Heidi Lampenius
Heidi Lampenius’ paintings take us back to nature, deep inside the Earth, and through strata of time and memory. The works play with the perception of the abstract and figurative. She treats her subjects – pictorial subjects from art history or landscapes – by disrupting traditions, by making visible signs out of invisible reality – out of vibrations, sound, and light waves. Lampenius works by painting, but research and literature play a crucial part in the working process as well. The poetic, delicate, yet powerful works are created with inks and acrylics on ungrounded canvas. Lampenius works by soaking, washing, and removing paint, which gives her paintings their inherent ethereal quality.
Heidi Lampenius graduated from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 2011. She has subsequently participated in numerous group exhibitions in Finland and internationally, for example, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Finland, Norrtälje Konsthall in Sweden, Akureyri Art Museum and Berg Contemporary in Iceland, Hydra School Project in Greece, and Nordic Contemporary in France. Lampenius’ most recent solo exhibition at Helsinki Contemporary was Earthbound in 2021. Her works are represented in public collections such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Proartibus, Aine Art Museum, Wihuri Foundation, and the Swedish Region Gävleborg’s public art collection.
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Featured artwork
Stairs IHeidi Lampenius, Stairs I, Claypaint on canvas, 200 cm x 130 cm x 2 cm ,2024. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Color Chart IHeidi Lampenius, Color Chart I, Claypaint, 165 cm x 165 cm x 2 cm ,2024. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Color Chart VHeidi Lampenius, Color Chart V, Claypaint on canvas, 85 cm x 85 cm x 2 cm ,2024. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Forest signalHeidi Lampenius, Forest signal, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 190 cm x 155 cm x 2,5 cm ,2021. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Black Rainbow IIHeidi Lampenius, Black Rainbow II, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 175 cm x 145 cm x 2,5 cm ,2021. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Pond IHeidi Lampenius, Pond I, Acrylic and inkon canvas, 135 cm x 170 cm x 2,5 cm ,2021. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Owl IHeidi Lampenius, Owl I, acrylic and ink on canvas, 100 cm x 85 cm x 2,5 cm ,2012. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Installationview EarthboundHeidi Lampenius, Installationview Earthbound, -, - cm x - cm x 2,5 cm ,2021. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Installation view EarthboundHeidi Lampenius, Installation view Earthbound, -, - cm x - cm x 2,5 cm ,2021. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
NightshadesHeidi Lampenius, Nightshades, acrylic and ink on canvas, 200 cm x 150 cm x 2,5 cm ,2018. Photo: Jussi Tiainen.
Curriculum Vitae
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22.11. – 21.12.2024
Heidi Lampenius – Ground Color
Helsinki Contemporary is showcasing an exhibition by Heidi Lampenius.
Heidi Lampenius’ latest clay paintings explore her distinct symbolic visual language, deeply rooted in both natural sciences and her personal relationship with nature. The exhibition’s title, “Ground Color” carries an intriguing dual meaning: “ground” can refer to the earth itself, but also to the surface of the canvas used in painting. In this collection, the concept of earth functions as both a literal and metaphorical foundation.
Lampenius’ previous works have visualized abstract natural phenomena such as sound and light wavelengths. Her current focus on clay represents a shift toward grounding her practice in the fundamental elements, seeking a return to simpler, more tangible materials. These new pieces feature geometric forms, enclosed by folds and diagrams, serving as representations of her exploration into unseed world of clay. While the shapes are angular, there is a softness in the artist’s approach, with a gentle tonal range that imbues the works with a sense of sensitivity.
Helsinki Contemporary aims to build lasting relationships with both emerging and established artists who engage in a hands-on, deep exploration of their practice. Their artistic direction is not confined to specific mediums but emphasizes contemporary visual art that fosters meaningful conversations with the surrounding society and the environment in which it is exhibited.
Helsinki Contemporary, Bulevardi 10, 00120 Helsinki