Veronica Österman

The interplay of light, shadow, and colour is a central element in Veronica Österman’s art. She first came to understand the effect of light on colour and form while studying at the Free Art School in Helsinki. In Österman’s paintings, light accentuates lines and shapes, gently transforms the space, and creates a hazy atmosphere. Bright light highlights the outlines of buildings and pierces through their windows.

Veronica Österman’s urban landscapes occupy the space between faithful representation and abstraction. Her use of colour has been compared to the palette of Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck, while her style possesses a sensitivity reminiscent of the paintings of Turner and Monet.

City skylines began to appear in Österman’s work soon after she completed eight years of art studies. The city has always been the landscape most familiar to her, as she has lived in Helsinki for most of her life.

The clean lines of the buildings lend the surrounding space a distinctive edge. “A painting should not be too beautiful—it needs to have something you can get a grip on,” Veronica Österman explains. This is why imposing industrial cranes have found their way into her paintings. Today, she works in her studio at Cable Factory in Helsinki, where the distinctive character of the industrial surroundings meets the maritime atmosphere of the city.