Bio
Taru Happonen (b. 1989) is a Helsinki-based visual artist working in the field of painting. The world appears in her work as something unfamiliar, examined and dissected layer by layer. Influenced by the natural sciences and science fiction, she explores structures that recur across scales, from the microscopic to the cosmic. Three-dimensional forms are unfolded and flattened before re-emerging as sculptural paintings. She uses a wide range of materials, intertwining organic and synthetic elements. Wonder is central to her work, but it is often accompanied by a subtle sense of unease.
She graduated with an MFA from the Academy of Fine Arts at Uniarts Helsinki in 2023. Her work is held in collections including Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, and the State Art Deposit Collection.
Taru Happonen (b. 1989) is a Helsinki-based visual artist working in the field of painting. The world appears in her work as something unfamiliar, examined and dissected layer by layer. Influenced by the natural sciences and science fiction, she explores structures that recur across scales, from the microscopic to the cosmic. Three-dimensional forms are unfolded and flattened before re-emerging as sculptural paintings. She uses a wide range of materials, intertwining organic and synthetic elements. Wonder is central to her work, but it is often accompanied by a subtle sense of unease.
She graduated with an MFA from the Academy of Fine Arts at Uniarts Helsinki in 2023. Her work is held in collections including Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, and the State Art Deposit Collection.
CV
Taru Happonen
b. 1989, Lahti, Finland
Lives and works in Helsinki
Education
2023, Master of Fine Arts, Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Uniarts Helsinki (FI)
2016, Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design, Aalto University, Helsinki (FI)
Solo exhibitions
2027 (upcoming), Labile, tm•galleria, Helsinki (FI)
2025, Vital Debris, Porvoo Art Hall, Porvoo (FI)
2025, Taxidermy Surfaces, Poriginal Gallery, Pori Art Museum, Pori (FI)
2024, Taxidermy Surfaces, HAM Gallery, Helsinki Art Museum, Helsinki (FI)
2024, Cosmic Zoom, Gallery Mältinranta, Tampere (FI)
2022, Cosmic Zoom, Forum Box, Helsinki (FI)
2020, Other-than-human, Gallery Huuto, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Organism, Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti (FI)
2018, Organism, Gallery Rantakasarmi, Helsinki (FI)
2017, She, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
Selected group and joint exhibitions
2026, Freshly Painted, Sara Hildén Art Museum, Tampere (FI)
2026, A Dream in Four Colours, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki (FI)
2026, Statutum est Hominibus Mori, Forum Box members’ exhibition, Harju Morgue, Helsinki (FI)
2025, Beyond Matter, Gaa Gallery, New York (US)
2025, Once We See It, Gallery Bässen, Raasepori (FI)
2025, Small Seams Open Too, duo exhibition with Aino Lintunen, Vallilan Panimo, 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, Kuvan kevät – MFA Degree Show, Exhibition Laboratory, 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)
Works in collections
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Tiftö Foundation
State Art Deposit Collection, Finnish National Gallery
HUS Art Collection
Finnish Art Society – Art Lottery
Publications
2026, Vastamaalattua – Freshly Painted, exhibition publication, Sara Hildén Art Museum Publications 112, Sara Hildén Art Museum
2026, Nelivärinen uni – Kiasman kokoelmanäyttely / A Dream in Four Colours – Kiasma Collection Exhibition, edited by Saara Hacklin, Saara Karhunen & Satu Oksanen, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Residencies
2021, Ars Bioarctica, Finnish Bioart Society, Kilpisjärvi (FI)
2019, The Finnish Institute at Athens. residency program, Athens (GR)
Memberships
Forum Box, board member (2024–)
Finnish Painters’ Union, member (2019–)
Grants
2025, Kone Foundation, working grant
2025, Tiftö Foundation, travel grant
2024, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Central Fund, working grant
2023, Paulo Foundation, grant
2022, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Uusimaa Regional Fund, working grant
2022, Frame Finland, travel grant
2022, Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse, grant
2022, 2020, 2019, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, working grants
Press and media
Helsingin Sanomat, 23.7.2026, Naistaiteilijuuden muotokuva on loistava mutta turhan tuttu, review by Sini Mononen
HBL, 11.3.2026, Snyggt och smart urval på Kiasmas nya samlingsutställning, review by Helen Korpak
The Unibrow Magazine, 2/26, Resistance to Acceleration, text by Charles Moore
Trickster Magazine, 21.9.2025, Taru Happonen: "Life, In Some Form, Might Always Go On", interview by Anne Vetik
Satakunnan Kansa, 5.5.25, Näyttelyä riivaa ovela kauhuelokuvallinen kierre, review by Tuuli Penttinen-Lampisuo
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
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
Taru Happonen
b. 1989, Lahti, Finland
Lives and works in Helsinki
Education
2023, Master of Fine Arts, Painting, Academy of Fine Arts, Uniarts Helsinki (FI)
2016, Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design, Aalto University, Helsinki (FI)
Solo exhibitions
2027 (upcoming), Labile, tm•galleria, Helsinki (FI)
2025, Vital Debris, Porvoo Art Hall, Porvoo (FI)
2025, Taxidermy Surfaces, Poriginal Gallery, Pori Art Museum, Pori (FI)
2024, Taxidermy Surfaces, HAM Gallery, Helsinki Art Museum, Helsinki (FI)
2024, Cosmic Zoom, Gallery Mältinranta, Tampere (FI)
2022, Cosmic Zoom, Forum Box, Helsinki (FI)
2020, Other-than-human, Gallery Huuto, Helsinki (FI)
2019, Organism, Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti (FI)
2018, Organism, Gallery Rantakasarmi, Helsinki (FI)
2017, She, Kosminen Art Space, Helsinki (FI)
Selected group and joint exhibitions
2026, Freshly Painted, Sara Hildén Art Museum, Tampere (FI)
2026, A Dream in Four Colours, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki (FI)
2026, Statutum est Hominibus Mori, Forum Box members’ exhibition, Harju Morgue, Helsinki (FI)
2025, Beyond Matter, Gaa Gallery, New York (US)
2025, Once We See It, Gallery Bässen, Raasepori (FI)
2025, Small Seams Open Too, duo exhibition with Aino Lintunen, Vallilan Panimo, 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, Kuvan kevät – MFA Degree Show, Exhibition Laboratory, 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)
Works in collections
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Tiftö Foundation
State Art Deposit Collection, Finnish National Gallery
HUS Art Collection
Finnish Art Society – Art Lottery
Publications
2026, Vastamaalattua – Freshly Painted, exhibition publication, Sara Hildén Art Museum Publications 112, Sara Hildén Art Museum
2026, Nelivärinen uni – Kiasman kokoelmanäyttely / A Dream in Four Colours – Kiasma Collection Exhibition, edited by Saara Hacklin, Saara Karhunen & Satu Oksanen, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Residencies
2021, Ars Bioarctica, Finnish Bioart Society, Kilpisjärvi (FI)
2019, The Finnish Institute at Athens. residency program, Athens (GR)
Memberships
Forum Box, board member (2024–)
Finnish Painters’ Union, member (2019–)
Grants
2025, Kone Foundation, working grant
2025, Tiftö Foundation, travel grant
2024, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Central Fund, working grant
2023, Paulo Foundation, grant
2022, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Uusimaa Regional Fund, working grant
2022, Frame Finland, travel grant
2022, Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse, grant
2022, 2020, 2019, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, working grants
Press and media
Helsingin Sanomat, 23.7.2026, Naistaiteilijuuden muotokuva on loistava mutta turhan tuttu, review by Sini Mononen
HBL, 11.3.2026, Snyggt och smart urval på Kiasmas nya samlingsutställning, review by Helen Korpak
The Unibrow Magazine, 2/26, Resistance to Acceleration, text by Charles Moore
Trickster Magazine, 21.9.2025, Taru Happonen: "Life, In Some Form, Might Always Go On", interview by Anne Vetik
Satakunnan Kansa, 5.5.25, Näyttelyä riivaa ovela kauhuelokuvallinen kierre, review by Tuuli Penttinen-Lampisuo
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
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