︎ pauliina.makela(at)gmail.com
︎ @pauliina.makela
Pauliina is based in Turku, Finland.
Pauliina works between illustration, visual art, comics and performing arts. Pauliina is known for her abundant and ambiguous pencil drawings that blur the line between the real and the imagined, creating a space for wonder. In her imaginative parallels and juxtapositions she explores the uncertainty of being through playful and fragile interspeciesism.
Her artworks have been featured in numerous group exhibitions in Europe, Japan and USA. Her solo exhibitions have been seen in Italy and Finland.
She formes half of Kultapalmut duo together with guitarist Topias Tiheäsalo. Kultapalmut combines experimental music and analog moving images. Their performance can be described as a phantastic, modern-day magic lantern show.
Pauliina is part of HARMAA work group that experiments with philosophical and artistic expression. HARMAA investigates the intertwining of deceit, self-deception and sense of agency in our time. The project is funded by Kone Foundation and currently affiliated with the University of Helsinki. harmaa.org
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2023 World Illustration Awards, Professional Category Winner (Book Covers)
2023 Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
2023 The Most Beautiful Books 2022, Honorary mention
2022 The Most Beautiful Books 2021, Honorary mention
2021 The Illustrator Of The Year 2021
2019 Vuoden Huiput, Best of Finnish Advertising and Design, Shortlist
2017 Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
2017 3x3 international Illustration Show, Merit Award
2016 Kuvitustimantti illustration competition, Winner
2015 Kuvitustimantti illustration competition, Finalist
2014 Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
2013 ED Awards, Printed Self-Promotion, part of Napa Agency publication Yellow City, Bronze
2013 Kuvitustimantti illustration competition, Finalist
2009 Finlandia Junior nomination, Emilian päiväkirja - Supermarsu pelastaa silakat children’s book illustration, written by Paula Noronen, published by Gummerus
2007 Finlandia Junior nomination, Emilian päiväkirja - Supermarsu lentää Intiaan children’s book illustration, written by Paula Noronen, published by Gummerus
2007 Fumetto International Comix Competition, Luzern, Switzerland, Winner
2006 Vuoden Huiput, Best of Finnish Advertising and Design, Young Designer Award
2005 Taloussanomat newspaper feature article illustration, competition organized by the Finnish Newspaper Association, Winner
EXHIBITIONS
Exhibited work in galleries and festivals such as V1 gallery (Copenhagen), Space1026 gallery (Philadelphia), Heaven Gallery (Chicago), Ram Hotel gallery (Bologna), OCX festival (Oslo), Fumetto festival (Luzern), Napa gallery (Helsinki), Design Museum (Helsinki), Design Forum (Helsinki), Muu gallery (Helsinki), Huuto gallery (Helsinki), Loft gallery (St. Petersburg), Kosanostra gallery (Milan), Noon+Cafe (Osaka), Brooklyn Pine (Osaka), Wayfarers Gallery (New York), Lahti Art Museum (Lahti), Rovaniemi Art Museum (Rovaniemi), Mikkeli Art Museum (Mikkeli), Rettigin tupakkatehdas (Turku), Galleria Mältinranta (Tampere)