Kirsi Kivivirta (Finnish, b. 1959) constructs minimalist wall mosaics from porcelain tiles arranged in subtle, gridded compositions. The simplicity of her forms defines each overall configuration, which offers the viewer a sense of pensive, introspective stability. At the same time, Kivivirta’s work contains the rhythmic, shifting quality of life in motion: light and shadows passing across a geometric form, water flowing along river stones or dripping in rivulets, or the natural cracks which develop on the surface of rocky mineral deposits are referenced in her work. Every tile is individually sized and glazed in shades of white, off-whites, and metallic oxides. This allows minute adjustments to each element to create visual deviations in the overall design. Kivivirta is fascinated by precision and variety. Her subjects include everyday spaces, human tools, and natural landscapes. These archetypal forms reference utilitarian objects like bowls and ceramic vessels as well as architectural and human-made structures. Her patterns often mirror the intricate crisscross of textile bonds found in weaves, knits, loops, and knots.
Kivivirta graduated from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland in 1985 after receiving her training in ceramic production at the Arabia Ceramic Factory. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in solo exhibitions at the Mark Rothko Art Center in Daugavpils, Latvia, the Kunsthalle Helsinki, and the Adamson-Ericu Museum in Tallinn. In addition, her work has been included in exhibitions at the Kunsthall Grenland, the Gustavsberg Porcelain Museum, the CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark, and the Yingge Ceramics Museum. She has completed site-specific installations at the Annantalo Arts Centre and numerous schools, and has been recognized with grants and scholarships from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Greta and William Lehtinen Fund, the Swedish Culture Fund, and a Cross of Merit from the Order of the Lion of Finland.
KIRSI KIVIVIRTA
b. 1959, Finland
EDUCATION
1985
Master of Arts, University of Art and Design Helsinki, UIAH
1983
Practical training, Arabia Factory
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
White Light, Täky Galleria, Lappeenranta, Finland
2022
Crypt, Helsinki Cathedral, Helsinki, Finland
2019
Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils, Latvia
2017
Vellikello Art Gallery, Järvenpää, Finland
2015
Galleria Nuovo, Lahti, Finland
2014
Galleria Pictor, Vihti, Finland
2012
Solveig Lindqvist Projects, Helsinki, Finland
2011
Galleria Nuovo, Lahti, Finland
St. Henry’s Ecumenical Art Chapel, Turku, Finland
2009
Artist of the Month, Artists O, Designmuseo, Helsinki, Finland
2008
Forum Box, Helsinki, Finland
2007
Galleria 5, Oulu, Finland
Hyllygalleria, Rikhardinkatu Library, Helsinki, Finland
2005
Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
2004
Aralis Library, Helsinki, Finland
2000
Time Present, Kunsthalle Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
1989
Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
1994
Kluuvi Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
1989
Adamson-Ericu Museum, Tallinn, Estonia
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Kirsi Kivivirta & Bente Skjøttgaard, HB381, New York, NY
2023
AfterGlow Remix, Køppe Contemporary Objects, Rønne, Denmark
Landscapes on Clay, Galleria A2, Helsinki, Finland
Pause, Lokal Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Under the Surface, HAA Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2022
AfterGlow: New Nordic Porcelain, Kunsthall Grenland, Porsgrunn, Norway; Gustavsberg Porcelain Museum, Gustavsberg, Sweden; CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark
Ahokainen – Blåfield – Kivivirta – Rytkölä, Imatra Art Museum, Imatra, Finland
2021
Northern Lights, Villa Streccius, Landau, Germany
On the Edge, Korundi, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Rovaniemi, Finland
2020
Dialogi (Dialogue), Galleria G12, Helsinki, Finland
From Form to Surface, Vantaa Art Museum Artsi, Vantaa, Finland
2019
Blås & Knåda, Stockholm, Sweden
2018
About Clay, Fiskars, Finland
Contemporary Touch, IAC Finnish Members, Taiwan
IAC Members Exhibition, Yingge Ceramics Museum, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Black Wall Gallery, Vaasa, Finland
2017
Avata, Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
Ceramic Art, Institute V-oglje, Voglje, Slovenia
Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
Memory Box, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
Public Art Now, Dipoli, Espoo, Finland
White Noise, Riga Porcelain Museum, Riga, Latvia
Stroganov State Academy of Design and Applied Arts, Moscow, Russia
2016
IAC Members Exhibition, Museu del Disseny de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Finnish Institute, Paris, France
Galleria Katariina, Helsinki, Finland
Gölcük Seramik, Kocaeli, Turkey
2015
Anu Pentik Gallery, Posio, Finland
2014
Ceramics and Space, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
White, Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
Concours International Limoges, Ville de Limoges, Limoges, France
Galleria Arabia, Helsinki, Finland
Gallery Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany
IAC Members Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland
Schloss Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart, Germany
2013
Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea
Pyhäniemi Art Exhibition, Hollola, Finland
Toinen Kattaus (Second Ceiling), Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
2012
Ceramega, Voipaala Art Center, Sääksmäki, Finland
IAC Members Exhibition, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM
Kotona 7, Fiskars, Finland
Metamorfoosi (Metamorphosis), Lahti City Museum, Lahti, Finland
Makuja ja Muotoja (Flavors and Shapes), Makasiini, Fiskars, Finland
Officine Saffi, Milan, Italy
The International Museum of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
2011
Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
LB Contemporary, Helsinki, Finland
2010
European Ceramic Context, Bornholm, Denmark
Feuer und Eis (Fire and Ice), Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
Five Year Anniversary Exhibition, Galleria Norsu, Helsinki, Finland
Muotoilijat (Designers), Finnish Designer Awards, Design Forum, Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Muotoilijat (Designers), The Finnish-Norwegian Institute, Oslo, Norway
The Masters Exhibition, Cudgegong Gallery, Gulgong, Australia
Gallerie Oljemark, Helsinki, Finland
Gallery Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany
2009
Ceramics from Finland, Galleria Besson, London, UK
Journey, Galleria Norsu, Helsinki, Finland
Otto, Artists O, Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain
Seven Views, Koskisto Art Center, Ruotsinkylä, Finland
Iparmüvészeti Múzeum, Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest, Hungary
2008
Eighth International Ceramics Exhibition, Mino, Japan
Otto, Artists O, Vantaa Art Museum, Finland
Signs of the Times, Helsinki Artists’ Association, Helsinki, Finland
FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums, Fuping, China
Gallerie Oljemark, Helsinki, Finland
2007
Open, Annantalo Arts Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2006
Reinterpreting Nature, Design Forum Finland
2005
54º Concorso Internazionale della Ceramica d'Arte, Faenza, Italy
2004
Ceramega, Voipaala Art Center, Valkeakoski, Finland
Syvällä Savessa (Deep in the Clay), The Craft Museum of Finland, Jyväskylä, Finland
2003
Ihmeiden Puutarha (Garden of Miracles), South Carelian Art Museum, Lappeenranta, Finland
The Successors of Alfred William Finch: A Century of Finnish Ceramics, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2002
Findesignnow, Design Forum, Helsinki, Finland
Hot Line, Arabia Museum Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
Hot Line, Kajaani Art Museum, Kajaani, Finland
Hot Line, Salo Art Museum Veturitalli, Salo, Finland
2001
Hot Line, Kouvola Art Museum, Kouvola, Finland
Neighbors II, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Céramique Contemporaine de Châteauroux, Châteauroux, France
2000
Hot Line, Savonlinna Art Museum, Savonlinna, Finland
Neighbors, Mukhina Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
1999
Hot Line, Lönnström Art Museum, Rauma, Finland
Hagelstam Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
1998
Hot Line, Keuruu Art Museum, Keuruu, Finland
Taiko, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
1996
Ceramega, Voipaala, Sääksmäki, Finland
Ceramic Route 96, Museum of Applied Arts, Helsinki, Finland
Ceramics and Glass Faculty Profiles, Into Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
1995
Junge Kunstszene Finnland, Hetjens-Museum, Dusseldorf; Karlsruhe, Germany
Pro Natura, Ltd Martela, Helsinki, Finland
1994
Arioso Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1993
Helmenkalastajat (Pearl Divers), Otso Gallery, Espoo, Finland
Materia (Matter), Helsinki Art Hall, Helsinki, Finland
1992
Lasia Keramiikkaa (Glass Ceramics), Bellarte, Turku, Finland
North, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Pro Patria, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Rajoilla Regional Exhibition, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, Finland
1991
Summer Exhibition, Alajärvi, Finland
Ixia Gallery, Tampere, Finland
Opri Gallery, Lappeenranta, Finland
1990
Decade, Museum of Applied Arts, Helsinki, Finland
East Meets North, Posio and Helsinki, Finland
Finnishe Keramik (Finnish Ceramics), Gallery Uta Goppelsröder, Bretten, Germany
1989
Forty Years Jubilee Exhibition of Interior Designers, Helsinki, Finland
Inside-Outside, Kluuvi Gallery, Helsinki and Alajärvi, Finland
L´Europe des Ceramistes (The Europe of the Ceramicists), Auxerre, France
Figo Gallery, Joensuu, Finland
1988
Coincidence, Kluuvi Gallery, Helsinki and Vaasa, Finland
1987
Finnish Form, traveling exhibition, Finland
Metaxis, Museum of Applied Arts, Helsinki, Finland
1986
Outlines of Thought, Arabia Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
1985
De Nieuve Generatie (The New Generation), Inart Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Final Examination, Museum of Applied Arts, Helsinki, Finland
1983
Pieces, Gallery Vanha, Helsinki, Finland
SITE-SPECIFIC PROJECTS
2017
Annantalo Arts Centre Courtyard (Team: Kirsi Kivivirta, Erja Mehto, Heli Niska, Harri Piispanen)
2012
Wäinö Aaltonen Primary School, Turku
2010
Kontula Primary School (In collaboration with Saana Murtti)
Soininen Primary School (In collaboration with Saana Murtti)
2009
Annantalo Arts Centre, Restroom Wall Tiles (In collaboration with Kirsi-Marja Siren)
2000
Brick Art, Somero Library Courtyard
RESIDENCIES & SYMPOSIUMS
2021
Norsk Teknisk Porcelen, Fredrikstad, Norway (New Nordic Porcelain Forum)
2019
Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark (New Nordic Porcelain Forum)
2017
Twelfth International Colony of Art, Institute V-oglje, Voglje, Slovenia
2016
Sixth Gölcük Ceramic Symposium, Kocaeli Üniversitesi, İzmit, Turkey
2015
Arctic Ceramic Center, Posio, Finland
2008
Fuping, China
2000
Kultela Brick Factory, Somero, Finland
MEMBERSHIPS
Artists O
Board for Public Display Grants to Visual Arts
Finnish Association of Designers Ornamo
Helsinki Artists’ Association
IAC, International Academy of Ceramics
Kuvasto
Ornamo Fund
The Art Division of Ornamo (Chairman)
Vice Chairman of Designer-Makers TAIKO
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Aalto University School of Business, Espoo, Finland
Arabianranta Residential Area
Arctic Ceramic Centre Collection
Daycare Soittaja, Helsinki, Finland
Design Museum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Embassy of Finland in Paris, France; Tallinn, Estonia; and Warsaw, Poland
Espoo Hospital, Espoo, Finland
Finnish Ministry of Education
Finnish Defense Forces
Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
FLICAM - FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums, Fuping, China
Fondazione Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
Helsinki Music Centre, Helsinki, Finland
International Golcuk Ceramic Symposium Collection, Golcuk, Kocaeli, Turkey
Kocaeli University, İzmit, Turkey
Riga Porcelain Museum, Riga, Latvia
Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils, Latvia
Mizunami City Library, Mizunami, Japan
Museu del Càntir d´Argentona, Argentona, Spain
OP Financial Group
Tapiola Group, Finland
The Finnish State Art Collection
The National Police School of Finland
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX
State Art Collections Ireland
Yingge Ceramic Museum / IAC Collection, New Taipei, Taiwan
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2023
Taike, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (group)
2022–26
Artist Professor
2021
Public Display Grant to Visual Artists
Taike (group)
2020
Artist Grant
The Cross of the Merit of Finnish Lion
2018
The Finnish Cultural Foundation (group)
2013–17
State Grant for Artists
2017
Frame
Greta and Alfred Runebergs Foundation
Memory Box Competition, Solo Exhibition Award at Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
Ornamo, Gold Medal
Taike, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Grant for Mobility
2014
Concours International de Création en Porcelaine, Finalist
Frame
Greta and Alfred Runebergs Foundation
Travel Grant
2012
Arts Council of Finland
Frame
Greta and William Lehtinen Fund
Svenska Kulturfonden
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
2011
Grant for Children’s Culture
2010
Arts Council of Finland
Ceramic Artist of the Year, Ornamo
National Council for Design
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
Travel Grant
2009
Public Display Grant to Visual Artists
Travel Grant
2008
Art Council of Uusimaa
Arts Council of Finland
Eighth International Ceramics Exhibition, Mino, Japan, Two Honorable Mentions (Knot
Tiles and White Mosaic wall piece)
Ornamo Fund
Travel Grant
2007
Journalists' Dozen, Habitare Fair (Cubitum stool)
2006–08
State Grant for Artists, National Council for Design
2004
National Council for Design
2002
National Council for Design
Findesignnow, Honorable Mention (Vine tiles)
Public Display Grant to Visual Artists
2001
Art Council of Uusimaa
Arts Council of Finland
2000
Arts Council of Finland
Greta and William Lehtinen Fund
1999
Ornamo Fund
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
1998
Arts Council of Finland
Ornamo Fund
1997
Art Council of Uusimaa
1995
Art Council of Uusimaa
1993
Art Council of Uusimaa
1992
Arts Council of Finland
1990
Arts Council of Finland
1989
Arts Council of Finland
Finnish Cultural Foundation
1988
Arts Council of Finland
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
1983
The Award of the Arts Council of Uusimaa
