Henriikka Kivelä

1984 born in Helsinki 

Henriikka Kivelä is a multidisciplinary artist from Helsinki, Finland. Influenced by street art culture, even before the start of her professional career in 2004, her stylistic roots infuse elements of this movement seamlessly with a cold Nordic minimalist aesthetic. Embracing these roots she considers inks, the simplicity of black and white and the hypnotic quality of repeating patterns and textures to be her preferred method of expression. Previously Kivelä’s work has been on display in private exhibitions, publicly as part of group exhibitions and in various cultural events such as Flow Festival Helsinki.

Hardly limited to the canvas, Kivelä is also accomplished in the creation of mood and atmosphere via decorative installations and graphic design for a variety of clients including Finnish musicians and music festivals. Her work could be described as abstract, surreal and dreamy. However, there is usually a familiar component, detail or texture to be found, often from nature, which roots the thematic concept in her expression of our shared reality.

Kivelä believes that visual art is very much a multisensory experience. The visual stimulus is but one component, which must blend with space, sound and even smell to create a holistic narrative. Her motivation is born from the idea that visual communication is a process which creates a story inside the mind of the observer. As such, Kivelä grounds her concept of art in our shared social realities and in the separate, unique reality triggered by the observer’s own daydreaming.

EDUCATION

2004 – Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts

2019 – Academy of Fine Arts, MA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

EVENTS

2005 – Nieltävä kokonaisena (swallowed whole), videoart, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki

2005 – Funky Elephant festival, Tavastia, decoration

2007 – Valon Voimat - Forces of Light - festival, Bermudan kolmio (Bermuda`s triangle), light installation, Vaasanaukio, Helsinki 

2009 – Valon voimat - Forces of Light - festival, Katujen aakkoset (The Alphabet of the streets), light installation, Dianapuisto, Helsinki

2017 – Kallio Block Party, Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, festival decoration

2019 – Flow Festival art installation

ART WORKSHOPS

2008 – City Sámi organization 18th anniversary, Children's workshop / exhibition, Vanha Ylioppilastalo, Helsinki

2011 – The Magic of Lapland - Ateneum Art Museum, Wilhola art Nursery School children's workshop / exhibition and nonstop workshop at the exhibition for opening guests

2016 – Art workshop with Töölö primary school 2b class for MITÄ RUOKAA?  recipe book illustration

ILLUSTRATIONS

2004 –  TIEDE3000 nro2 illustration

2004 – Antti Szurawitzki&Plankton - Tear dropping science & Every other day is ok -mixtape cover art

2008 –  Asa, Loppuasukas, album cover art

2011 –  Jätkäjätkät - Jatkojatkot, album cover art

GRANTS