Johanna Rytkölä

Johanna Rytkölä (née Johanna Näsänen; born 1956) is a Finnish sculptor who works in stoneware ceramics. She studied at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland, receiving a Master of Arts degree in the Department of Art Education in 1982, and in 1986, a Master of Arts degree in the Department of Ceramics and Glass Design.^[1][2] The University of Art and Design became part of the Aalto University in 2010.

Johanna Rytkölä had her first solo exhibition in 1988 in Galleria Bronda in Helsinki. She has since held numerous solo exhibitions and presented her works in joint and group exhibitions in Finland and abroad (for example in Germany,^[3] Italy,^[4] Austria,^[5] France, Spain, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Canada, USA, Norway, Denmark, Ireland,^[6] Croatia, Turkey,^[7] Hungary, Romania,^[8] Russia). Johanna Rytkölä is founding member of the ceramic art groups Artists O^[9] and Helsinki Fat Clay.^[10] She received the state artist grant for a five-year period in 2008 and for one year in 2015. She lives and works in the city of Vantaa in her studio house renovated from a former grocery store building.^[1][2] Being a qualified art educator she also holds training workshops in ceramics, tailored to specific groups.^[11]

Works

Johanna Rytkölä combines sculpture and ceramic art to create unique works of art. Her sculptures made of stoneware ceramics are characterized by clear forms and bright colours and an interplay of matt and shiny surfaces. While often impressive in size, her works give an impression of bold movement, associating with dance, music, or streaming water.^[12][13][14]

Åsa Hellman writes in the book Taidekeramiikka Suomessa [Ceramic art in Finland]:

"Johanna Rytkölä's works immediately drew attention when she started to participate in exhibitions in the 1980s. The public was used to associating sculpture with stone, bronze, plaster or wood. While clay sculptures had for long been made by Finnish ceramicists they had often had a more industrial design and decorative flavour. Johanna Rytkölä presented completely abstract artworks, closer to traditional sculpture in form and expression but still based on mastery of ceramic techniques."^[2]

The 14 metre long "Wall of Joy" designed by Johanna Rytkölä for the square of the police headquarters in the city of Tampere in 1993 is composed of factory made clinker tiles.^[15]

International awards and honours^[1][2]

• Kutani International Decorative Ceramics Competition ’97, Komatsu, Japan: Award of Merit, 1997
• 49. Concorso Internazionale della Ceramica d’Arte Faenza, Italy: Medaglia d’argento del Presidente della Repubblica, 1995

Works in collections^[1][2]

• State of Finland, Nokia, Paulo Foundation, Cities of Vaasa and Salo, Salo Fine Arts Museum, Finnish Broadcasting Company, Arctic Ceramic Center
• Northen Arizona University, Art museum and Galleries, Flagstaff, USA
• Taipei Fine Arts Museum,Taiwan
• Youngone Corporation, Craft Space MOKKUMTO, Seoul, Korea,
• Röhsska Museet, Göteborg, Sweden

Memberships^[1]

Johanna Rytkölä is listed as a professional artist in the register of the Artists' Association of Finland.^[16]

• Association of Finnish Sculptors
• Finnish Association of Designers Ornamo^[17]
• International Academy of Ceramics (IAC)^[18]
• Artists O, founding member of the association
• Helsinki Fat Clay group
• The Finnish State Art Commission 1996–1998
• Steering group for the project Ceramics & Space, Design Museum, Helsinki, 2014

References

External links

• Johanna Rytkölä's website