Matti Kujasalo

Painting, 2016
acrylic on canvas
Ø 175cm

MATTI KUJASALO is one of Finland’s most widely known artists abroad and his extensive oeuvre has played an important role in international constructivist art. His work can be approached via geometric constructivism and concretism alike, while op art and minimalism also provide points of contact. The unique feature of Kujasalo’s form of visual expression is the precision, tranquillity and airiness of his works.  Following the principles of concrete art, Kujasalo’s geometric compositions can be broken down into three components: colour, line and surface. A core aspect of the artist’s work is a unique method that is both visual and numerical at the same time. Recently, his previously predominant black and white monochrome has given way, and colours and their combinations now have an important role.  

For several decades, Kujasalo’s (b. 1946, Helsinki) works have been displayed extensively in solo and group exhibitions, most recently at Galerie Friese in Berlin and the LACMA museum in Los Angeles. Paintings by Kujasalo have been acquired for the collections of the following prominent museums and foundations, among others: Phillips Collection museum in Washington DC; Albertina, Vienna; Arithmeum, Bonn; EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo; the Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop; Sara Hildén Art Museum, Tampere; and Moderna Museet, Stockholm. Alongside public art collections, there are also works by Kujasalo in many private art collections in Europe, Japan and the United States.

Painting, 1.2.2019, 2019
acrylic on canvas
∅ 175 cm

In The Finnish National Gallery Collection

Matti Kujasalo
5 Mar – 28 Apr 2020

Painting, 15.3.2017, 2017
acrylic on canvas
175 x 175 cm

Painting, 31.5.2016, 2016
acrylic on canvas
125x125cm

Painting, 2016
acrylic on canvas
55 x 55 cm

Painting, 2014
acrylic on canvas
Ø 50 cm

70th Anniversary Exhibition
3–27 March 2016

Painting, 2015
acrylic on canvas
Ø 65cm

Painting, 17.5.2019, 2019
acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm

In Museum Ritter collection

Painting, 2017
acrylic on canvas
55 x 55 cm

70th Anniversary Exhibition
3–27 March 2016

Painting, 2014
acrylic on canvas
Ø 80 cm

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

Painting, 19.2.2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
125 x 125 cm

Painting, 10.6.2019, 2019
acrylic on canvas
∅ 150 cm

Painting, 25.11.2019, 2019
acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm

Painting, 12.9.2016, 2016
acrylic on canvas

Painting, 17.10.2017, 2017
acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm

Painting, 16.4.2018, 2018
acrylic on canvas
∅ 80 cm

Painting (21.4.), 2009
acrylic on canvas
40 x 40 cm

Painting, 27.6.2013, 2013
acrylic on canvas
∅ 175 cm

Painting, 6.6.2018, 2018
acrylic on canvas
55 x 55 cm

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BioCVExhibitions

Exhibitions

Bio

MATTI KUJASALO (b. 1946) has addressed issues of systematic constructivist art for the past forty years. He has developed a unique grammar of his own, and, based on its rules, he has created a visual language that is expressive, nuanced and imbued with surprise.

Matti Kujasalo’s paintings are pure, fresh and cool. They contain endless things to see and one never tires of them. His works also have a special lyrical tone and character that are rarely associated with constructivist art. They are also intellectually fascinating and challenging, and visually enjoyable. The structures, logic and internal development of Matti Kujasalo’s earlier works are mostly easy to read and comprehend, while his later paintings are structurally more complex, and the viewer has to give up, reject “understanding” and accept the inexplicability of sensory pleasure, its mystery.

For a long while, Kujasalo concentrated on black and white expression, or work that appeared to be black and white. In recent years, colour has become an increasingly central and important aspect of his paintings.

CV

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MATTI KUJASALO

Born 1946 in Helsinki, Finland

STUDIES
1964–1968 Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2022-23
    • Galerie Friese, Berlin
  • 2020
    • Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2018
    • Galerie Rene Denisé, Espace Marais, Paris
  • 2018
    • Werke 1973–2017, Galerie Klaus Gerrit Friese, Berlin
  • 2017
    • Matti Kujasalo – A Retrospective 1971–2017, GASK, Kutná Hora
  • 2016
    • 70th Anniversary Exhibition, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2015
    • Salon Dahlmann, Berlin
    • Galerie Denise René, Rive Gauche, Paris
  • 2013
    • Galerie Leonhard, Graz
  • 2011
    • Pori Art Museum, Pori
  • 2010
    • Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2008
    • Galleria Pictor, Nummela
  • 2007
    • Raum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Zürich
    • Galerie Hoffmann, Ossenheim
  • 2006
    • Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki
  • 2005
    • Arithmeum, Bonn
    • Galleria Orton, Helsinki
  • 2001
    • Gallery Niklas von Bartha, London
    • Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki
  • 1999
    • Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki
  • 1998
    • Ars Nova Museum, Turku
  • 1997
    • Kunsthaus Dresden, Dresden
    • Institut Finlandais, Paris
    • Museum fur Konkrete Kunst, Ingolstadt
  • 1996
    • Galerie Emilia Suciu, Ettlingen
  • 1995
    • Finnish Cultural Centre, Antwerp
    • Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen
    • Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop
  • 1994
    • Ludwig Museum, Budapest
    • Artist of the Year, Kunsthalle Helsinki, Helsinki
  • 1992
    • Galerie Artek, Helsinki
    • Galleria Johan S., Porvoo
    • Chadir Gallery, Kuwait City
  • 1991
    • Galleri Wang, Oslo
    • Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm
  • 1989
    • Galerie Artek, Helsinki
  • 1988
    • Galerie Nordenhake, Stockholm
    • Galerie Diade, Bergamo
  • 1987
    • Galerie du Nord, Borås
  • 1986
    • Galerie Artek, Helsinki
  • 1985
    • Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm
  • 1984
    • Galerie im Bootshaus, Kiel
  • 1983
    • Galerie Artek, Helsinki
    • Galerie Nordenhake, Malmö
    • Galerie Seestrasse, Rapperswil
  • 1982
    • Galerie Blanche, Stockholm
    • Galerie Garmer, Gothenburg
  • 1981
    • Galerie Artek, Helsinki
  • 1980
    • The Collection of the Venice Biennale, Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki
    • Galerie Nordenhake, Malmö
    • La Biennale di Venezia, Venice Galerie im Zentrum, Berlin
  • 1978
    • Galerie Nordenhake, Malmö
    • Galerij Margaretha de Boeve, Assende
  • 1977
    • Galerie Christel, Helsinki
    • Galerie Christel, Stockholm
    • Galerie VECU, Antwerp
  • 1974
    • Galerie Christel, Stockholm
  • 1971
    • Galerie Pintora, Helsinki

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2024-25
    • Experiments in Concretism, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art
  • 2024
    • I feel, for now, Amos Rex, Helsinki
    • Passions of the North, Kunstsilo, Kristiansand
  • 2023-24
    • Yrjö Kukkapuro – Magic Room, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art
  • 2023
    • Art in Space, Space in Art, Sara Hildén Museum,Tampere
    • Swanljung Collection – Follow Your Heart, Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, Vaasa
  • 2021
    • Ink Dreams, LACMA, California
    • Selected Works, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki
  • 2019
    • Finnish Aalto, Busan Museum of Art, South-Korea
  • 2018
    • Killing Me Softly – Works from the Miettinen Collection, Salon Dahlmann, Berlin
  • 2017–2018
    • Real Celebration!, Rovaniemi Art Museum
  • 2017
    • circle sphere disc, Galerie Hoffmann, Friedberg/Hessen
    • Dreamaholic, Weserburg Museum of Modern Art, Bremen
    • Touch – Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection Exhibition, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo
  • 2015
    • Salon Dahlmann, Berlin
  • 2014
    • Sumarsyning, Hverfisgalleri, Reykjavik
    • Les Nordiques, Galerie Denise René, Espace Marais, Paris
  • 2013
    • Construire la Peinture, Galerie Denise René, Espace Marais, Paris
    • Galerie Denise René, Rive Gauche, Paris
    • Gallerie Orton, Helsinki
  • 2011
    • Momentum 2011, 6th Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, Momentum Kunsthall, Moss
  • 2010
    • Mirrors of Continuous Changes, Taekwang Industrial, Seoul
    • Nordic Art Triennial 2010, Eskilstuna Art Museum, Eskilstuna
  • 2008
    • Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä
  • 2004
    • Turhat Pojat, Lönnström Art Museum, Rauma
    • Turhat Pojat, Mikkeli Art Museum, Mikkeli
    • Kerava Art Museum, Kerava
  • 2003
    • Beijing Biennale, Beijing
    • Turhat Pojat, Helsinki Kunsthalle, Helsinki
    • Europa Konkret Reduktiv, Museum Architektury, Wroclav
  • 2002
    • Europa Konkret Reduktiv, Museum Modern Art, Hunfeld
    • Reduktiv, Museum Modern Art, Hunfeld
    • Carnegie Art Award 2001, Victoria Miro Gallery, London
    • Kopavogur Art Museum, Kopavogur; The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm; Kunsthalle Helsinki, Helsinki
  • 2001
    • ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art, Ishøj; Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
    • Konstruktive Kunst aus Finnland, Stadtbucherei Niebull
  • 2000
    • Finnish Painters from the 70´s, Gallery Niklas von Bartha, London
  • 1999
    • Carnegie Art Award Nordic Painting 1999, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo; Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki; Sophienholm, Lyngby; The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm; Kjarvalsstadir/Reykjavik, Municipal Art Museum, Reykjavik; The Curve, Barbican Centre, London traits d´union, Ville D´annecy
  • 1994
    • Konkrete Kunst International, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen
  • 1993
    • Reduktion-Zeihen-Haltung, Peterskirche, Petersberg-Erfurt
  • 1992
    • Kunst in der Landschaft, Erfurt
    • Konstruktive Kunst in Europa ab den 20er Jahren, Galerie Emilia Suciu, Karlsruhe
  • 1991
    • Redukta, Centrum Sztuki, Warsaw
    • 3 Konkreten, Galerie Garmer, Gothenburg
  • 1990
    • New Nordic Art, The Central House of Arts, Moscow
    • Vertical-Diagonal-Horizontal, Kunsthaus Hamburg, Hamburg
    • Exhibition of the Artists´ Association of Finland, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
    • Geometry 1949–1990, Galleria Persons & Lindell, Helsinki
  • 1988
    • Olympiad of Art, Seoul
    • Schneeschmelze, Wiener Secession, Vienna; Sammlung Ludwig, Aachen; Blumenhalle, Bonn; Dominikanerkirche, Osnabruck
    • Konstruktivismus aus Finnland, Galerie Wack, Kaiserslauters
  • 1987
    • Galerie Garmer, Gothenburg
    • Galerie Walzinger, Saarlois
    • Galleri Wack, Frankfurt
    • Mathematik in der Kunst der letzten dreissig Jahre, Wilhem-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen
  • 1984
    • Die Sprache der Geometrie, Kunstmuseum Bern, Bern
  • 1983
    • Finsk Kunst Nå, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter Hovikodden, Oslo
    • Contemporaries, Catherine G. Murphy Galleries, St. Paul; Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach; Charles and Emma Frye Art Museum, Seattle
  • 1982
    • Port of History Museum, Philadelphia; International Meridian House, Washington D.C.
    • Contemporary Choice, Serpentine Gallery, London
    • The Helsinki Group, Kluuvi gallery, Helsinki
    • Konstruktive Kunst aus Finnland, Kunsthalle Waaghaus, Winterthur
  • 1981
    • Sex konkreta från Finland och Sverige, Galerie Plaisiren, Hässelbyn castle, Stockholm
  • 1979
    • 5 Artists from Today’s Finland in Japan, Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura;
      Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo; Museum of Modern Art, Kobe
    • Finnish Constructivism, The University of Texas Art Museum, Austin
    • Rigling Museum, Sarasota, USA; De Cordova, Lincoln
  • 1978
    • Plus-Minus, Southampton Art Gallery, Southampton; Sussex University, Sussex Polytechnic Gallery of Central London, London
    • 1st Symposium of the International Workgroup for Constructive Art, Antwerp
  • 1977
    • Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, Rotterdam
    • 11 Finnish Artists, Galerie Christel, Helsinki
  • 1975
    • Finska Idyller, Nikolaj Kirke, Copenhagen
    • Young Artists ´75, New York
  • 1974
    • Konstruktiv 74, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, SE; Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki
    • Festival International de la Peinture, Cagnes-sur-Mer
  • 1969
    • Nordisk Nutidskonstutställning, Hässelby castle, Hässelby

Participated in international art fairs since 1977

SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Ahrenberg Collection, Vevey, Switzerland
Albertina, Wien
Allianz Treptowers, Berlin
Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki
Arithmeum, Bonn
Arkiv för Dekorativ Konst, Lund
Ars Nova, Turku
Concrete Art in Europe after 1945, The Peter C. Ruppert Collection
Contemporary Art Museum, Tampere
Contemporary Art Society, England, presented to: Workshop Museum and Art Gallery, Nottinghamshire
Didrichsen Art Museum, Helsinki
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo
Fondation INK Collection, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Forum Konkrete Kunst, Erfurt
Gothenburg Art Museum, Gothenburg
HAM Helsinki Art Museum, Helsinki
Hämeenlinna Art Museum, Henna and Pertti Niemistö Collection, Hämeenlinna
Joensuu Art Museum, Joensuu
Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop
Kajaani Art Museum, Kajaani
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki
Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock
LACMA Los Angeles City Museum of Art, Los Angeles
Malmö Kunsthalle, Malmö
Moderna Museet, Stockholm
Museum fur Konkrete Kunst, Ingoldstadt
Museum fur Moderne Kunst, Hunfeld
Museum Ritter, Waldenbuch
Museum Sztuki w Lodzi, Lodz
Nylistasafn, Reykjavik
Parc Olympique de Sculpture, Seoul
The Phillips Collection, Washington DC
Pori Art Museum, Pori
Saastamoinen Foundation, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo
Sara Hildén Museum, Tampere
Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, Rotterdam
Turku Art Museum, Turku
Rovaniemi Art Museum, Wihuri Foundation
Private collections in Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States

AWARDS
2010 Prince Eugen Medal
2006 Award of the Finnish Art Society
Pro Finlandia medal
2003 Award of excellent work for the first Beijing Biennale
1973 State of Finland Artist Prize

OTHER ACTIVITIES
since 2009 Honorary member of the Finnish Painters’ Union
1976– Member of the International Workgroup for Constructive Art
1983–1988 Fine Arts Academy of Finland, Helsinki, director
1977–1988 Fine Arts Academy of Finland, Helsinki, teacher
1973–1977 University of Industrial Art, Helsinki, teacher