Photo by Chikako Harada
Sakari Kannosto (Finnish, b. 1973) is a multimedia artist working in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa, Finland, with a primary focus on ceramic sculptures and large-scale installations. His fantastical and figurative creatures are inspired by fables, Greek mythology, and Finnish folklore. As he sculpts part-human, part-mermaid, part-animal beings, he references the Finnish myth that animals can shape-shift, traveling between worlds as protectors. Imbued with whimsy and humor, Kannosto’s work is also underscored by a deep environmental consciousness. By reimagining a future where humans unite with nature to create adaptive, survivalist families, Kannosto addresses the potentially disastrous environmental consequences brought on by the industrialized world. For Kannosto, clay is crucial to the actualization of his work. As an ancient medium, it has long been a conduit for coded information. He continues in this vein, luring magic out of the clay as he creates a cast of creatures for modern fairytales. There is something deeply hopeful here.
Kannosto graduated from Helsinki's Academy of Fine Arts in 2005. In 2014, he was granted an honorary award for environmental education due to his work as a lecturer and educator. After completing an artist-in-residence at the Arabia Art Department in Helsinki, he became a permanent member of the department in January 2020 and is now the chairman of the board. He is a Lecturer of Fine Arts at Omnia in Espoo and has exhibited widely. Notably, his work can be found in the collections of the National Museum of Finland and the Art Museum of Tampere.
SAKARI KANNOSTO
b. 1973, Helsinki, Finland
EDUCATION
2011 Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences
2005 Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture, Helsinki, Finland
1998 UIAH, Open University of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland
1994 Visual Arts School of Helsinki, Finland
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 The Age of Aquarius, Galleria Pictor, Nummela, Finland
2022 Children of the Flood, HB381, New York, NY
Leirintäalue, Mänttä, Finland
Spring Song, S/E/B Bank, Window Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2021 On The Beach, Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Sipoo, Finland
2020 Mole, Chantarelle & Lollipop Tree, Galleria Saskia, Tampere, Finland
2018 Ark I, Library of Sello, Espoo, Finland
Media Igloo, Gallery Mältinranta, Finland
Media Igloo, Omnia, Espoo, Finland
2017 Ceramic Art, Restaurant Silvoplee, Helsinki, Finland
Ark I, Omnia, Espoo, Finland
Sakari Kannosto, Galleria Sculptor, Helsinki Finland
2014 Afri-Chicken, Gran Popo, Benin
2013 Border, Omnia, Espoo, Finland
2007 Dream Speed, Galleria Katariina, Helsinki, Finland
2003 Beach Gallery, Järvenpää, Finland
Tieto-Enator, Gallen Kallela Museum, Espoo, Finland
2002 Perho Perhe, Butterfly Family, Sörnäinen, Helsinki, Finland
1999 Sculptures, Inaugural Exhibition, Kulttuuriareena Gloria, Helsinki, Finland
1998 Sculptures, Restaurant Cantina West, Helsinki, Finland
TURN-ON, Sörnäinen Art House, Helsinki, Finland
TURN-ON, Stoa-galleria, Helsinki, Finland
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Ikipuhe, Culture House Jaatsi, Sastamala, Finland
2023 Northern Latitude 60.20890: The Arabia Art Department Society’s 20th
Anniversary Exhibition, Iittala & Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Atelier Life, Hvitträsk National Museum of Finland, Kirkkonummi, Finland
2022 Imago Mundi, Surrealism Exhibition, Gallery Ice Room, Joutsa, Finland
Camping site, Art House Brander, Mänttä, Finland
2021 Culture Action, Grand Popo, Benin
Contemporary Finnish Artists, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Clay Ceremony: Riska, Kannosto, Anoschkin, Huotari, Riitahuhta, Muji,
Helsinki, Finland
On the Edge, Korundi, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Finland
Burning Desire, Avantgardevekkula, Haihatus, Joutsa, Finland
TEOS, Suvilahti, Helsinki, Finland
2020 Animal Dam, Topi Ruotsalainen, Galleria Pato, Kuusankoski, Finland
Arabia Art Department Society: New Seasons, Muji, Kamppi, Finland
Erotic Art Vol 2., Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Helsinki, Finland
Group Exhibition, S/E/B Bank Gallery, Etelä-Esplanadi 18, Helsinki, Finland
Ceramega 2020, Särmä, Voipaala Art Center, Voipaala, Finland
Avantgardevekkula, Haihatus, Joutsa, Finland
Forest Primeval, Inaugural Exhibition, Hostler Burrows, Los Angeles, CA
TEOS 2020, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland
2019 Finlayson, Art Area, Himmelblau, Tampere, Finland
Group Exhibition, curated by Marja Helander, Mänttä, Finland
Group Exhibition, Iittala & Arabia Design Center, Helsinki, Finland
2018 Karhulan Hovi, Haihatus, Joutsa, Finland
Gallery Old Smoke, Merikarvia, Finland
About Clay, Fiskars Village, Finland
2016 Kari Hakli, Kukka Paavilainen, Sakari Kannosto, Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius,
Helsinki, Finland
2015 Sculptures, Art Goes Kapakka, Tsiigaa! Goes Graffiti, Cafe Engel, Helsinki, Finland
The News Play of the Week, Haihatus, Joutsa, Finland
2014 Ceramics and Space: The Exhibition of Contemporary Finnish Ceramics, Design
Museo, Helsinki, Finland
Objekti, Espoo Kunsthalle, Finland
2013 Border, Hyvinkään Asuntomessut, Hyvinkää, Finland
Artist Chain, Blaue Fraue-group, Diana Teather, Helsinki, Finland
2012 Artists 2012, Helsinki Kunsthalle, Finland
Art Forum, Helsinki Kunsthalle, Finland
Ceramega, Voipaala Art Center, Valkeakoski, Finland
2011 Art Forum, Exhibition Hall of Helsinki, Finland
Ars Auttoinen, Ovi Rivoon, Finland
2010 FIDEM, Tampere Art Museum, Finland
2009 Dream Speed, Honkahovi, Mänttä, Finland
2008 Annual Exhibition of the Finnish Artists’ Association, Kuntsin Nykytaiteen Museo,
Finland
Behind the Mustache, Cable factory, Helsinki, Finland
Miracle Art, Taidekeskus Ihana
2007 Tsiigaa, Art Goes Kapakka, Helsinki, Finland
V.I.P. 25 – Best Artists in the Finland, Curator Jani Leinonen, Mänttä, Finland
2006 Art Supermarket, Gallerry Pikasso, Helsinki, Finland
2005 HOME, Vanha Kappalaisentalo, Porvoo, Finland
Academy of Fine Arts, Graduate Exhibition, Helsinki Art Museum, Tennispalatsi,
Finland
Finnish Medal Guild, Tampere Art Museum, Finland
2004 V.I.P – Academy of Fine Art, Helsinki, Finland
White, V.I.P Ruukki, Fiskars Village, Finland
Ceramic, Voipaala Art Center, Valkeakoski, Finland
Hehku! – Ceramic Happening, Kankaanpää, Finland
2003 Academy of Fine Arts, Group Exhibition, Helsinki, Finland
2002 Medallic Art on Purnu, Orivesi, Finland
2001 Forces of light, MEMORY, Esplanadi, Helsinki, Finland
Exhibition of Young Artists, Helsinki Kunsthalle, Finland
2000 Terror 2000, ROR –Group, Nordic House, Reykjavik, Iceland
Terror 2000, ROR –Group, INTO gallery, Helsinki, Finland
COLLECTIONS
The Guild of Medallic Art of Finland
National Museum of Finland
Art Museum of Tampere, Finland
State Art Collection of Finland
MEMBERSHIPS
Vantaa Artist Association
Arabia Art Department Society
The Guild of Medallic Art of Finland
Association of Finnish sculptors
Helsinki Artist Association
