︎ pauliina.makela(at)gmail.com
︎ @pauliina.makela
Pauliina Mäkelä is a visual artist based in Turku, Finland, working mainly with drawing and kinetic installation art. Her work often deals with the unpredictable, the uncertain, and the impermanent, intermingling elements of the inner and outer worlds—the living and the dreamlike.
Mäkelä’s multidisciplinary practice is grounded in detailed, richly worked pencil drawings. Making things by hand and experimenting with analog-based movement are essential to her work. By combining various artistic methods, she seeks a specific tuning: an atmosphere that breathes complexity—at once enchanting and deceptive, recognizable and enigmatic, corporeal and ghostly—reaching beyond words.
In addition to Mäkelä’s visual art practice, she creates illustrations and book and record covers on commission. She was chosen as Finland’s Illustrator of the Year in 2021 and as the Book Cover category winner at the World Illustration Awards in 2023.
COMING UP
12.9. Kultapalmut, live performance, Tehdas Teatteri, Turku (FI)
10/26 Marras, group exhibition, Quai des Bulles Festival, Saint-Malo (FR)
10/26 Marras, group exhibition, TBA, Nantes (FR)
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & PUBLICATIONS
2025
Winter Salon, group exhibition, Helsinki Contemporary (FI)
AER, solo exhibition, Kunsthalle Turku (FI)
Marras, group exhibition, Kulturhus Björkboda, Kemiönsaari (FI)
Valoilmiö Light Art Festival, solo exhibition, Hauho church (FI)
AER, solo exhibition, FAIS-LE TOI-MÊME gallery, Paris (FR)
Marras, group exhibition, Vanha Kaivos, Outokumpu (FI)
AER, art book, published by HARMAA + Sormi Editions
2024
Pneuma (1.11.2024–11.5.2025), solo exhibition, Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva (FI)
Marras, group exhibition, Laterna Magica, Helsinki (FI)
Superbubbles – The Many Forms of Contemporary Comics, group exhibition, Poikilo Museums (FI)
2023
In Between Shadows, Pauliina Mäkelä & Kate Stone, Mältinranta Artcenter, Tampere (FI)
Salatut puutarhat, zine poster, published by HARMAA
2022
Harhamat, solo exhibition, Vallila Brewery, Helsinki (FI)
Tapoja olla, group exhibition, K.H.Renlund Museum, Kokkola (FI)
Puusta puuhun, group exhibition, Galleria Kuvitus, Helsinki (FI)
Nordic Circle, group exhibition, NOHO House, Barcelona (ES)
2021
Illustrator of the Year 2021, solo exhibition, Art House Turku, Turku (FI)
2020
Kotka Art, group exhibition, Galleria Uusikuva, Kotka (FI)
2019
The Empire comic short story featured in The Thick Book of Kuti anthology, published by Kutikuti & Zum Teufel
2017
Tempora Mutantur, an exhibition tour of the Finnish contemporary comic association Kutikuti:
20.1.–8.2. Gallery Prostranstvo, Murmansk (RU)
25.–26.2. Copenhagen Comics, Copenhagen (DK)
7.2.–10.3. Preiļu Galvenā bibliotēka, Preiļi (LV)
30.3.–28.4. Madonas novada bibliotēka, Madona (LV)
5.–21.4. NCCA, Tomsk (RU)
22.4.–4.5. Lisbon Comics Library / Bedeteca de Lisboa, Lisbon (PT)
5.–6.5. MiniZineFestPt & Free Comic Book Day, Porto (PT)
5.–23.5. Kaunas International Graphic Art Biennale / Kaunas Artists’ House, Kaunas (LT)
18.5.–4.6. Yeltsin Center, Yekaterinburg (RU)
10.6.–9.7. Center for Contemporary Culture Smena, Kazan (RU)
18.7.–18.8. Poligon, Cheboksary (RU)
8.–22.11. ArtEl, Novosibirsk (RU)
2016
Senso O, group exhibition, Pine Brooklyn, Osaka (JP)
Draw Now!, group exhibition, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Rovaniemi (FI)
Tempora Mutantur, an exhibition tour of the Finnish contemporary comic association Kutikuti:
6.–24.4. Fumetto Internationales Comix-Festival, Luzern (CH)
27.4.– 21.5. Cumulus, Geneva (CH)
13.5.–12.6. Floating art gallery NOASS, Riga (LV)
3.–19.6. ZARYA Center for Contemporary Art, Vladivostok (RU)
10.–29.6. Oslo Comics Expo / Deichmanske bibliotek Grünerløkka, Oslo (NO)
1.–31.7.2 Mākslas telpa Mala, Cēsis (LV)
23.9.–9.10. Boomfest, St. Petersburg (RU)
30.9.–2.10. Comicfestival Hamburg, Hamburg (DE)
5.10.–5.11. Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils (LV)
2.–6.11. Krasnoyarsk Book Culture Fair, Krasnoyarsk (RU)
2.12.2016–3.01.2017 Ventspils Galvenā bibliotēka, Ventspils (LV)
30.9.2016–29.1.2017 CentroCentro, Madrid (ES)
17.12.2016–16.4.2017 Vendetta#4 / Friche la Belle de Mai, Marseille (FR)
2015
Draw Now!, group exhibition, Lahti Art Museum, Lahti (FI)
Kutikuti 10 v., group exhibition, Gallery Huuto Uudenmaankatu, Helsinki (FI)
Nuppuset, picture book, published by Petomies
2014
Kutikuti – Business Talk Partner Zone, group exhibition, Wayfarers Gallery, New York (US)
Aakkostoukka – Contemporary Comics Exhibition, group exhibition, Gallery MUU Kaapeli, Helsinki (FI)
2011
Hyppää ruutuun! - Suuri suomalainen sarjakuva, group exhibition, Design Museum Helsinki (FI)
2008
Mystic Sessions, solo exhibition, Napa Gallery, Helsinki (FI)
Parallel Spook, solo exhibition, Ram Hotel Gallery, Bologna (IT)
Helsinki Biennale, group exhibition, Design Museum Helsinki (FI)
White Noise Drawn Together, group exhibition, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen (DK)
White Noise Drawn Together, group exhibition, Space1026, Philladelphia (US)
2007
Sprezzatura Maze, group exhibition, Customs Gallery, Glasgow (UK)
Going to bed, group exhibition, Heaven Gallery, Chicago (US)
2006
Mystic Sessions Vol. 1, art book, self-published
SELECTED AWARDS, GRANTS & NOMINATIONS
2026
Beautiful Book Prize (Finnish Book Art Committee), AER
Working grant from Finnish Cultural Foundation
2025
Public display grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
Working grant from VISEK
Project grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2024
Project grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2023
World Illustration Awards, Professional Category Winner (Book Covers)
Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
Beautiful Book Prize (Finnish Book Art Committee), Fantasma by Tanja Tiekso
2022
Beautiful Book Prize (Finnish Book Art Committee), Kurittomat by Kaisa Pulakka
Working grant from the Kone Foundation, 2 years (HARMAA work group)
2021
The Illustrator Of The Year 2021 Award
2020
Working grant from the Kone Foundation, 2 years (HARMAA work group)
2019
Vuoden Huiput, Best of Finnish Advertising and Design, Shortlist
2017
Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
3x3 international Illustration Show, Merit Award
2016
Kuvitustimantti illustration competition, Winner
2014
Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
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
Fumetto International Comix Competition, Luzern, Switzerland, Winner
2006
Vuoden Huiput, Best of Finnish Advertising and Design, Young Designer Award
COLLECTIONS
Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva (FI)
Private collections
PERFORMANCE ART
2021–
KULTAPALMUT – an expanded cinema duo together with guitarist Topias Tiheäsalo combines experimental music and analogue moving images. The performances can be described as phantastic, modern-day magic lantern shows. Selected performances: Sodankylä Film Festival, Pori Film Festival, Valoilmiö Light Art Festival, Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, Gallery Forum Box, Cinema Orion, Odysseus Festival, Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva, Kalervo Kallion Ateljeetalo / GNTV Studio.
2024
Lau Nau & Pauliina Mäkelä, Flow Festival (FI)
CINEMA
2024
Kultapalmut
Experimental documentary short film by Verna Kovanen.
Duration 10:44
Verna Kovanen: film direction | filming | editing
Pauliina Mäkelä: art direction | images | projections
Topias Tiheäsalo: art direction | music | sounds
PUBLISHING
2022–
SORMI EDITIONS – A publication platform for records, books and visual art together with composer and musician Topias Tiheäsalo.
2025
Co-editor of Kuti#77 comics magazine together with Marras collective.
2024
Co-editor of Kuti#70 comics magazine together with HARMAA work group.
COLLABORATION
4/2021–3/2025
HARMAA – the work group experimented with philosophical and artistic expression. HARMAA investigated the intertwining of deceit, self-deception and sense of agency in our time. The project was funded by Kone Foundation and affiliated first with the University of Jyväskylä (2021–22) and later with the University of Helsinki. I worked as a full-time visual artis in the project together with philosophers Joonas S. Martikainen, Irina Poleshchuk, Erika Ruonakoski (project leader) and Jaakko Vuori. harmaa.org
RESIDENCIES
2025
The Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation, Grassina Casa Finlandese (IT)
2012
The Arts Council of Uusimaa Residency, Berlin (DE)
2011
Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi (FI)
︎ @pauliina.makela
Pauliina Mäkelä is a visual artist based in Turku, Finland, working mainly with drawing and kinetic installation art. Her work often deals with the unpredictable, the uncertain, and the impermanent, intermingling elements of the inner and outer worlds—the living and the dreamlike.
Mäkelä’s multidisciplinary practice is grounded in detailed, richly worked pencil drawings. Making things by hand and experimenting with analog-based movement are essential to her work. By combining various artistic methods, she seeks a specific tuning: an atmosphere that breathes complexity—at once enchanting and deceptive, recognizable and enigmatic, corporeal and ghostly—reaching beyond words.
In addition to Mäkelä’s visual art practice, she creates illustrations and book and record covers on commission. She was chosen as Finland’s Illustrator of the Year in 2021 and as the Book Cover category winner at the World Illustration Awards in 2023.
COMING UP
12.9. Kultapalmut, live performance, Tehdas Teatteri, Turku (FI)
10/26 Marras, group exhibition, Quai des Bulles Festival, Saint-Malo (FR)
10/26 Marras, group exhibition, TBA, Nantes (FR)
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & PUBLICATIONS
2025
Winter Salon, group exhibition, Helsinki Contemporary (FI)
AER, solo exhibition, Kunsthalle Turku (FI)
Marras, group exhibition, Kulturhus Björkboda, Kemiönsaari (FI)
Valoilmiö Light Art Festival, solo exhibition, Hauho church (FI)
AER, solo exhibition, FAIS-LE TOI-MÊME gallery, Paris (FR)
Marras, group exhibition, Vanha Kaivos, Outokumpu (FI)
AER, art book, published by HARMAA + Sormi Editions
2024
Pneuma (1.11.2024–11.5.2025), solo exhibition, Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva (FI)
Marras, group exhibition, Laterna Magica, Helsinki (FI)
Superbubbles – The Many Forms of Contemporary Comics, group exhibition, Poikilo Museums (FI)
2023
In Between Shadows, Pauliina Mäkelä & Kate Stone, Mältinranta Artcenter, Tampere (FI)
Salatut puutarhat, zine poster, published by HARMAA
2022
Harhamat, solo exhibition, Vallila Brewery, Helsinki (FI)
Tapoja olla, group exhibition, K.H.Renlund Museum, Kokkola (FI)
Puusta puuhun, group exhibition, Galleria Kuvitus, Helsinki (FI)
Nordic Circle, group exhibition, NOHO House, Barcelona (ES)
2021
Illustrator of the Year 2021, solo exhibition, Art House Turku, Turku (FI)
2020
Kotka Art, group exhibition, Galleria Uusikuva, Kotka (FI)
2019
The Empire comic short story featured in The Thick Book of Kuti anthology, published by Kutikuti & Zum Teufel
2017
Tempora Mutantur, an exhibition tour of the Finnish contemporary comic association Kutikuti:
20.1.–8.2. Gallery Prostranstvo, Murmansk (RU)
25.–26.2. Copenhagen Comics, Copenhagen (DK)
7.2.–10.3. Preiļu Galvenā bibliotēka, Preiļi (LV)
30.3.–28.4. Madonas novada bibliotēka, Madona (LV)
5.–21.4. NCCA, Tomsk (RU)
22.4.–4.5. Lisbon Comics Library / Bedeteca de Lisboa, Lisbon (PT)
5.–6.5. MiniZineFestPt & Free Comic Book Day, Porto (PT)
5.–23.5. Kaunas International Graphic Art Biennale / Kaunas Artists’ House, Kaunas (LT)
18.5.–4.6. Yeltsin Center, Yekaterinburg (RU)
10.6.–9.7. Center for Contemporary Culture Smena, Kazan (RU)
18.7.–18.8. Poligon, Cheboksary (RU)
8.–22.11. ArtEl, Novosibirsk (RU)
2016
Senso O, group exhibition, Pine Brooklyn, Osaka (JP)
Draw Now!, group exhibition, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Rovaniemi (FI)
Tempora Mutantur, an exhibition tour of the Finnish contemporary comic association Kutikuti:
6.–24.4. Fumetto Internationales Comix-Festival, Luzern (CH)
27.4.– 21.5. Cumulus, Geneva (CH)
13.5.–12.6. Floating art gallery NOASS, Riga (LV)
3.–19.6. ZARYA Center for Contemporary Art, Vladivostok (RU)
10.–29.6. Oslo Comics Expo / Deichmanske bibliotek Grünerløkka, Oslo (NO)
1.–31.7.2 Mākslas telpa Mala, Cēsis (LV)
23.9.–9.10. Boomfest, St. Petersburg (RU)
30.9.–2.10. Comicfestival Hamburg, Hamburg (DE)
5.10.–5.11. Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils (LV)
2.–6.11. Krasnoyarsk Book Culture Fair, Krasnoyarsk (RU)
2.12.2016–3.01.2017 Ventspils Galvenā bibliotēka, Ventspils (LV)
30.9.2016–29.1.2017 CentroCentro, Madrid (ES)
17.12.2016–16.4.2017 Vendetta#4 / Friche la Belle de Mai, Marseille (FR)
2015
Draw Now!, group exhibition, Lahti Art Museum, Lahti (FI)
Kutikuti 10 v., group exhibition, Gallery Huuto Uudenmaankatu, Helsinki (FI)
Nuppuset, picture book, published by Petomies
2014
Kutikuti – Business Talk Partner Zone, group exhibition, Wayfarers Gallery, New York (US)
Aakkostoukka – Contemporary Comics Exhibition, group exhibition, Gallery MUU Kaapeli, Helsinki (FI)
2011
Hyppää ruutuun! - Suuri suomalainen sarjakuva, group exhibition, Design Museum Helsinki (FI)
2008
Mystic Sessions, solo exhibition, Napa Gallery, Helsinki (FI)
Parallel Spook, solo exhibition, Ram Hotel Gallery, Bologna (IT)
Helsinki Biennale, group exhibition, Design Museum Helsinki (FI)
White Noise Drawn Together, group exhibition, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen (DK)
White Noise Drawn Together, group exhibition, Space1026, Philladelphia (US)
2007
Sprezzatura Maze, group exhibition, Customs Gallery, Glasgow (UK)
Going to bed, group exhibition, Heaven Gallery, Chicago (US)
2006
Mystic Sessions Vol. 1, art book, self-published
SELECTED AWARDS, GRANTS & NOMINATIONS
2026
Beautiful Book Prize (Finnish Book Art Committee), AER
Working grant from Finnish Cultural Foundation
2025
Public display grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
Working grant from VISEK
Project grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2024
Project grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2023
World Illustration Awards, Professional Category Winner (Book Covers)
Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
Beautiful Book Prize (Finnish Book Art Committee), Fantasma by Tanja Tiekso
2022
Beautiful Book Prize (Finnish Book Art Committee), Kurittomat by Kaisa Pulakka
Working grant from the Kone Foundation, 2 years (HARMAA work group)
2021
The Illustrator Of The Year 2021 Award
2020
Working grant from the Kone Foundation, 2 years (HARMAA work group)
2019
Vuoden Huiput, Best of Finnish Advertising and Design, Shortlist
2017
Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
3x3 international Illustration Show, Merit Award
2016
Kuvitustimantti illustration competition, Winner
2014
Mikkeli Illustration Triennial, Honorable Mention
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
Fumetto International Comix Competition, Luzern, Switzerland, Winner
2006
Vuoden Huiput, Best of Finnish Advertising and Design, Young Designer Award
COLLECTIONS
Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva (FI)
Private collections
PERFORMANCE ART
2021–
KULTAPALMUT – an expanded cinema duo together with guitarist Topias Tiheäsalo combines experimental music and analogue moving images. The performances can be described as phantastic, modern-day magic lantern shows. Selected performances: Sodankylä Film Festival, Pori Film Festival, Valoilmiö Light Art Festival, Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, Gallery Forum Box, Cinema Orion, Odysseus Festival, Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva, Kalervo Kallion Ateljeetalo / GNTV Studio.
2024
Lau Nau & Pauliina Mäkelä, Flow Festival (FI)
CINEMA
2024
Kultapalmut
Experimental documentary short film by Verna Kovanen.
Duration 10:44
Verna Kovanen: film direction | filming | editing
Pauliina Mäkelä: art direction | images | projections
Topias Tiheäsalo: art direction | music | sounds
PUBLISHING
2022–
SORMI EDITIONS – A publication platform for records, books and visual art together with composer and musician Topias Tiheäsalo.
2025
Co-editor of Kuti#77 comics magazine together with Marras collective.
2024
Co-editor of Kuti#70 comics magazine together with HARMAA work group.
COLLABORATION
4/2021–3/2025
HARMAA – the work group experimented with philosophical and artistic expression. HARMAA investigated the intertwining of deceit, self-deception and sense of agency in our time. The project was funded by Kone Foundation and affiliated first with the University of Jyväskylä (2021–22) and later with the University of Helsinki. I worked as a full-time visual artis in the project together with philosophers Joonas S. Martikainen, Irina Poleshchuk, Erika Ruonakoski (project leader) and Jaakko Vuori. harmaa.org
RESIDENCIES
2025
The Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation, Grassina Casa Finlandese (IT)
2012
The Arts Council of Uusimaa Residency, Berlin (DE)
2011
Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi (FI)
