Bio
I’m an artist (b.1981) living and working in Helsinki. The focus of my work is on visually detailed, tactile architectural ceramics and on sculptural emphasis with an experimental approach to the material and the chemistry in it. Influenced by geometrical forms and abstract, figurative expression, I create contrasting entities which are often collage-like.
My approach to materials emphasise their distinctive characteristics, creating a dialogue between texture and form, while the meticulous shapes crafted through various techniques bring coherence to the entity. Opposites and contrasts and their interactions are a unifying factor in my work. I find my inspiration from stories, architectural forms around us, different eras in history, visual contrasts and especially from rocks and minerals.
I’ve earned my Master of Arts degree from Aalto University in 2010 and my works has been exhibited actively nationally and internationally. I’ve made several public art works in Finland and abroad and my pieces can be found in public and private collections.
CV upon request.
Artist statement
I’m a researcher by nature and I observe and search for the details of materials and their visual properties. I’m fascinated by how surfaces feel, how different details are created and what kind of contrasts they create in relation to each other.
I am a very material-oriented artist and through hands and touch I originally found a channel to express my creativity. Ceramics is the most interesting material for me in the field of art, especially its chemistry in all different stages of work inspires me. Its endless possibilities and versatility in terms of clay, glazes and techniques is a lifelong journey that constantly fuels my inspiration. Along with the material, the cornerstone of my artistic process is play, which I express and implement through both my world of colors and my puzzle-like creative process. Through play I find an outlet for my expression.
I seek questions rather than answers through my art, because with my works and their figurative world I seek to awaken the viewer's imagination and lead them into their own dream world. I feel that I succeed in my art if I can convey the play of the mind and fantasy through it.
FOLLOW // @laura_itkonen
