Sakari Kannosto (Finnish, b. 1973) is a multi-media artist working in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, Finland with a primary focus on ceramics sculptures and large-scale installations. He creates fantastical figurative works inspired by Finnish folklore and fairytales, that explore the relationship between humankind and nature. While at first glance Kannosto’s brightly glazed creatures may seem whimsical and lighthearted, they are, in fact, based on an ancient Finnish myth that animals act as intermediators able to move between worlds and modulate form. Driven by contemporary environmental issues and their potentially disastrous outcomes, Kannosto reimagines these animals’ ability to adapt to the environment damaged by the industrial developed world.
Kannosto graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts of Helsinki in 2005. He was a visiting artist in residence at the Arabia Art Department in Helsinki, and thereafter became a permanent member of the department beginning in January 2020. He is a Lecturer of Fine Arts, Omnia, Espoo, and has excited his work widely.
SAKARI KANNOSTO
b. 1973, Helsinki, Finland
EDUCATION
2009-2011 Haaga-Helia, University of Applied Sciences
2000-2005 Academy of Fine arts, Department of Sculpture, Helsinki
1995-1998 UIAH, Open University of Art and Design, Helsinki
1990-1994 Visual Arts School of Helsinki
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Leirintäalue, Mänttä, Finland (Forthcoming)
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
2021 Culture Action, Grand Popo, Benin
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, USA
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
MEMBERSHIPS
Vantaa Artist Association
Arabia Art Department Society
Medallic guild of Finland
Association of Finnish sculptors
Helsinki Artist Association
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
The Guild of Medallic Art of Finland
National Museum of Finland
Art Museum of Tampere
State Art Collection of Finland
Private collections
