Born Helsinki, Finland 1972 / Migrated to Australia 1996. (FIN / AUS)
Gallery representation: Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne
Qualifications
2008–2013
- BA Honours in Fine Art: Object Based Design (Gold & Silversmithing), RMIT University, Naarm/Melbourne.
2002
- First Class BA Honours in Visual Communication: Graphic Design and Photography, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia.
2002–2003
- Extension studies in Gold & Silversmithing, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia.
1992–1995
- Studies in Visual Communication MA Program: Graphic Design, UIAH (Aalto University), Helsinki, Finland.
Professional practice and development
2010–present
- Independent art and design studio practice, Bulleke-Bek/Brunswick, Victoria, Australia.
1996–present
- Graphic design and art direction for studios in Australia and overseas, focusing on the arts and culture sector.
2001–2003
- Lecturing in Visual Communication, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia.
2010–2014
- Masterclasses with Lucy Sarneel, Linda Darty, Doris Betz and David Bielander, RMIT.
- Workshops with Professor Elizabeth Turrell, JMGA National Conference, Perth, Western Australia.
Design commissions
2021–2022
- ‘Look into (Your) Nature’ workshop — designed and facilitated a three-day immersive course on investigating the creative process and material innovation, for JamFactory, Adelaide.
2014–2017
- ‘The Indoor Forest Project’. Acquiring funding, researching, designing and producing a permanent, air-purifying indoor garden installation for a large school and workspace area. Air-quality research in collaboration with Bell Laboratories, project for Northcity4, Bulleke-Bek (Brunswick), Victoria.
Solo exhibitions
2026
- Upcoming: ‘Original joy’, Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
2025
- ‘Valosta (About light): Jewellery and objects 2010–25’, Taidekeskus Itä, Lappeenranta, Finland.
2021
- ‘New Spring, Old Gods’ series of jewellery and illustrations, online for ‘Radiant Pavillion: Naarm/Melbourne Contemporary Jewellery and Object Biennial’.
2017
- ‘Steel Lives’: A major collection of jewellery and objects in steel, shown alongside Jin ah Jo for Radiant Pavilion biennial, No Vacancy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2015
- ‘Industrial lightscapes’ collection as part of ‘Go, said the bird’, fortyfivedownstairs, Naarm/Melbourne.
Major group exhibitions
2025
- ‘Kuulumisia (Tidings, Ways of belonging): Six Australian and Finnish artists on the sense of place’, Täky Gallery, Lappeenranta, Finland.
- ‘Old School’, Curated by Celia Dottore, Craft, Naarm/Melbourne.
2024
‘Deep Material Energy II’, Curated by Prof. Heather Galbraith, RMIT Gallery, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023
- ‘MELBOURNE NOW’, Curated by Simone LeAmon, NGV, Melbourne, Australia.
- ‘Deep Material Energy’, Curated by Prof. Heather Galbraith, The Suter, Nelson, Aotearoa/New Zealand.
2022
- ‘Island Welcome: A response to Australian immigration policy’, Curated by Belinda Newick, Gallery Central, Perth and other venues (touring nationally and internationally 2022–25).
- ‘Third Story’, Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
2021
- ‘SCHMUCK 2021 Jewellery Summit’, Curated by Helen Britton, Munich.
2020–2023
- ‘MADE/WORN: Australian Contemporary Jewellery’, Australian Design Centre, Sydney.
2020
- ‘Elegy’, Funaki, Melbourne.
2019–2021
- ‘CONCRETE: Art Design Architecture’, JamFactory, Adelaide.
2019
- ‘MasterMakers’, Curated by Dr Mark Edgoose, RMIT Gallery, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘Earthbound, Lightbound’, Rubicon ARI, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘The Worn Debris Collective’ by Pennie Jagiello, Testing Grounds, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018
- ‘Triple Matter’, Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘Aurora Australis’, Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h, Montreal, Canada.
2017
- ‘Victorian Craft Awards’, Craft, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘Equinox’, for Radiant Pavillion, No Vacancy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2016
- ‘Vessel’, Bilk Gallery, Canberra.
- ‘Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery’, Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘5 × 7: Early career Australian makers’, Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘La rhétorique du lobe’, Galerie viceversa, Lausanne, Switzerland & Reverso, Lisbon.
2015
- ‘Go, said the bird’, fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne.
- ‘Carousel’, fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne.
- ‘Solstice’, fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne.
2014
‘Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery’, Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
Work in public collections
- Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia.
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
- Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Queensland, Australia.
- McMillan Collection RMIT, Victoria, Australia.
Awards
- Member of the Vice Chancellor’s List: RMIT University and Curtin University, Australia.
2015
- ‘Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery’: Emerging, Highly commended. Funaki, Naarm/Melbourne.
2013
- ‘Emily Hope Graduate Award for Figurative Work’, RMIT University, Naarm/Melbourne.
2010
- ‘Fresh!’ — Recipient of Tait Design Mentorship award and Studio Round award, Craft, Naarm/Melbourne.
- 2010 Don Begbie Award for Excellence in Gold & Silversmithing (Acquisitive), RMIT.
Curatorial practice
2025
- ‘Kuulumisia (Tidings, Ways of belonging): Six artists on the sense of place’, Täky Gallery, Lappeenranta, Finland.
2017
- As part of ‘Radiant Pavillion: Naarm/Melbourne Contemporary Jewellery and Object Biennial’:
- ‘Steel Lives’: Major collection shown alongside Jin ah Jo, No Vacancy, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘Equinox’, with Naoko Inuzuka and Aurelia Yeomans, No Vacancy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2015
- As part of ‘Radiant Pavillion: Naarm/Melbourne Contemporary Jewellery and Object Biennial’:
- ‘Go, said the bird’, with Shaun Tan, Courtney Jackson and Marcos Guzman, fortyfivedownstairs, Naarm/Melbourne.
- ‘Solstice’, with Naoko Inuzuka and Aurelia Yeomans, fortyfivedownstairs, Naarm/Melbourne.
Activity in art collectives
2021–present
- ‘Deep Material Energy’ group — exhibiting and discussing contemporary jewellery, body adornment and objects. Makers from Aotearoa New Zealand and Naarm/Melbourne, Australia: Kelly McDonald, Victoria McIntosh, Neke Moa, Rowan Panther, Claire McArdle, Cara Johnson, Inari Kiuru and Lisa Waup, with curator Professor Heather Galbraith.