Laura Itkonen
- Ceramics
- Public Art
- Ceramic Art
- Crafts
- Artist
- Uusimaa
- Remote
- Competent
Laura Itkonen (b.1981) is a Finnish artist (MA) living and working in Helsinki. The focus of her work is on visually detailed, tactile architectural ceramics and on sculptural emphasis with an experimental approach to the material and the chemistry in it. Influenced by geometrical forms and abstract, figurative expression, she creates contrasting entities, often collage-like.
Itkonen’s approach to materials emphasizes their distinctive characteristics, creating a dialogue between texture and form, while the meticulous shapes crafted through various techniques bring coherence to the entity. Opposites and contrasts and their interactions are a unifying factor in her work.
With international recognition, Itkonen’s works have been showcased in Milan, London, Paris, and Tokyo to name a few. She has accomplished several works for both private and public spaces in Finland and abroad. In 2019, American Dwell -magazine awarded Itkonen with their annual Emerging Talent -award and her works are included for example in the collections of the State Art Commission, HUS Art Collection as well as in private collections. Her most recent work is a commissioned public art works completed in 2024 in the elevator lobbies and a few procedure rooms on the 1st-6th floors of the A-wing of the Women’s Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUS).
Experience
Work experience
Education
Aalto University, School of Art, Design and Architecture
Master of Arts, Department of Applied Art and Design
2007 – 2010
University of Art and Design Helsinki
Bachelor of Arts, Department of Ceramic and Glass Design
2004 – 2007
Forssa Vocational Institute
Ceramic Artisan, Department of Crafts&Design
2001 – 2004
Works
2010
LEM is an artist group formed in a petrol station in Finland in 2008 while the members were enjoying a pit stop on a high way on their way to Helsinki. They had met previously while chopping wood on a night watch for a wood-firing kiln at Fiskars. The group consists of three artists, Saara Kaatra, Laura Itkonen and Lotta Veromaa.‘Animal Series’ is the first project by LEM and it was sponsored by Iittala Group. ‘Animal Series’ tells stories through animals in everyday ceramic tableware, creating new life and meaning for everyday common objects.
KuvanveistoHandmadeCastingKäsityöCeramic sculptureSculpture
2022
A unique handmade ceramic murals in the premises of senior community living center Arbor Delray, Florida (USA).
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/marquis
KuvanveistoHandmadeCastingKäsityöpublic artjulkinen taideInstallationCeramic sculpture
2024
A unique handmade ceramic mural in the premises of HUS Hyvinkää Hospital, Finland.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/hus-hyvinkaa-hospital
InstallationKäsityö
2024
‘Moment I-V’ is a multi-part ensemble of ceramic reliefs. The ceiling reliefs are located in the procedure rooms on the 1st floor of the Women’s Hospital A-wing of Helsinki University Hospital. The ensembles are excerpts from larger wall reliefs in the elevator lobbies and they are collage-like and consist of different shapes and textures forming detailed, figurative three-dimensional ceramic murals. Works were created as an invited artist. (The picture shows the works of two procedure rooms. )
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/tuokioita
julkinen taideInstallationCeramic sculptureSculptureKuvanveistoHandmadeCastingKäsityöpublic art
Collaborators
HUS Helsinki University Hospital
Architect Group Reino Koivula, Inc.
2024
‘Moments I-VI’ is a multi-part ensemble of ceramic reliefs. The wall reliefs are located in the elevator lobbies on the 1st-6th floors of the Women’s Hospital A-wing of Helsinki University Hospital and on the corridor walls next to them. The ensembles are collage-like and consist of different shapes and textures forming detailed, figurative three-dimensional ceramic murals. Works were created as an invited artist. (The picture shows the work on the 6th floor elevator lobby)
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/tuokioita
InstallationCeramic sculptureSculptureKuvanveistoHandmadeCastingKäsityöpublic artjulkinen taide
Collaborators
HUS Helsinki University Hospital
Architect Group Reino Koivula, Inc.
’Marquis’ is a collection of handmade, numbered ceramic murals. It’s an exploration to the world of visually strong outcome; reflecting metallic surface combined together with vivid strong colours and playful, strong forms. It’s an intriguing combination of old soul, 70’s aesthetics and art deco vibes still being harmonious and classy.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/marquis
InstallationCeramic sculptureKuvanveistoHandmadeCastingKäsityö
Custom-made ceramic murals to 47 hotel rooms.In this boutique hotel in Helsinki you can sleep under my ceramic murals in the suite, mini suites, superior+ and superior rooms. Client: Folks Hotel Konepaja Vallila / Interior architecture: Pinto Design / Year: 2020-2021
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/folks-hotel-konepaja
julkinen taideInstallationCeramic sculptureSculptureHandmadeCastingKäsityöpublic art
Collaborators
Folks Hotel Konepaja Vallila
Pinto Design
A custom-made ceramic logo for traditional Finnish furniture brand Lundia. Handmade of porcelain and Finnish red earthenware parts. A colorful, haptic multi-part entity forms the name of the company on the wall of their flagship store and showroom. Location: Lundia Flagship Store & Showroom, Fredrikinkatu 45, Helsinki
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/lundia-project
InstallationHandmadeCastingKäsityöpublic art
Collaborators
Lundia Oy
Sculptural Series is a an on-going collection of decorative porcelain jars, collectible ceramic treasures. They are my personal playground for experiments, a platform for studies of materials, forms and techniques.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/sculptural-series
CastingTuotesuunnitteluKäsityöCeramic sculptureProduct DesignHandmade
A collection of unique, handmade ceramic clocks with sculptural and tactile approach. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and made by combining various handmaking techniques.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/tell-me-time
Product DesignHandmadeKäsityö
Pumpa and Pomelo are objects inbetween art and design as they are sculptures but also decorative mini vases for single flowers and small arrangements.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/pumpa-pomelo
Ceramic sculptureProduct DesignHandmadeCastingTuotesuunnitteluKäsityö
‘Wall Sculpture’ is a numbered and signed collection of unique ready-made ceramic wall pieces.This collection is my on-going personal exploration with different glazes, surfaces, decorations and techniques. By testing and playing, I seek to find new visual and haptic approaches tothe outcome. Finding contrasts play significant role in each numbered piece, again.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/wall-sculpture
Ceramic sculptureSculptureKuvanveistoHandmadeCastingKäsityö
Handmade ceramic mural. ‘Ryijy’ means traditional woven wall rug which is a decorative art form unique to Finland. Geometric shapes were, in addition to floral and human figures, a popular subject in them in the late 19th century. ‘Ryijy’ ceramic mural is especially inspired from the geometrical shapes of the traditional ryijy rugs.The whole consists of five forms of different shapes that fit in many ways to each other transforming into different works of art. Creations made of it are perfect to enrich both private and public spaces in indoors and outdoors.
https://www.lauraitkonen.com/art
CastingKäsityöCeramic sculptureKuvanveistoHandmade