Paikkari in his studio, Helsinki
Pekka Paikkari (Finnish, b. 1960) is a Helsinki-based ceramic artist renowned primarily for his large-scale wall sculptures, unique objects and versatile utility ware, and monumental public installations. Using clay as his primary material, Pekkari’s works blur the lines between fine art, design, and traditional craft. His expert use of the medium provides enigmatic imagery creating an analogy for both the human condition–displaying great strength and fragility in equal measure–as well as the passing of time registering as either permanent and ever-evolving, or ephemeral. Paikkari has made a thorough study of the technical properties of clay and employs it in evocative ways. For instance, he developed a unique technique for drying clay. Although the web-like, fractured surface of dried clay is the outcome of a natural process, the artist controls it in order to obtain the desired pattern. Only then are the clay elements fired in the kiln. The process could be described as controlled chaos.
Paikkari studied at the Kuopio Academy of Handicrafts and Industrial Design and has been a member of the Arabia Art Department Society since 1983. His work is included in many prestigious museum collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Ceramics Museum of Barcelona, and the Shigaraki Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Japan, among others.
PEKKA PAIKKARI
b. 1960, Finland
EDUCATION
2003
Humak University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
1983
Design Academy, Kuopio, Finland
1978
Orivesi Institute, Tampere, Finland
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Winter Tales, HB381, New York, NY
2019
Ymmärretty (Surroundings), Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
2016
Puls Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2015
Lost and Found, Gallery Sculptor, Helsinki, Finland
ArtTag Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2008
Point of Fracture, Gallery Be19, Helsinki, Finland
2007
Attempting to Go Over the Mountains, Gallery Katariina, Helsinki, Finland
2006
The Neverending, ArsNova & AboaVetus, Museum of Contemporary Art, Turku, Finland
2005
Lost Dialogue, Artborg 35, Sipoo, Finland
2004
Cataracta (Cataract), Aralis Library Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
I Remember, Sculptures, Arabia Ceramic Factory Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2003
The Stage, Ceramic Sculptures, Lume-Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2002
Konturen in Zeit und Raum (Contours in Time and Space), Rastatt, Germany
2001
Brickmaker’s House, Hå Gamle Prestegård, Stavanger, Norway
Keramikk (Ceramics), Rogaland Kunstnersenter, Stavanger, Norway
Monumentalles und Serielles (Monumental and Serial), Hetjens Museum, Dusseldorf, Germany
1999
Bottles, Ceramic Sculptures, Nordiska Kristall, Stockholm, Sweden
Brickmaker’s House, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
1995
Light and Shadow, Ceramic Design, Design Forum, Helsinki, Finland
Light and Shadow, Ceramic Sculptures, Arabia Museum, Helsinki, Finland
1994
Gallery Bremer, Karkkila, Finland
1992
Ceramics, Kluuvi Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
Karborundum (Carborundum), Arabia Museum, Helsinki, Finlan
1989
Gallery Pinotheca, Jyväskylä, Finland
1988
Ceramics, Gallery Bronda, Helsinki, Finland
1985
Varjostuksia (Shades), Arabia-Nuutajärvi Shop, Helsinki, Finland
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Aether, KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad, Silkeborg, Denmark
Arabia Now, Galerie Le Don du Fel, Le Fel, France
FireFest, Starworks, Star, NC
Interpretations of Soil, Koppe Gallery, Bornholm, Denmark
Paratiisi (Paradise), Kuopio Art Museum, Kuopio, Finland
Process, Iittala Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Tree of Life, Gallery GAo ShAn, Helsinki, Finland
2023
Northern Latitude 60.20890: The Arabia Art Department Society’s 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Iittala & Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2019
Arabia Art Department in Tampere, Finlayson Art Area, Tampere, Finland
États de la Matière (States of Matter), Galerie Le Don du Fel, France
Finnish Aalto, Busan Art Museum, Busan, South Korea
Perspectives, Iittala Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
reCLAYmed, Berg Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Secret of the Paradise, Iittala Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Sasama International Ceramic Art Festival, Sasama, Japan
2018
Ceramics Now: The Faenza Prize Is 80 Years Old, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
2017
New Ceramic Artists, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
2015
Suomen Lasi Elää (Finnish Glass Lives), Finnish Glass Museum, Riihimäki, Finland
9Seasons, Embassy of Finland, Washington, DC
2014
Helsinki Fat Clay, Gallery Arabia, Designmuseum, Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki Fat Clay, Gallery Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany
Keramiikan Tila (Ceramics Room), Designmuseum, Helsinki, Finland
Rajapinnat (Interfaces), Kuparipaja, Fiskars, Finland
2013
Gumbostrand Summer Exhibition, Sipoo, Finland
Juhlat (Party), Nuutajärvi Glassworks, Nuutajärvim, Finland
Kattaillen (Covering), Design Forum, Helsinki, Finland
Pihatontut Joulutorilla (Elves at the Christmas Market), Design Museum, Arabia, Finland
Valeur Refuge (Refuge Value), Sèvres Ceramic Museum, Sèvres, France
International Biennale of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
International Ceramic Biennale, Manises, Spain
2012
Helsinki Fat Clay, Faenza Ceramic Museum, Faenza, Italy
Helsinki Fat Clay, Officiale Saffi Gallery, Milan, Italy
Metamofose (Metamorphosis), Lahti Art Museum, Lahti, Finland
Puusoi! (Woods!), ProPuu Gallery, Lahti, Finland
Valeur Refuge (Refuge Value), Foundation Bernardaud, Limoges, France
Arabia Art Department, Design Museum, Arabia, Finland
2011
Finland, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
Fire and Ice: Ceramic Art from Finland, Gallery Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany
Fire and Ice: Ceramic Art from Finland, Westerwald Ceramic Museum, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
2009
Arabia 135, Jyväskylä, Finland
Arabia Art Department, Grimmerhus Ceramic Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
Art by Design, Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki, Finland
Ceramics from Finland, Galerie Besson, London, UK
Hard Rocks, Sculptures in South Harbor, Helsinki, Finland
Marl Hole, Airspace Gallery, Staffordshire, UK
Summer Exhibition, Villa Roosa, Orimattila, Finland
2008
Arabia 135, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Everyday Life, Gallery Artisin, Jyväskylä, Finland
Everyday Life, Gallery Norsu, Helsinki, Finland
Jeespoks (Jeez), ProPuu Gallery, Lahti, Finland
Keramiikan Kevät (Ceramic Spring), Galerie Oljemark, Helsinki, Finland
Tulessa Syntynyt (Born in Fire), Fiskars Ironworks, Fiskars, Finland
Otto, Vantaa Art Museum, Vantaa, Finland
Galerie Besson, Palm Peach, FL
Rantagalleria, Lahti, Finland
2007
Summer Exhibition, Galerie Besson, London, UK
27th International Ceramic Exhibition, Alcora, Spain
International Ceramic Biennale, Manises, Spain
2006
ClayInDusTry, Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark
Places of Arrival and Departure: The Regional Exhibition of Greater Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Set, ForumBox, Helsinki, Finland
Six Rooms, Art Factory, Porvoo, Finland
European Ceramic Context, Bornholm, Denmark
2005
ArtSibbe, Sipoo, Finland
Strata: New Perspectives on Ceramics from Scandinavia and the United States, Skulpturens Hus, Stockholm, Sweden
The Arabia Ceramic Factory’s Artists, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki, Japan
Rønnebæksholm Kunst and Kulturcenter, Næstved, Denmark
2004
Ceramics, Fiskars, Finland
In Praise of Silence, Lappeenranta Art Museum, Lappeenranta, Finland
Street Gallery, Huittinen, Finland
2003
ArtSibbe, Sipoo, Finland
Finchin Perilliset (Heirs of Finch), Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Hehku (Glow), Kankaanpää, Finland
Keramiek (Ceramics), Kunsthuis Ingrith Desmet, Kortrijk, Belgium
Pisaroita (Drops), Karkkila, Finland
Pro Arabia Art Finland, Form and Design Center, Malmö, Sweden
Retro, Fiskars, Finland
Sculptural Thoughts, Finnish-Norwegian Culture Institute, Oslo, Norway
The Shape between Continuity and Innovation, Faenza, Italy
2002
Alumni, Art Museum, Kuopio, Finland
FinnDesign Now, Design Forum, Helsinki, Finland
International Academy of Ceramics Member Exhibition, Athens, Greece
Pro Arabia Art Finland, Arabia Museum, Helsinki, Finland
National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Trondheim, Norway
2001
International Academy of Ceramics Member Exhibition, South Korea
Metallit (Metals), Fiskars, Finland
Six Ceramists from Finland, Gallery Mokkumto, Seoul, South Korea
WOCEK International Ceramic Design Exhibition, World Ceramic Exposition, South Korea
Biennale de Céramique Contemporaine de Châteauroux, Châteauroux, France
2000
Arabia Artists at Retretti, Retretti Art Centre, Punkaharju, Finland
ArtSibbe, Sipoo, Finland
Nordic Ceramics, Assens, Denmark
Six Ceramists from Finland, Höganäs Museum, Höganäs, Sweden
Suomen Lasi Elää 4 (Finnish Glass Lives 4), Finnish Glass Museum, Riihimäki, Finland
Uusinta (Repeat)/Paper Art Gallery 10 Year Exhibition, Finnish Paper Art Gallery, Kuusankoski, Finland
1999
Arabia 125 Years, Ambiente, Frankfurt, Germany
The Nordic Transparency, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
International Ceramic Biennale, Manises, Spain
1998
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Finnish Design 10: The Turn of the Millennium, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Kalmar 600 Years, Outdoor Workshop & Exhibition, Kalmar, Sweden
Light and Shadow, Mino Ceramic Triennale, Tajimi, Japan
Nature as Object, Craft and Design Triennale, Perth, Australia
Quatre Ceramistes Finlandesos (Four Finnish Ceramists), Ceramic Museum, Barcelona, Spain
Savesta Syntynyt (Born of Clay): Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramics, Fiskars, Finland
Mino Ceramic Competition, Tajimi, Japan
Shigaraki Ceramic Museum, Shigaraki, Japan
1997
Ceramic Exhibition, Manises, Spain
International Biennale of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
1996
Arabia Pro Arte Collection, Helsinki and Tampere, Finland
Ceramics, Voipaala Art Centre, Sääksmäki, Finland
Ett Keramisk Univers (A Ceramic Universe), Silkeborg, Denmark
Luovat Kädet (Creative Hands), Art Museum, Kerava, Finland
1995
Junge Kunstzene Finnland (Young Art Scene Finland), Hetjens Museum, Dusseldorf, Landesgewerbeamt, and Karlsruhe, Germany
Tammisaari Art Museum, Finland
1994
Ceramica Finlandesa (Finnish Ceramics), CIDEM, Barcelona, Spain
Gallery Uta Goppelsröder, Bretten, Germany
Kulturzentrum GmbH Palatin, Wiesloch, Germany
1993
Box, Design Forum, Helsinki, Finland
Ceramics, Pohjola-Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Group Six, Ceramics, Caracas, Venezuela
Group Six, Gallery Maronie, Kyoto, Japan
Group Six, Gallery SAM, Seoul, South Korea
Group Six, Tiilityksiä, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
K-93, Lappeenranta Art Museum, Finland
Materia, Art Hall, Helsinki, Finland
Biennale of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Croatia
International Biennale of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
1992
Finlandida, Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland
Group Six, Båstad, Sweden
Gallery Bremer, Karkkila, Finland
1991
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Group Six, Park Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
KerTa, Lappeenranta Art Museum, Lappeenranta, Finland; Kuopio Art Museum, Kuopio, Finland
International Triennale of Ceramics, Sopot, Poland
1990
Arabia Pro Arte Collection and Exhibition, Helsinki, Finland
East Meets North, Posio, Finland
Iris: Ceramic Exhibition, Porvoo, Finland
International Biennale of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
1989–90
Actualite de la Ceramique Europeenne, France
Scandinavian Ceramics and Glass, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England
1989
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Scandinavian Ceramics and Glass, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Actualité de la Ceramique Européen, France
1988
Eleventh International Biennial of Ceramic Arts, Vallauris, France
Jugend Gestaltet, Munich, Germany
1987–88
Zeitgenössisches Deutsches und Finnisches Kunsthandwerk: 4, Triennale (Contemporary German and Finnish Crafts: 4th Triennial), Frankfurt and Hannover, Germany; Helsinki, Finland
1987
Exhibition of Young Artists, Art Hall, Helsinki, Finland
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
1985
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
1984
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
1983
Finnish Design, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2017
Jokihelmi (Pearls and Cracks), Penttilänranta, Joensuu, Finland
2015
Rantakivet (Stones and Currents), Penttilänranta, Joensuu, Finland
2014–15
Historical Layers, Lampa House, Helsinki, Finland
2013
Joet (Rivers), Penttilänranta, Joensuu, Finland
2012
Broda / My Future Town
2011
Iglu, Turku, Finland
2010–16
Turvapaikka, Sipoo, Finland
2009
Pienet Purot, Suuret Joet (Small Streams, Big Rivers), Sipoo, Finland
2006
Cataracta (Cataract), Facade of the Senior House, Helsinki, Finland (Architect: Kirsti Sivén)
2005
Gekko (Gecko), Helsinki Kamppi Bus Terminal, Helsinki, Finland
Fragments, The School of Sakarinmäki, Helsinki, Finland
2003
The Kiln, Kankaanpää, Finland
1998
Molds, Leppävirta, Finland
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2014
The Finnish State (Five-Year Grant)
2009
Environmental Art Competition, Sipoo, Finland (First Prize)
2008
Art Competition for the Porvoo Hospital, Porvoo, Finland (Honorable Mention)
The Finnish State (Three-Year Grant)
2007
International Ceramic Biennale, Manises, Spain (First Prize, Ex Aequo)
L’Alcalatén Prize, The 27th International Competition of l’Alcora, Alcora, Spain
Shui-Li Snake Kiln, Large Scale Ceramic Sculpture Workshop, Taiwan (Invited Artist)
2005
Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Skælskør, Denmark (Invited Artist)
2004
The Finnish Culture Foundation (Three-Year Grant)
2003
The Finnish State (Exhibition Grant)
2002
The Finnish State
2001
Finnish Cultural Foundation
Frame
The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Foundation
2000
The Finnish State
1999
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
1998
The Finnish State (One-Year Grant)
1997
Ornamo Art and Design Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki, Japan (Invited Artist)
The Finnish State (Exhibition Grant)
1993
International Biennial of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio, Ravenna, Italy
Greta and William Lehtinen Foundation
1992
The Finnish State
1991
The Finnish State (One-Year Grant)
1989
Art Competition of Helsinki House of Justice (Third Prize)
MEMBERSHIPS
Artists of Sipoo
Association of Finnish Sculptors
IAC, International Academy of Ceramics
The Art Department Society
COLLECTIONS
Arabia Ceramic Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Ceramic Museum of Manises, Manises, Spain
City of Karkkila, Finland
City of Leppävirta, Finland
Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Finnish State Art Deposit Collection
Handelsbanken Collection, Stockholm, Sweden
KKAM Museum, Höganäs, Sweden
Iris Collection, Porvoo Museum, Porvoo, Finland
Joensuu Art Museum, Joensuu, Finland
Museo de Ceramica de l'Alcora, Alcora, Spain
Museu de la Ceràmica, Barcelona, Spain
Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan
Pohjola Insurance Company Collection, Helsinki, Finland
Tammisaari Art Museum, Tammisaari, Finland
The British Museum, London, UK
The Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku, Finland
