ARTIST STATEMENT

Sanna Maria Paananen is a 28-year-old artist from Finland. Her artworks exhibit modern day allegorical figures, usually dealing with themes like being an artist, self-identity and being female.

Paananen's paintings are mainly done in oil paint using just three colors. To create contrasts in this otherwise subdued manner of painting she mixes in other types of paint and collage materials such as newspaper. The collage materials are used as if paint: manipulated in different ways to have gradations from light to dark when needed. The end result is a combination of the Finnish and Russian art education the artist has received. Something new, something old, creating a personal way of working.

Paananen also works in collaboration with the painter Tero Ulvila. Ulvila works in an abstract manner, utilizing vivid colors and broad brush strokes, aiming for a highly painterly look. The contrasts of these two artists are apparent, but that is what makes for an interesting result when they work together. The collaboration pieces showcase what both artists do best - which then results in a style that is representative of both while at the same time being something unique.

BIOGRAPHY

Sanna Maria Paananen (born 1988, Kouvola, working in Tampere, Finland)

CV

Art education
2009-2013 Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, department of culture, painting
2011-2012 Repin Institute of Arts, exchange
2008-2009 Visual Arts Education of the Repin Institute at Kotka
2007-2008 Atelier Stockholm

Upcoming exhibitions
2017 Kouta Gallery, Kouvola, Finland
2017 Vaasa Art Hall (with Tero Ulvila), Vaasa, Finland

Past solo shows
2016 Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Helsinki, Finland
2015 Tampere Maja (with Tero Ulvila), Tartto, Estonia
2015 Uusikuva (with Tero Ulvila), Kotka, Finland
2014 Varikkogalleria, Seinäjoki
2014 3H+K, Pori
2013 Unknown Cargo, Helsinki

Select group shows
2015 YICCA, finalists' exhibition, AlbumArte, Rome, Italy
2015 Valvegalleria, Oulu, Finland (collaboration paintings)
2015 Eloa -festival, Helsinki, Finland
2015 Galleria Johan S, Helsinki, Finland (collaboration paintings)
2015 Galleria 2, Pirkkala, Finland (collaboration paintings)
2014 Galleria  Uusi Kipinä, Lahti, Finland
2014 Galleria Hoi Sie, Lappeenranta, Finland

2014 Galleria Pihatto, Lappeenranta, Finland

2014 Imatra Town Hall, Imatra, Finland
2014 The Art of Basware, Musiikkitalo, Helsinki, Finland
2013 Art Museum Lahti, Lahti, Finland
2013 Art Museum Imatra, Imatra, Finland
2012 Art Museum Imatra, Imatra, Finland
2010 Art Museum Kouvola, Kouvola, Finland
2010 Human|Culture, Imatra, Finland
2010 Galleria Kulo, Tallinn, Estonia
2010 Galleria Uusikuva, Kotka, Finland
2009 Galleria Raami, Helsinki, Finland

Grants
2016 Finnish Cultural Foundation, Kymenlaakso Regional fund
2015 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Arts Council of Southeast Finland
2014 City of Imatra, grant for arranging an exhibition
2014 City of Imatra, grant for arranging an exhibition
2014 Finnish Cultural Foundation, the South Ostrobothnia Regional Fund, grant for arranging an exhibition
2013 City of Imatra, Art grant

Contests
2016 Longlisted, The Art of Basware
2015 Finalist, Young International Competition of Contemporary Art
2015 Longlisted, TFHMFaward (collaboration with Tero Ulvila)
2014 Longlisted, The Art of Basware

Memberships
2016- Rajataide Association
2015- Finnish Painters' Union
2015- Tampere Artists' Association
2013- South Karelian Artists' Association

In collections
Saimaa University of Applied Sciences
Helia Fund
City of Äänekoski