from nature and, on the other hand, his longing for it. In her art, people and materials dissolve into the landscape. Human skin may have the same texture as mountains or clouds. Jelanski is a Master of Arts who, in addition to fine art, has made commercial illustrations for the clothing brand Nomen Nescio and retailer Metsä/Skogen. Her works can be purchased from the online store of Hippolyte, the Association of Photographic Artists.

Aapo Huhta 

The art of Aapo Huhta, Young Artist of the Year 2020, depicts people’s everyday activities, getting lost and randomness. His artistic work represents experimental documentarism. Huhta has won numerous international awards, including the Young Nordic Photographer of the Year 2015. His most beloved artform is the photo book and has thus far published two: Block in 2015 and Omatandangole in 2019. The books were photographed in New York and the Namibian desert. In addition to art, Huhta is known for his journalistic work. His photographs have appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times and Helsingin Sanomat, for example. Huhta’s photographic works can be purchased from the online store of Hippolyte, the Association of Photographic Artists. His books are available from the Kehrer Verlag website.

Armi Teva 

Armi Teva is an illustrator, ceramic artist and visual artist who has made spectacular illustrations for the Hakaniemi metro station, among others. Teva’s roots are in ceramics, glass art and design. She is a Master of Art who has held exhibitions in Finland and China. Her ceramic sculptures exemplify the artist’s trademark: her rhythmic, strong use of lines and colours. The Naamat collection features round ceramic faces combined with flowers and berries.

Noora Sandgren: To compose – To decompose (Microbes, 6 days). A colourful spread of pinks and blues like watercolours bleeding on paper.
Show in landscape format
On

6 online art stores 

Grafoteekki 

Grafoteekki is a sales collection owned and maintained by printmakers and the largest Finnish online store for art prints. The most affordable items cost 50 euros. You can search for prints by colour, technique and price. You can also purchase prints from Galleria G in the Punavuori district. 
Galleria G + Grafoteekki, Pieni Roobertinkatu 10

Hippolyte 

Hippolyte is a photography gallery maintained by the Association of Photographic Artists. A sales catalogue is published twice a year with a collection of photographic art curated by an art expert. Photographs are printed out for customers separately, and most have two frame or print options. Hippolyte also sells photographic art books on its online store.  
Valokuvagalleria Hippolyte, Yrjönkatu 8–10

Feel Helsinki  

You can purchase works by Uniarts Helsinki students from the virtual art gallery. You can also view the works on Instagram using the hashtag #feelgalleria2020 or on the Uniarts Helsinki Instagram account: @uniartshelsinki. Works can be purchased directly from the students’ Instagram accounts.

Woman standing, looking through one of 3 head height holes in a wall that is white in the middle but fades to pink either side.
Show in landscape format
On

Sales collection of the Helsinki Artists’ Association 

Galleria Katariina is owned by the Helsinki Artists’ Association and hosts 17 exhibitions a year. The sales collection mainly features artists from these exhibitions and special exhibitions juried by the association. The sales collection’s online store lets you search for works by technique, colour, dimensions and price. You can also rent art from the association’s Artotheque starting from 20 euros a month. Once you have paid the full price, you get to keep it!  
Sales collection: Kalevankatu 16
Artotheque: Rikhardinkatu 3

Collection of the Association of Finnish Sculptors  

The smallest items in the Sculpture Shop run by the Association of Finnish Sculptors will fit on a table or bookshelf, but some can also be hung on your wall. The online shop lets you view the items from all sides with 360-degree images, and you can search for items by shape, material and price. The sculptures can be purchased in instalments, and you can also buy a gift cards that are perfect for weddings and birthdays. The sculptures are on display at Galleria Sculptor.
Galleria Sculptor, Eteläranta 12

Galleria G12 

Galleria G12 next to the Old Church Park presents a new exhibition every three weeks. It also has an online shop where you can buy art prints, paintings, sculptures, photographic art, glass art and drawings. Alternatively, you can rent art from the artotheque starting from just 20 euros a month and for up to two years at a time. If you decide to purchase the work, the rent you have already paid is deducted from the price!
Galleria G12 Helsinki, Annankatu 16

Show image on the left
Off
Show created/updated
On
Show in search dropdown
Off
Teaser text
The walls of our homes have become very familiar to us in recent months, but are they missing something? Would a painting or illustration by a local artist suit the wall above the sofa? We picked six interesting artists from Helsinki whose works you can purchase online, as well as six online art stores!
Teaser Image
Queen illustration by Laura Laine. Highly stylised image of a girl sitting crossed legged with very puffy jacket and skirt looking thoughtful