Jam-maker

Laura Pehkonen is a Helsinki-based ceramicist and visual artist who graduated with a Master of Arts degree from Aalto University in 2014. In recent years, she has created large-scale public ceramic wall installations commissioned by institutions including HAM Helsinki Art Museum, EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, and the Finnish State Art Commission.

At her studio, Pehkonen works not only with ceramics but also with wood and mixed-media painting. Her works are unique abstract sculptures and paintings that leave viewers free to form their own interpretations. Pehkonen’s non-representational works are equally open to everyone: they exclude no interpretation but evoke personal associations and streams of consciousness in each viewer.

“In my work, I explore different techniques and combinations of materials, the contrasts between them, and the balance and sense of presence within the work. Regardless of the materials or techniques I use, I approach my practice with curiosity and a desire to experiment. Yet although my process is exploratory and playful, I am fundamentally drawn to classical, timeless materials. I also feel a need to leave traces of the creative process visible in my work—a certain sense of incompleteness. Perfect imperfection.”

Pehkonen’s works are held in the collections of HAM Helsinki Art Museum, EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, the Finnish State Art Commission/National Gallery, and private collections.