Sonja Salomäki Profile Picture

Sonja Salomäki

Helsinki, Finland •
Artist (Textile Art) •
Born 1977 •
Exploring new ways to visualise surrounding phenomena and atmospheres through textile/visual art techniques.

Sonja Salomäki, a textile artist and doctoral researcher at the University of Lapland. Having born and spent her whole life in Helsinki, the city with its people and phenomena are often manifest in Salomäki's works - e.g. tufted rugs, cloth collages and tapestries.


Salomäki sees textiles as surfaces and rhythms, loves colors, layers, geometry and creating space on a surface. She is inspired by old textiles or clothes (or other surfaces such as moss) which she extends, makes an intervention on or adapts to a new form.

Incessantly observing her surroundings Salomäki often births her works from the contradiction and interaction of the reigning reality and her own ideas and thinking. The urban environment with its buildings, people and  phenomena inspires her especially. Possibly her childhood district, a gray suburb, has made Salomäki a big enthusiast of colors and layers. 

To some extent Salomäki is a traditional artist-observer, scrutinizing and revealing things that other persons do not dare, realize or have time to think. The theme of her recent artistic work has been climate change and her doctoral dissertation is about the influencing possibilities of climate art from the audience point of view.  Salomäki’s art work might be looming over visual- and  textile art, but essentially she just does what is own and natural to her. 

Salomäki finds the working process very important. She uses different techniques; weaving, tufting, painting with textile colors on different surfaces and her works can change radically during the elaboration. According to her experience, the art work always changes during the making process - even in surprising ways. That's why Salomäki prefers to make her artworks herself, even though it can be painfully slow - at least compared to the modern concept of time and efficiency.

Discover contemporary artworks by Sonja Salomäki, browse recent artworks and buy online. Categories: contemporary finnish artists. Artistic domains: Textile Art. Account type: Artist , member since 2023 (Country of origin Finland). Buy Sonja Salomäki's latest works on Artmajeur: Discover great art by contemporary artist Sonja Salomäki. Browse artworks, buy original art or high end prints.

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Biography

Sonja Salomäki, a textile artist and doctoral researcher at the University of Lapland. Having born and spent her whole life in Helsinki, the city with its people and phenomena are often manifest in Salomäki's works - e.g. tufted rugs, cloth collages and tapestries.


Salomäki sees textiles as surfaces and rhythms, loves colors, layers, geometry and creating space on a surface. She is inspired by old textiles or clothes (or other surfaces such as moss) which she extends, makes an intervention on or adapts to a new form.

Incessantly observing her surroundings Salomäki often births her works from the contradiction and interaction of the reigning reality and her own ideas and thinking. The urban environment with its buildings, people and  phenomena inspires her especially. Possibly her childhood district, a gray suburb, has made Salomäki a big enthusiast of colors and layers. 

To some extent Salomäki is a traditional artist-observer, scrutinizing and revealing things that other persons do not dare, realize or have time to think. The theme of her recent artistic work has been climate change and her doctoral dissertation is about the influencing possibilities of climate art from the audience point of view.  Salomäki’s art work might be looming over visual- and  textile art, but essentially she just does what is own and natural to her. 

Salomäki finds the working process very important. She uses different techniques; weaving, tufting, painting with textile colors on different surfaces and her works can change radically during the elaboration. According to her experience, the art work always changes during the making process - even in surprising ways. That's why Salomäki prefers to make her artworks herself, even though it can be painfully slow - at least compared to the modern concept of time and efficiency.

Sonja Salomäki - The artist at work

Influences

Camilla Mickwitz, Hilma af Klint, Elsa Beskow

Education

2018 - 2025 ​Doctoral studies in the University of Lapland Rovaniemi, Finland
2001 - 2006 MA, University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland

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Achievements

Prizes and Awards

2022 Arts Promotion Centre Finland: Covid19-Support Grant, 6 Months Finland
2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland: Covid19-Support Grant, 3 Months Finland
2018 The Finnish Culture Foundation: 3 Year Grant Finland
2017 Arts Promotion Centre Finland: Visual Arts Public Display Grant Finland
2016 Kone Foundation: 1 Year Grant Finland
2014 The Finnish Culture Foundation: 1 Year Grant Finland
2013 Kone Foundation: 1 Year Grant Finland
2012 City Of Helsinki: Operational Arts Grant Finland
2010 Arts Promotion Centre Finland: Visual Arts Public Display Grant Finland
2009 Finnish Art Society: Young Artist Grant Finland
2008 Ornamo Foundation: Ornamo Design Award Finland

Collective Expositions

2023 Softy @Helsinki Art Museum, Finland
2022 Zone - Vyöhyke @Kotka Art Summer Exhibition Kotka, Finland
2021 Extraction / Uutos @ Gallery Moletti, Forssa Museum Forssa, Finland
2021 Textile 2021 @ Creation Gallery Lahti, Finland
2021 Myyrmäki Street Art Triennale @Vantaa, Finland
2021 Extraction - Uutos @ Savonlinna Museum, Riihisaari Savonlinna, Finland
2020 “Treasure Island”, International Exhibition Of Mini Textiles @ Russian Lefty Museum St Petersburg, Russia
2019 The Climate Channel Retrospective" @ Kanneltalo Gallery Helsinki, Finland
2018 Tiloissa, Summer Exhibition @ Haihatus Joutsa, Finland
2018 Yarn Visions @ Kajaani Art Museum Kajaani, Finland
2017 Kakofonia Galleria Rantakasarmi Helsinki, Finland
2017 Yarn Visions @ Art Museum Sinkka Kerava, Finland
2016 Korea Bojagi Forum @ Sima Museum And Several Galleries Suwon Hwaseong, South Korea
2016 5000M2 @ Lappeenranta City Theatre Lappeenranta, Finland
2015 Devotion And Messing Around - Hartautta Ja Häröilyä- Summer Exhibition @ Haihatus Joutsa, Finland
2014 Melankolia - Summer Exhibiton @ Villa Roosa Orimattila, Finland
2013 Spark - Kipinä- Summer Exhibition @ Fiskars Karjaa, Finland
2012 1-2-3-Helsinki ! Design En Seine @Paris, France
2011 Present - Preesens- Touring Exhibition @St. Petersburg @Jyväskylä @Oulu @Helsinki, Finland
2010 Summer Exhibition @ Järnboden I Harg Sweden
2010 Summer Exhibition @ Purnu Art Center Orivesi, Finland
2010 13Th International Triennial Of Tapestry @Lodz, Poland
2009 Ryijy!-Exhibition @ Design Museum Helsinki, Finland
2007 Lapua Art Museum @Lapua, Finland

Permanent Collections

2017 "Hiilenkierto Kansallismaisemassa" @ Hämeenlinna Art Museum Finland
2010 "Verkkarikerrostalo" Finnish State Art Commission, Finnish National Gallery Finland
2010 "Mylly Hertsikassa" Finnish State Art Commission, Finnish National Gallery Finland
2009 From The Warmth Of The Store To The Home Street - Kaupan Lämmöstä Kotikadulle Helsinki Art Museum, Finland
2007 "Yläkiventien Kerrostalo" @ Helsinki City Museum Finland
2006 "Myllypuron Ostari" Finnish State Art Commission, Finnish National Gallery Finland

Residencies

2020 2 Weeks @ Ii Finland
2019 1 Month @ Sfakiotes Greece
2017 1 Month @ Koli Finland
2016 1 Month @ Valosag Budapest, Hungary
2013 2 Months @ Cité Des Arts Paris, France
2011 3 Months @ Cité Des Arts Paris, France
2009 2 Months @ Oaxaca Mexico
2007 2 Months @ Porvoo Art Factory Porvoo, Finland

Solo Expositions

2023 "Farewell Fossil Utopia!" @ Stoa Helsinki, Finland
2022 "Moido Fossiiliutopia! - Fake It Till You Make It" @ Gallery Rajatila Tampere, Finland
2018 @ Gallery Hämärä, University Of Lapland Rovaniemi, Finland
2017 @Kolin Ryynänen Koli, Finland
2017 @ Creat Gallery Helsinki, Finland
2014 @ Gallery Huuto, Jätkäsaari Helsinki, Finland
2014 @Gallery Poriginal Pori, Finland
2014 @ Galleri Korn Stockholm, Sweden
2013 @ Gallery Lasipalatsi Helsinki, Finland
2013 @ Stoa Helsinki, Finland
2009 @ Gallery Lasipalatsi Helsinki, Finland
2006 @ Gallery Lasipalatsi Helsinki, Finland

Activity on Artmajeur

Last modification date : Nov 22, 2023 (Member since 2023)
Image views: 37,969
Artworks by Sonja Salomäki added to favorite collections: 21

Latest News
All the latest news from contemporary artist Sonja Salomäki

Added Aug 3, 2023

The Helsinki Artist of the year

Finland

Monday 12 June 2023
Tuesday 11 June 2024

https://www.hel.fi/en/news/city-of-helsinki-presents-awards-to-distinguished-residents-on-helsinki-day

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Reviews and comments

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Textile Art titled "The Route is Clear!" by Sonja Salomäki, Original Artwork, Tapestry
©2022 Sonja Salomäki
The Route is Clear! - Textile Art, 39.4x35.4 in ©2022 by Sonja Salomäki - Symbolism, symbolism-1020, Nature, Winter, North, Sleigh
Oksana Verstiuk Portrait
Oksana Verstiuk •
Великолепно! Прекрасный гобелен, восторг!!! Знаю и понимаю что этот труд затратный по времени, а всё таки эффект картины- гобелена прекрасен и уникален. Прекрасные произведения.
Fabulous! Beautiful tapestry, delight!!! I know and understand that this work is time-consuming, but still the effect of the tapestry painting is beautiful and unique. Excellent works.
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