Heini Riitahuhta (Finnish, b. 1975) is an artist and designer living and working in Helsinki, Finland. Taking inspiration from the natural world as well as from traditional Finnish folk crafts such as embroidery and cross-stitch, Riitahuhta makes detailed ceramic mosaic works. When examined individually, each of the hexagonal tiles in her works contains its own abstract cosmos, while from a distance, each plays a small role in the intricate overall composition, an expanding universe growing piece by piece. Her works are also a personal testament to childhood memories spent in her grandmother’s garden surrounded by the scent of the earth and the perfume of flowers.
Riitahuhta studied at the ceramics and glass department of the University of Art and Design in Helsinki and Sint-Lucas Visual Art Institute in Ghent before earning her Master of Arts in 2002 in Taiki, Japan. During the same year, she received an honorable mention in Mino, Japan. Riitahuhta was a founding member of the Arabia Art Department Association and its first president. Riitahuhta’s work has been exhibited widely internationally.
HEINI RIITAHUHTA
b. 1975, Finland
EDUCATION
2002
MA, University of Arts and Design Helsinki, Department of Ceramics and Glass
1999
BA, Design/Ceramist Wetterhoff/Häme Polytechnical University
1997
Exchange at Swansea College of Arts, Wales
1996
Exchange at Sint Lucas Visual Arts of Ghent, Belgium
1994
Matricular examination (yo) Tammerkosken Lukio
1990
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, Palo Alto, CA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Unelma, Isetan Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan and touring exhibition in Japan produced by Case Gallery, Tokyo
2013
Spiral, Wachoal Art Center, Tokyo, Japan
2012
Circus, Isetan Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
2010
B-Gallery, Beams, Tokyo, Japan
Case Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Toyama, Kakawa and Mie, Japan
2008
SUSI with Mikko Järvenpää, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
2006
SVFF, Werkstattladen Gallery, Winterthur, Switzerland
2005
Lava-artists From Finland and Denmark, Kähler Ceramics, Næstved, Denmark
VERSOJA, Arabia Museum and Gallery Helsinki, Finland
Biennale Internationale Design, Saint-Etienne, France
2003
Takana Final Work, Littala Shop and showroom, Esplanad, Helsinki, Finland
1999
Pöydällä, Galleria Ripustus, Hämeenlinna, Finland
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Northern Latitude 60.20890: The Arabia Art Department Society’s 20th anniversary exhibition, Iittala & Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2018
Design Miami / Basel, Hostler Burrows, Basel, Switzerland
Ornamon Teosmyynti 2018, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland
Mix & Match, Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
Nordic Art Gallery, Antibes, France
2017
Design Miami, Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
Heini Riitahuhta x Kristiina Uusitalo, Nordic Art Gallery, Antibes, France
New Ceramic Artists, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Finnish Design 2017, Traveling Exhibition in Japan: Fukuoka City Museum; Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art; Fukui City Museum; Fuchu Art Museum; Miyagi Museum of Art
Signals, Habitare, Helsinki, Finland
Jasmin Anoschkin ja Heini Riitahuhta, Porignal Gallery, Pori Art Museum, Pori, Finland
Kisses and Popcorn, Littala & Arabia Design Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Kasuko No Mori No Titityy, Case Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2016
Arabia Art Department Society, Habitare Messukeskus, Helsinki, Finland
NID + Finnish Designers NOW!, Le Off @ Paris Design Week, Paris, France
Ligne du Temps, Gallerie Helenbeck, Nice, France
9 Seasons, Embassy of Finland, Washington, DC
2014
Lokal Sato at Konst & Form, Gumbostrand Söderkulla and Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
Rajapinnat, Fiskars, Finland
Summer Love, Artek meets Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
2013-14
Arabia Art & Design, Artium, Fukuoka, Japan produced by Curators Inc. Nordic Passion, Seoul Museum of Art, South Korea
2013
Arabia140 & Arabia Art Department: 10 Years Collection, Stockmann, Finland
Heini Riitahuhta & Yoko Namiki, Isetan, Tokyo, Japan
2012-13
The Essence of Finnish Design and Culture, Produced by Curators Inc., Traveling Exhibition in Japan
2012
Arabia Art Department 9th floor, Arabia Museum Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
Design Finland, Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, South Korea
2011
Arabia Art Department, Art Fair Helsinki at Messukeskus, Finland
Love Communication, Isetan Shinjuku & Liitto, Case Gallery, Tokyo Design Tide, Japan
A-duuri, Gallery Angelo Pori, Pori Jazz Festival, Pori, Finland
2010
Design Work Sama at Finland, Expo 2010 Shanghai, China
2009
Arabia Art Department Art & Design, Danmarks Keramikmuseum Grimmerhus Middelfart, Denmark
Arabia: 135 years, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
Tammerkoski 100 years - Graduates from the School, Tampere, Finland
2008
Fennofolk, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
Arabia Art Department Society and Pro Puu Society, Pro Puu Gallery, Lahti, Finland
2007
Salaisuus as part of 5KULMAA, 5 Corners, Helsinki, Finland
Nordic Exhibition Series, Röstrands Museum, Lidköping, Sweden
2006
Kauneusvirhe, Arabia Art Department Society, Forum Box, Helsinki, Finland
European Ceramics Context, Young Artist Series, Representative of Finland, Bornholm, Denmark
2005
The Stylish Scandinavian Design, Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park, Japan
2004
Finnish Design, University of Arts, Beijing, China
Masters of Arts, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
Dream Team, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Taru, Hehku Art Fair, Kankaanpää, Finland
2003
Suomen Keramiikan Vuosisata, Designmuseum Helsinki, Finland
2002
The Sixth International Ceramics Fair, Mino, Japan
k’2000, Lappeenranta, Finland
2000
Uusia Jälkiä: Juried Exhibition by 5 regional art committees of Finland, Pirkanpohja, Ähtäri
1997
Kutani International Ceramics Fair, Japan
1996
Witte Saal, Sint Lucas Gent, Belgium
1990
Art at J.L.S., Palo Alto, CA
COMPETITIONS
2010
1st Prize: Finland’s Mint Gala: Competition, Design of coins, The Series of Peace, With M. Järvenpää
2008
3rd Prize: Vuores Sound Barrier Competition, With M. Järvenpää
2002
Honorable Mention: the 6th International Ceramics Fair Mino, Japan
GRANTS
2017
Alfred Kordelin Foundation, working grant
2015
SKR Satakunta, working grant Taike, Travel Grant to Japan
2012
National Design Board, Exhibition Grant
2011
The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Main, Exhibition Grant
2010
National Design Board, Exhibition Grant
2009
The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Main, One year working Grant
2007
Art Council of Finland, A pilot project with ceramics
AFFILIATIONS
Arabia
Arabia Art Department Society (Founding Member, Inaugural President)
Lapuan Kankurit
Scope Japan
Kotonowa Maruwa Inc.
Korujamatka
Helena Orava Designprojects
Case Inc
Kotona design
Kankaanpään Kaupunki
Actus Japan
Tampereen teknillinen yliopisto
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB), Helsinki, Finland
Housing area of Art & Design, City of Helsinki
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
Nagoya Children’s Clinic, Japan
Collection of Curators Inc., Japan
City of Kankaanpää
