Heini Riitahuhta (Finnish, b. 1975) is an artist and designer living and working in Helsinki, Finland. Taking inspiration from the natural world as well as from traditional Finnish folk crafts such as embroidery and cross-stitch, Riitahuhta makes detailed ceramic mosaic works. When examined individually, each of the hexagonal tiles in her works contains its own abstract cosmos, while from a distance, each plays a small role in the intricate overall composition, an expanding universe growing piece by piece. Her works are also a personal testament to childhood memories spent in her grandmother’s garden surrounded by the scent of the earth and the perfume of flowers.
Riitahuhta studied at the ceramics and glass department of the University of Art and Design in Helsinki and Sint-Lucas Visual Art Institute in Ghent before earning her Master of Arts in 2002 in Taiki, Japan. During the same year, she received an honorable mention in Mino, Japan. Riitahuhta was a founding member of the Arabia Art Department Association and its first president. Riitahuhta’s work has been exhibited widely internationally.
HEINI RIITAHUHTA
b. 1975
EDUCATION
2002 MA, University of Arts and Design Helsinki, Department of Ceramics
and Glass
1999 BA, Design/Ceramist Wetterhoff/Häme Polytechnical University
1997 Exchange at Swansea College of Arts, Wales
1996 Exchange at Sint Lucas Visual Arts of Ghent, Belgium
1994 Matricular examination (yo) Tammerkosken Lukio
1990 Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, Palo Alto, CA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 Unelma, Isetan Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan and touring exhibition in Japan
produced by Case Gallery, Tokyo
2013 Spiral, Wachoal Art Center, Tokyo, Japan
2012 Circus, Isetan Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
2010 B-Gallery, Beams, Tokyo, Japan
Case Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Toyama, Kakawa and Mie, Japan
2008 SUSI with Mikko Järvenpää, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
2006 SVFF, Werkstattladen Gallery, Winterthur, Switzerland
2005 Lava-artists From Finland and Denmark, Kähler Ceramics,
Næstved, Denmark
VERSOJA, Arabia Museum and Gallery Helsinki, Finland
Biennale Internationale Design, Saint-Etienne, France
2003 Takana Final Work, Littala Shop and showroom, Esplanad,
Helsinki, Finland
1999 Pöydällä, Galleria Ripustus, Hämeenlinna, Finland
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Northern Latitude 60.20890: The Arabia Art Department Society’s 20th
anniversary exhibition, Iittala & Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2018 Design Miami / Basel, Hostler Burrows, Basel, Switzerland (forthcoming)
Ornamon Teosmyynti 2018, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland
Mix & Match, Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
Nordic Art Gallery, Antibes, France
2017 Design Miami, Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
Heini Riitahuhta x Kristiina Uusitalo, Nordic Art Gallery, Antibes, France
New Ceramic Artists, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Finnish Design 2017, Traveling Exhibition in Japan: Fukuoka City Museum,
Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Fukui City Museum, Fuchu
Art Museum, Miyagi Museum of Art
Signals, Habitare, Helsinki, Finland
Jasmin Anoschkin ja Heini Riitahuhta, Porignal Gallery, Pori Art Museum,
Pori, Finland
Kisses and Popcorn, Littala & Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Kasuko No Mori No Titityy, Case Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2016 Arabia Art Department Society, Habitare Messukeskus, Helsinki, Finland
NID + Finnish Designers NOW!, Le Off @ Paris Design Week,
Paris, France
Ligne du Temps, Gallerie Helenbeck, Nice, France
9 Seasons, Embassy of Finland, Washington, DC
2014 Lokal Sato at Konst & Form, Gumbostrand Söderkulla and Lokal,
Helsinki, Finland
Rajapinnat, Fiskars, Finland
Summer Love, Artek meets Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
2013-14 Arabia Art & Design, Artium, Fukuoka, Japan produced by
Curators Inc.
Nordic Passion, Seoul Museum of Art, South Korea
2013 Arabia140 & Arabia Art Department: 10 Years Collection,
Stockmann, Finland
Heini Riitahuhta & Yoko Namiki, Isetan, Tokyo, Japan
2012-13 The Essence of Finnish Design and Culture, Produced by Curators Inc.,
Traveling Exhibition in Japan
2012 Arabia Art Department 9th floor, Arabia Museum Gallery, Helsinki,
Finland
Design Finland, Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul,
South Korea
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS, CONTINUED
2011 Arabia Art Department, Art Fair Helsinki at Messukeskus, Finland
Love Communication, Isetan Shinjuku & Liitto, Case Gallery, Tokyo
Design Tide, Japan
A-duuri, Gallery Angelo Pori, Pori Jazz Festival, Pori, Finland
2010 Design Work Sama at Finland, Expo 2010 Shanghai, China
2009 Arabia Art Department Art & Design, Danmarks Keramikmuseum
Grimmerhus Middelfart, Denmark
Arabia: 135 years, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
Tammerkoski 100 years - Graduates from the School, Tampere, Finland
2008 Fennofolk, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
Arabia Art Department Society and Pro Puu Society, Pro Puu Gallery,
Lahti, Finland
2007 Salaisuus as part of 5KULMAA, 5 Corners, Helsinki, Finland
Nordic Exhibition Series, Röstrands Museum, Lidköping, Sweden
2006 Kauneusvirhe, Arabia Art Department Society, Forum Box,
Helsinki, Finland
European Ceramics Context, Young Artist Series, Representative of
Finland, Bornholm, Denmark
2005 The Stylish Scandinavian Design, Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park, Japan
2004 Finnish Design, University of Arts, Beijing, China
Masters of Arts, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
Dream Team, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Taru, Hehku Art Fair, Kankaanpää, Finland
2003 Suomen Keramiikan Vuosisata, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
2002 The Sixth International Ceramics Fair, Mino, Japan
k’2000, Lappeenranta, Finland
2000 Uusia Jälkiä: Juried Exhibition by 5 regional art committees of Finland,
Pirkanpohja, Ähtäri
1997 Kutani International Ceramics Fair, Japan
1996 Witte Saal, Sint Lucas Gent, Belgium
1990 Art at J.L.S., Palo Alto, CA
COMPETITIONS
2010 1st Prize: Finland’s Mint Gala: Competition, Design of coins, The Series of
Peace, With M. Järvenpää
2008 3rd Prize: Vuores Sound Barrier Competition, With M. Järvenpää
2002 Honorable Mention: the 6th International Ceramics Fair Mino, Japan
GRANTS
2017 Alfred Kordelin Foundation, working grant
2015 SKR Satakunta, working grant Taike, Travel Grant to Japan
2012 National Design Board, Exhibition Grant
2011 The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Main, Exhibition Grant
2010 National Design Board, Exhibition Grant
2009 The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Main, One year working Grant
2007 Art Council of Finland, A pilot project with ceramics
AFFILIATIONS
Arabia
Arabia Art Department Society (Founding Member, Inaugural President)
Lapuan Kankurit
Scope Japan
Kotonowa Maruwa Inc.
Korujamatka
Helena Orava Designprojects
Case Inc
Kotona design
Kankaanpään Kaupunki
Actus Japan
Tampereen teknillinen yliopisto
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB), Helsinki, Finland
Housing area of Art & Design, City of Helsinki
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
Nagoya Children’s Clinic, Japan
Collection of Curators Inc., Japan
City of Kankaanpää
