Taru Happonen
Taru Happonen (b. 1989, Lahti) is a Helsinki-based visual artist working with painting and sculpture. Influenced by natural sciences and science fiction, her work often incorporates recurring patterns found in nature at various scales. She explores a complex, ever-changing world from both cosmic and microscopic perspectives, employing a diverse range of materials. Organic and synthetic elements are intricately intertwined.
Her artworks emphasize the significance of wonder, portraying the world as both intricate and in constant flux. The interplay of patterns, forms, and materials in her pieces creates connections, highlighting the unity of life, continuity, and the deep layers of time.
She earned a Master’s degree in 2023 from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Her works are included in the collections of Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, the Finnish State Art Deposit Collection, and the HUS Art Collection.
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Featured artwork
Reflex bleedingTaru Happonen, Reflex bleeding, oil, acrylic, pearl pigment on linen, 120 cm x 100 cm x 5 cm ,2024. Photo: Angel Gil.
Electric circuitTaru Happonen, Electric circuit, acrylic, aluminum powder, marble dust, pearl pigment on linen, 120 cm x 100 cm x 5 cm ,2024. Photo: Angel Gil.
Taxidermy scrapsTaru Happonen, Taxidermy scraps, oil, acrylic, aluminum powder, marble dust, pearl pigment on linen, 200 cm x 230 cm x 6 cm ,2024. Photo: Angel Gil.
Compound eyeTaru Happonen, Compound eye, acrylic, aluminium dust, marble dust on linen, 120 cm x 100 cm x 5 cm ,2025. Photo: Angel Gil.
Reptilian humanoidTaru Happonen, Reptilian humanoid, oil, acrylic, iridescent pigment, gneiss powder, marble dust on linen, 150 cm x 180 cm x 5 cm ,2024. Photo: Angel Gil.
Tongue 3Taru Happonen, Tongue 3, aluminum powder, mineral resin, epoxy, 61 cm x 79 cm x 58 cm ,2024. Photo: Taru Happonen.
Mother of pearlTaru Happonen, Mother of pearl, Mineral resin, acrylic paint, epoxy, pearlescent pigment, metal, 125 cm x 105 cm x 62 cm ,2023. Photo: Taru Happonen.
HoneyTaru Happonen, Honey, Mineral resin, acrylic paint, epoxy, 9 cm x 103 cm x 93 cm ,2023. Photo: Taru Happonen.
Algae lugnTaru Happonen, Algae lugn, Mineral resin, acrylic paint, epoxy, pearlescent pigment, metal, 28 cm x 98 cm x 36 cm ,2023. Photo: Taru Happonen.
CrypsisTaru Happonen, Crypsis, oil and gesso on linen, 180 cm x 140 cm x 4 cm ,2022. Photo: Taru Happonen.
SensoryTaru Happonen, Sensory, oil on recycled plastic, 74 cm x 62 cm x 2 cm ,2022. Photo: Taru Happonen.
HormesisTaru Happonen, Hormesis, oil on recycled plastic, 74 cm x 62 cm x 2 cm ,2022. Photo: Taru Happonen.
Taru Happonen, An invasive speciesPainting installation. Exhibited in the group exhibition Ebb and Flow at Kuva/Tila gallery at the Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki. Photo: Aukusti Heinonen
Taru Happonen, An invasive species (detail)Painting installation. Exhibited in the group exhibition Ebb and Flow at Kuva/Tila gallery at the Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki.
Taru Happonen , An invasive species (detail)Painting installation. Exhibited in the group exhibition Ebb and Flow at Kuva/Tila gallery at the Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki.