Heini Aho

Seeing Double, Seeing More, 2024
acrylic, paint, lacquer, stone, concrete
ed. 3

In HEINI AHO’s works, the analytical meets the intuitive, and the material meets the immaterial, offering alternative, insightful and even humorous interpretations of reality. Aho combines elements of sculpture, installation and moving image into works that blend keen observations with contemplative thought. One of the distinctive characteristics of her work is the union of different natural elements, whether at the level of materials, form or linguistic expression.

Heini Aho (b. 1979) lives and works in Turku. She has participated in numerous exhibitions and screenings, including at venues such as the Harris Gallery in Los Angeles, Kunsthalle Helsinki, WAM Turku Art Museum, Quartair Gallery in The Hague, OpenART biennial in Örebro, and Riga International Short Film Festival. Her work is included in the collections such as Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, the Finnish State Art Collection and Wihuri Collection, among others. She’s been commissioned several public works of art at school and hospital buildings in Finland. Aho was awarded the William Thuring Foundation’s main prize in 2016.

Installation view

The Spider Learned to Count
5 – 29 June 2025

Prayers and Answers, 2025
video, pea, string, metal, concrete
41 min 5 sec

Watch Out, Wisdom II, 2025
bronze, plate, string, fan, stand
72 x 30 x 34 cm

Fridge Essay, 2022
video
10:30 min
ed. 5

Enamel (Chewing Gum, Lost And Found At The
Bottom Of The Backpack), 2022
3D-print, putty, laquer
28 x 20 x 3,5 cm

Washed Ashore by a Thought: Elevating
Sompasaari, Kalasatama

In HAM Helsinki Art Museum Collection
Photo: HAM

Touching the Modern Life, 2020
4 K video
9:30 min (excerpt)
edition of 3

Corner is a Place Where Two Sides Meet, 2020
mixed media
83 x 83 cm

In Turku Art Society collection

Full Door Stop, 2020
acrylic resin, mixed media
size variable

Pastel Lemon Yellow Soft Passive Aggressive
6 Feb – 1 Mar 2020

Stalagmites, 2017
installation, video
size variable

In private collection

Surreal Salad, 2020
Video installation

Selection of available works. For the full list, please contact galerie(at)anhava.com

Record Player, 2024
stone, PLA plastic, veneer plywood, rubber, wax, metal, motorized base, cable
record player:
53 x 100 x 85 cm
pedestal :
50,5 x 120 x 95 cm

Individually Packaged, 2020/2025
video
3 min 29 sec

Watercolours, 2025
copper, PLA plastic, paper, salt, string, lemon
123 x 123 x 47 cm

Enamel (Chewing Gum, Lost And Found At The Bottom Of The Backpack), 2022
3D-print, putty, laquer
ed. 3
27,5 x 16 x 4 cm

Corner is a Place Where Two Sides Meet, 2020
mixed media
166 x 166 cm

Blush Powder Lullaby, 2020
motor, wood, acrylic resin
size variable

Send inquiry

BioCVExhibitions

Exhibitions

Bio

HEINI AHO (b. 1979) combines elements of sculpture, installation and the moving image into works addressing issues of space and perceptions of the environment. Aho is interested in what happens when one surrenders to the unknown to sense the world with an open mind. She observes her everyday environment, such as the branch of tree that has grown into a fence of metal netting by a roadside or how one’s hand fits just perfectly into a pocket made to measure.

In Heini Aho’s works, the analytical meets the intuitive, and the material meets the immaterial – offering alternative, insightful and even humorous interpretations of reality. Her method is always based on observing a concrete phenomenon and the law-like characteristics of the material. The moving image, in turn, introduces a performative dimension. A subtly light-hearted tone typical of the artist is present in them; it may be a touch of humour, wonderment with an element of joie de vivre to it, or a surprising feeling of freedom before ordinary matters.

Heini Aho is a member of the international Videokaffe artist collective.

CV

download as pdf

H E I N I  A H O

Born 1979 in Turku, Finland

STUDIES
2009–2015 Academy of Fine Arts, MFA, Helsinki
1999–2003 TUAS Arts Academy (Turku University of Applied Sciences), Degree Programme of Fine Arts, Turku

AWARDS
2016 Main prize of the William Thuring Foundation
2009 Young Artist of the Year, Arts Council of Southwest Finland
2005 Artist of the Year, Turku Artists’ Association

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2025
    • The Spider Learned to Count, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2024
    • Parting, WAM Kilta Gallery, Turku
  • 2022
    • The Method of Blackmailing and Stealing Letters, Galleria Sinne, Helsinki
  • 2020
    • Pastel Lemon Yellow Soft Passive Aggressive, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
    • Surreal Salad, Galleri Fikka, Porvoo
  • 2017
    • Square Elephant, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2016
    • The Primary Force Behind an Everyday Experience, Titanik Gallery, Turku
  • 2015
    • Playing with the Dragon, Forum Box, Helsinki
  • 2014
    • Caveman, Alkovi, Helsinki
  • 2013
    • More Black, Small Projects Gallery, Tromsø
  • 2012
    • Thought Leans on Another, MUU Gallery, Helsinki
    • Gravity Monster, Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Helsinki
  • 2011
    • Wishful Thinking, Project Room, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
    • Parallel Realities, Gallery Kakelhallen, Mariehamn, Åland (with Tamara Piilola)
  • 2010
    • Learning Some Freedom, Titanik Gallery, Turku
  • 2009
    • Alive, Old Town Hall Gallery, Turku
  • 2008
    • Illusion, Finnish Paper Art Gallery, Kuusankoski
    • Crime of Passion, Photographic Centre Peri, Turku
    • Crime of Passion, MUU Gallery, Helsinki
  • 2007
    • Put Tea in My Burns, Mältinranta Art Center, Tampere
    • Will You Live with Me On a Fire Mountain, Quartair Gallery, The Hague
    • Beasts, Plants & Porcelain White, Quartair Gallery, The Hague
  • 2006
    • Camping with Indiana, Parasit3, Helsinki
    • Camping with Indiana, B-gallery, Turku
    • Melted Paradise, Myymälä2, Helsinki (with Sebastian Ziegler)
    • White Sand Smuggler, Gallery Jangva, Helsinki
  • 2005
    • Melted Paradise, Gallery Just, Turku (with Sebastian Ziegler)
    • Riket och Nostalgi, Gallery Kakelhallen, Mariahamn, Åland (with Tamara Piilola)
    • Made in China, Rauma Art Museum, Rauma (with Päivi Kastemaa)
  • 2004
    • Wanderlust, Rajatila Gallery, Tampere (with Tamara Piilola)
  • 2003
    • Tailored Mind, Titanik Gallery, Turku
    • Leap Day, Brinkkala Gallery, Turku

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2022–2023
    • Navigating North – Works from the Wihuri Foundation Collection, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki
  • 2022
    • Nature Morte – Still Alive. Contemporary Still Life if Finnish Art, Stadtgalerie Kiel, Kiel
    • Openings, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2021
    • Oasis, Pro Artibus, Tammisaari
    • Pinta, Taidekeskus Purnu, Orivesi
  • 2020
    • Anniversary Exhibition of the Turku Artists’ Association, Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, Turku
  • 2019
    • OpenART biennial, Örebro Sweden
    • When is now?, Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku
  • 2018
    • VIDEOKAFFE: LIFT, Cable Factory, Helsinki
    • Pori Biennale III/Centennial, Pori
    • OBJEKTI 4, Espoo
    • Cure of All, Turku Art Museum, Turku
  • 2017
    • HÄH – sculpture path, Taarasti Art Center, Nastola
    • HEINI AHO & SEBASTIAN ZIEGLER, Andtire gallery, Bremen
    • ET4U – MEETINGS video and performace festival, Central and Western Jutland
  • 2016
    • FIN_BETWEEN, Arena 1, Santa Monica Art Studios, Los Angeles
    • VIDEOKAFFE, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
    • Ornament & Beauty, Gallery Titanik, Turku
    • VIDEOKAFFE: Stress and Strain, One Art Space, New York
    • VIDEOKAFFE: Parasites & Prototypes, Open Source, New York
  • 2015
    • Sika Gallery, Bali
    • meta/data/morphosis, Or Gallery, Berlin
    • VIDEOKAFFE: Standing Alone, Gallery Huuto, Helsinki
    • VIDEOKAFFE: Time Flies, Jumps and Crawls, Gallery Luda, St. Petersburg
    • Research Lab, Parsons the New School of Design and Fashion, New York
      (with Leena Kela, Mari Krappala & Sebastian Ziegler)
  • 2014
    • The Hunters Group: Heart Side Up, Kunsthalle Helsinki
    • Fluxations – flows and currents in the city, Turku
    • The Hunters Group: House Games, Jyväskylä
    • Heponauta, Hyvinkää Art Museum
    • Restlessness, Salo Art Museum
  • 2012
    • Artists – The 117th Finnish Artists’ Exhibition, Kunsthalle Helsinki
    • Fluxations – festival of site-specific art, Turku
    • Collage, Hyvinkää Art Museum
  • 2011
    • Kuvan Kevät – MFA Degree Show of the Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki
    • Maximum City, Survey or Escape, 14th Jakarta Biennale
    • International environmental art event Flux Aura, Turku
    • Annual Exhibition of the Finnish Art Association, Cable Factory, Helsinki
    • Unreal World, Live Herring, Keuruu Art Museum
  • 2010
    • Erased Walls – Mediations Biennial, Poznan & Berlin
    • Kuvan Kauniit, New MA Students of the Academy of Fine Arts, Gallery Fafa, Helsinki
    • Hauska Tutustua, Holden Gallery, Manchester
  • 2009
    • Sculpture Triennal, Poznan
    • Recycling, Riihimäki Art Museum
    • Turhan tärkeys, Turku Art Museum
    • Ecology of Emotions – Mänttä Art Festival, Pekilo, Mänttä
    • CUT Contemporary Collage, Platform Gallery, Seattle
  • 2008
    • Live Herring, Jyväskylä Art Museum
    • KiC NordArt, Germany
    • New Painting, Lahti Art Museum
  • 2007
    • Passion of Mankind – Luleå Summer Biennial, Luleå
    • Art of Bassware, Sanoma House, Helsinki
  • 2006
    • Art of Bassware, Sanoma House, Helsinki
  • 2005
    • Trialogi group: Titanik Gallery, Turku
    • Trialogi group: MUU Gallery, Helsinki
    • Trialogi group: Platform, Vaasa
    • Annual Exhibition of the Finnish Art Association, Porvoo Art Factory
    • Art of Analyste, Sanoma House, Helsinki
  • 2004
    • Annual Exhibition of the Finnish Art Association, Rovaniemi Art Museum
    • Rajaton – exhibition of young Finnish artists, Taidekeskus Ahjo, Joensuu
    • FORREST, Poriginal Gallery, Pori (with Sirkku Ketola & Tamara Piilola)
    • Turku Artist’s Association’s 80th Annual Exhibition, Old Town Hall Art Gallery, Turku
    • Elämä, Victor Barsokevitch Photographic Centre, Kuopio
    • Art of Analyste, Sanoma House, Helsinki
    • Citymind, Platform, Vaasa
  • 2003
    • Young Artists, Kunsthalle Helsinki
  • 2001
    • Me – Object, street exhibition in Reykjavik
    • SIE project, Museum of Modern Art Chaplin, Pärnu

SELECTED SCREENINGS

  • 2015
    • Lux Helsinki Festival, screening by AV-Arkki, Helsinki
    • Kinos Film Festival, screening by AV-Arkki, Lahti
  • 2012
    • Cyberfest 2012, St. Petersburg
  • 2011
    • Voyage – Performance 2011 Festival, MUU Gallery, Helsinki
    • Fluxations – flows and currents in the city, Turku
    • Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, Riga
    • FRISE Kunstlerhaus, Hamburg
    • KUMU Art Museum, Tallinn
  • 2010
    • Time Is Love 3., Werk-Raum, Berlin
  • 2009
    • 80+1 Kilpisjärvi / A Journey Around the World, Linz
    • Constructed Realities, FRISE, Hamburg
    • subvision.art.festival.off., Hamburg

RESIDENCIES AND SEMINARS

  • 2020
    • VIDEOKAFFE: C.A.P residency and exhibition, Kobe Japan
  • 2015
    • Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
  • 2014
    • KONE Foundation: Saari Residence, Mynämäki
  • 2013
    • Pro Artibus: AIR residency, Ekenäs
  • 2012
    • Sfakiotes residency, Greece
  • 2010
    • Residence program of the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York
  • 2009
    • TAC – The Arctic Circle
  • 2008
    • HIAP: Centre d´Art i Natura de Farrera, Catalonia
    • Väinö Tanner Foundation: Mazzano
    • Villa Karo, Finnish-African cultural centre residency in Benin
  • 2006
    • Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation: Centre Meduse, Quebec City

PUBLIC ARTWORKS

  • 2024
    • Washed Ashore by a Thought, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, Sompasaari, Helsinki
    • A Bird – Scribble, Kärki School, Seinäjoki
  • 2021
    • TREEHOUSE, TYKS T-Hospital, Turku
  • 2020
    • Meditative Clock, Finnish-Russian School, Helsinki
  • 2006
    • Ancient Battlefields, TYKS T- Hospital, Turku

WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
Art of Analyste
Finnish Art Society
Helsinki Art Museum
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection
Turku University Hospital/T-Hospital
The Finnish State Art Collection
Wihuri Collection / Rovaniemi Art Museum

MEMBERSHIPS
The Arts Council of Southwest Finland (2013–2014)
AV-arkki
Turku Art Association
Artist Association MUU
Association of Finnish Sculptors
Arte ry
Kuvasto