Bio
Taru Happonen (b. 1989, Lahti) is a Helsinki-based visual artist working with painting, drawing, and sculpture. Influenced by natural sciences and science fiction, her work often incorporates recurring surfaces and structures found in nature. Different layers have been peeled into view.
She explores a complex, ever-changing world from both cosmic and microscopic perspectives, employing a diverse range of materials. Organic and synthetic elements are intricately intertwined.
Her artworks emphasize the significance of wonder, portraying the world as both intricate and in constant flux. The interplay of surfaces, forms, and materials in her pieces creates connections, highlighting the unity of life, continuity, and the deep layers of time.
She earned a Master’s degree in 2023 from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Her works are included in the collections of Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, the Finnish State Art Deposit Collection, and the HUS Art Collection.
Taru Happonen (b. 1989, Lahti) is a Helsinki-based visual artist working with painting, drawing, and sculpture. Influenced by natural sciences and science fiction, her work often incorporates recurring surfaces and structures found in nature. Different layers have been peeled into view.
She explores a complex, ever-changing world from both cosmic and microscopic perspectives, employing a diverse range of materials. Organic and synthetic elements are intricately intertwined.
Her artworks emphasize the significance of wonder, portraying the world as both intricate and in constant flux. The interplay of surfaces, forms, and materials in her pieces creates connections, highlighting the unity of life, continuity, and the deep layers of time.
She earned a Master’s degree in 2023 from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Her works are included in the collections of Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, the Finnish State Art Deposit Collection, and the HUS Art Collection.
CV
Taru Happonen
b. 1989, Lahti, Finland
Lives and works in Helsinki
Education
2023, Master of Fine Arts, Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki (FI)
2016, Bachelor of Arts, Graphic design, Aalto University, Helsinki (FI)
Solo exhibitions
2027, tm•galleria, Helsinki (FI) upcoming
2025, Vital Debris, Porvoo Art Hall, Porvoo (FI)
2025, Taxidermy Surfaces, Pori Art Museum, Poriginal gallery, Pori (FI)
2024, Taxidermy Surfaces, Helsinki Art Museum, HAM gallery, Helsinki (FI)
2024, Cosmic Zoom, Taidekeskus Mältinranta, Galleria, Tampere (FI)
2022, Cosmic Zoom, Forum Box, Helsinki (FI)
2020, Other-than-human, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Organism, Galleria Uusi Kipinä, Lahti (FI)
2018, Organism, Galleria Rantakasarmi, Helsinki (FI)
2017, She, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
Group and joint exhibitions
2026, A Dream in Four Colours, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki (FI) upcoming
2025, Beyond Matter, Gaa Gallery, New York (US)
2025, Lorax, LIC-A Art Space, The Factory, New York (US)
2025, Once We See It, Gallery Bässen, Raasepori (FI)
2025, Small Seams Open Too, together with Aino Lintunen, Vallilan Panimon Galleria, Helsinki (FI)
2025, Taidehaistelija Biennale 2025, Gallery Loisti, Helsinki (FI)
2024, Versot, Lokal Gallery, Helsinki (FI)
2023, Solar Noon, Taattisten tila, Merimasku (FI)
2022, Supermarket Art Fair, tm•galleria, Stockholm (SE)
2022, Synthesis, Saatchi Gallery, curated by Delphian Gallery, London, (UK)
2021, Ebb and Flow, Galleria Kuva/Tila, Helsinki (FI)
2021, Kiertokulku, Galleria Ronga, Tampere (FI)
2021, Dandelion, Delphian Gallery, Basel Art Fair, Basel (CH)
2021, For the Love of, Hakola Studio, Helsinki Design Week, Helsinki (FI)
2021, Top 100, The Auction Collective, London (UK)
2021, Kuvan kevät – MFA Degree Show, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki (FI)
2021, Kosminen Spring Salon, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
2020, Kosminen Salon, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Andrew Colbert, Taru Happonen & Santeri Lehto, tm•galleria, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Freedom to Roam, Kruunuvuori forest, Helsinki (FI)
2017, Finnish Art Agency: The Superwood Festival, Hotel Rantapuisto, Helsinki (FI)
2017, Salonkikelpoiset, Atski Galleria, Helsinki (FI)
Works in collections
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Finnish State Art Deposit Collection
HUS Art Collection
Finnish Art Society – Art Lottery
Private collections in FI, UK and AUT
Residencies
2021, Ars Bioarctica, Finnish Bioart Society, residency program, Kilpisjärvi (FI)
2019, The Finnish Institute at Athens. residency program, Athens (GR)
Memberships and positions of trust
Forum Box (board member 2024-)
Finnish Painters’ Union (2019-)
Kuvasto ry (2021-)
Grants and recognitions
2025, Tiftö Foundation, travel grant (FI)
2024, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Central fund (FI)
2023, Academy of Fine Arts, stipend (FI)
2023, Paulo Foundation (FI)
2022, Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse (FI)
2022, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Uusimaa regional fund (FI)
2022, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2022, Frame Finland (FI)
2021, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2020, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2020, Grafia ry (FI)
2019, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2018, Grafia ry (FI)
Media
Trickster Magazine, 21.9. 2025, Taru Happonen: "Life, In Some Form, Might Always Go On", interview by Anne Vetik
Art Summit, 1.6. 2025, Featured in “Interviewing the Interviewer: A Portrait of Charles Moore”, article by Carol Real
Suomen Kuvalehti, 47/2024, Taxidermy Surfaces, exhibition of the week
Radio Helsinki, 13.11.2024, Interview about Taxidermy Surfaces exhibition
Niin & Näin, Philosophical magazine No. 118 autumn 3/2023, the artist of the issue
Turun Sanomat, 23.7.2023, “Taattisten tilan historia ulottuu 1500-luvulle asti...”, article by Heidi Horila
Glorian Koti, 1/2023, Nousevat nimet, article by Elina Suomalainen
HBL, 27.11.2022, “Konstrecension: I gränslandet mellan det naturliga och syntetiska”, review by Camilla Granbacka
Edit Media, 25.11.2022, “Kosmisesta mittakaavasta ja taiteen tekemisestä viettinä”, interview by Sanna Lipponen
Helsingin Sanomat, 18.11.2022, “Viikonlopun näyttelyissä katsotaan perhosen siiven kuvioita ja elämää koiran-pennun kanssa”, recommendation, text by Sanna Lipponen
Finnish Painters, 14.4.2022, “Finnish Painters: An Ongoing Correspondence”, article by Mike Pinnington
HBL, 10.12.2021, “Förändringarnas tid vid Konstuniversitetet”, review by Helen Korpak
Uniarts, 2.12.2021, “Kuva/Tila -gallerian avajaisnäyttely Ebb and flow houkuttelee katsomaan maailmaa toisin”, interview by Susanna Bono
Mister Mötley Magazine, 29.11.2021, “Afstuderen tijdens de lockdown – een zee van nieuwe stemmen V”, interview by Charlotte Cuny
Marcy, 16.9.2021, interview by Antonia Hamberg
Leon, 4/2017, feature
Taru Happonen
b. 1989, Lahti, Finland
Lives and works in Helsinki
Education
2023, Master of Fine Arts, Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki (FI)
2016, Bachelor of Arts, Graphic design, Aalto University, Helsinki (FI)
Solo exhibitions
2027, tm•galleria, Helsinki (FI) upcoming
2025, Vital Debris, Porvoo Art Hall, Porvoo (FI)
2025, Taxidermy Surfaces, Pori Art Museum, Poriginal gallery, Pori (FI)
2024, Taxidermy Surfaces, Helsinki Art Museum, HAM gallery, Helsinki (FI)
2024, Cosmic Zoom, Taidekeskus Mältinranta, Galleria, Tampere (FI)
2022, Cosmic Zoom, Forum Box, Helsinki (FI)
2020, Other-than-human, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Organism, Galleria Uusi Kipinä, Lahti (FI)
2018, Organism, Galleria Rantakasarmi, Helsinki (FI)
2017, She, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
Group and joint exhibitions
2026, A Dream in Four Colours, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki (FI) upcoming
2025, Beyond Matter, Gaa Gallery, New York (US)
2025, Lorax, LIC-A Art Space, The Factory, New York (US)
2025, Once We See It, Gallery Bässen, Raasepori (FI)
2025, Small Seams Open Too, together with Aino Lintunen, Vallilan Panimon Galleria, Helsinki (FI)
2025, Taidehaistelija Biennale 2025, Gallery Loisti, Helsinki (FI)
2024, Versot, Lokal Gallery, Helsinki (FI)
2023, Solar Noon, Taattisten tila, Merimasku (FI)
2022, Supermarket Art Fair, tm•galleria, Stockholm (SE)
2022, Synthesis, Saatchi Gallery, curated by Delphian Gallery, London, (UK)
2021, Ebb and Flow, Galleria Kuva/Tila, Helsinki (FI)
2021, Kiertokulku, Galleria Ronga, Tampere (FI)
2021, Dandelion, Delphian Gallery, Basel Art Fair, Basel (CH)
2021, For the Love of, Hakola Studio, Helsinki Design Week, Helsinki (FI)
2021, Top 100, The Auction Collective, London (UK)
2021, Kuvan kevät – MFA Degree Show, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki (FI)
2021, Kosminen Spring Salon, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
2020, Kosminen Salon, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Andrew Colbert, Taru Happonen & Santeri Lehto, tm•galleria, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Freedom to Roam, Kruunuvuori forest, Helsinki (FI)
2017, Finnish Art Agency: The Superwood Festival, Hotel Rantapuisto, Helsinki (FI)
2017, Salonkikelpoiset, Atski Galleria, Helsinki (FI)
Works in collections
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Finnish State Art Deposit Collection
HUS Art Collection
Finnish Art Society – Art Lottery
Private collections in FI, UK and AUT
Residencies
2021, Ars Bioarctica, Finnish Bioart Society, residency program, Kilpisjärvi (FI)
2019, The Finnish Institute at Athens. residency program, Athens (GR)
Memberships and positions of trust
Forum Box (board member 2024-)
Finnish Painters’ Union (2019-)
Kuvasto ry (2021-)
Grants and recognitions
2025, Tiftö Foundation, travel grant (FI)
2024, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Central fund (FI)
2023, Academy of Fine Arts, stipend (FI)
2023, Paulo Foundation (FI)
2022, Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse (FI)
2022, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Uusimaa regional fund (FI)
2022, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2022, Frame Finland (FI)
2021, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2020, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2020, Grafia ry (FI)
2019, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (FI)
2018, Grafia ry (FI)
Media
Trickster Magazine, 21.9. 2025, Taru Happonen: "Life, In Some Form, Might Always Go On", interview by Anne Vetik
Art Summit, 1.6. 2025, Featured in “Interviewing the Interviewer: A Portrait of Charles Moore”, article by Carol Real
Suomen Kuvalehti, 47/2024, Taxidermy Surfaces, exhibition of the week
Radio Helsinki, 13.11.2024, Interview about Taxidermy Surfaces exhibition
Niin & Näin, Philosophical magazine No. 118 autumn 3/2023, the artist of the issue
Turun Sanomat, 23.7.2023, “Taattisten tilan historia ulottuu 1500-luvulle asti...”, article by Heidi Horila
Glorian Koti, 1/2023, Nousevat nimet, article by Elina Suomalainen
HBL, 27.11.2022, “Konstrecension: I gränslandet mellan det naturliga och syntetiska”, review by Camilla Granbacka
Edit Media, 25.11.2022, “Kosmisesta mittakaavasta ja taiteen tekemisestä viettinä”, interview by Sanna Lipponen
Helsingin Sanomat, 18.11.2022, “Viikonlopun näyttelyissä katsotaan perhosen siiven kuvioita ja elämää koiran-pennun kanssa”, recommendation, text by Sanna Lipponen
Finnish Painters, 14.4.2022, “Finnish Painters: An Ongoing Correspondence”, article by Mike Pinnington
HBL, 10.12.2021, “Förändringarnas tid vid Konstuniversitetet”, review by Helen Korpak
Uniarts, 2.12.2021, “Kuva/Tila -gallerian avajaisnäyttely Ebb and flow houkuttelee katsomaan maailmaa toisin”, interview by Susanna Bono
Mister Mötley Magazine, 29.11.2021, “Afstuderen tijdens de lockdown – een zee van nieuwe stemmen V”, interview by Charlotte Cuny
Marcy, 16.9.2021, interview by Antonia Hamberg
Leon, 4/2017, feature