Makes unique ceramic pieces using a wide range of techniques such as throwing, hand building and slab-building. Her work consists of wall-reliefs and sculptures as well as big plates and pots. Most pieces are made of high-fired stoneware, decorated with coloured engobes and sometime lustres. Her most important public commissions are two big wall-reliefs for the restaurant of the cruising-vessel Birka Princess, as well as a large relief for Kårböle Elementary School in Helsinki. Works in her own studio in Porvoo since 1993.
Studies 1978-1979 Royal College of Art, London, ceramics department 1974-1975 Uniersity of Belgrade, Faculty of Applied Arts 1969-1973 University of Art and Design, Helsinki, ceramics department 1967-1969 University of Helsinki, cum laude degree in art-history
Museums and Public Collections Victoria & Albert Museum, Design museum, Helsinki; Rhösska Museum, Göteborg, Sweden; National Museum of Decorative Art, Trondheim, Norway; Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, Turku; Museum of Applied Art, Belgrade; Museum of Porvoo; Museum of Arabia Factory; Finnish State Guest House; Hotel Vaakuna; Health Center of Porvoo; Fexima Oy; Fortum Art Foundation; Finnish Parliament Art Collection; Telenokia; Finn-Stroi; National Museum,Stockholm; Art Council of Sweden (for the Residence of the Swedish Prime Minister); Saastamoinen Foundation; Craft Museum of Finland, Jyväskylä; Pro Artibus Foundation, Salo Art Museum.
Positions of trust World Craft Council Finnish Delegate 2012 –2014 Board member, Taidejaosto (Craftsmen of Ornamo) 2010 onwards Board member of National Council for Design Finland 2007 – 09. Board member of Pro Artibus Foundation 2002 -04 Board member of Arts Council of Uusimaa 1994-97 (vice-chairman 98-2000); Board member of Artist´s Association of Porvoo 1990ties World Crafts Council Finnish Representative 1978-84 Board member of World Crafts Council Europe 1978-83; Board member of Ornamo, TKO and TAIKO (founding member) during the 1980ties Member of Finnish Design Council in the 1980ties
Publishing work Savea, unelmia - Lera, drömmar- Clay, dreams (autobiography) Parvs 2020 Karin & Åke Hellman, essay on growing up in a family of artists, Pro Artibus 2017 Ceramic Art in Finland, Editor in Chief and Principal Author, Thames & Hudson, 2004 (Finnish edition Otava 2004, Swedish edition Söderströms 2006) Published several articles on design for Crafts (GB), Form (Sweden), Heimatwerk (Swizerland), Helsingin Sanomat, Antiikki & Design and Taito-magazine, (Finland), Freelance art critic for Hufvudstadsbladet since 1971 Art critic of Borgåbladet 1968-73
Awards and Prizes Major Art Prize of The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland 2021 Craftsman of the Year 2005, Finnish Association of Designers Ornamo Best Art Book 2004 (Ceramic Art in Finland, Otava) Cultural Prize of Stina Krook Foundation 2002, Cultural Prize of City of Porvoo 1997; II prize (with a group) L´Europe à Table, Macon, France Finnish State Award of Industrial Arts 1981
Professional experience 2014-2015 Chairman of Ornamo committee for Art&Space exhibition at Design Museum, Helsinki 2008 Keramiikan kevät, exhibition in Galleri Oljemark, curator with K. Riska 2006-07 Uunituoretta and Lisää uunituoretta- exhibitions, curator 1986-87 Part-time teacher, General Studies at University of Art and Design Helsinki 1984-2010 occasional lecturer and evaluator of master degree papers, University of Art and Design Helsinki 1983-86 Part-time teacher, ceramics department, University of Art and Design, Helsinki 1981-82 Design and commissions for Craftsmen´s Guild, London 1981-82 Kingsgate Workshops, London 1979-81 Steven Braine Ceramic Studio 1973-93 Pot Viapori Ceramic Studio, Suomenlinna 1971-73 Ceramics Cellar workshop, founding member, Aleksis Kivenk.18, Helsinki 1972 Arabia Factory, laboratory and art-department, apprentice 1971 Bente Lemche Ceramic Studio, Denmark 1968 Amos Anderson Art Museum, exhibition assistant 1967-69 Museum of Porvoo, cataloguing of ceramic collection
Selected exhibitions abroad 2021 Encounters, Kiscelli Museum, Budapest, Hungary 2019 Helsinki Fat Clay – Spring 2019, Blås&Knåda Gallery, Stockholm 2018 Contemporary Touch, Sanyi Fu-Guei Gallery, Taiwan 2017 Finite Resource, Stroganov Academy Moscow, 7th International Biennale of Contemporary Art 2015 Finland Designed Environments, Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle U.S.A. 2014 Finland: Designed Environments, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, U.S.A 2014 Finnland – Ein Land präsentiert sich, Galerie Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany 2012 Helsinki Fat Clay in Faenza and Milan, MIC Faenza and Officine Sassi, Milan 2010 Weich Hard Finnish, Nordische Botschaften, Gemeinschafthaus, Berlin 2010 Luxus 09, L’Arthotèque de Caen, France 2010 Feuer und Eis, Keramikmuseum Westerwald and Galerie Marianne Heller, Heidelberg 2009 Glass and Ceramics in landscape, Elagin Palace Museum, Saint Petersburg 2009 Millelaghi sogni e segreti, Åsa Hellman/Merja Winqvist, Estile Gallery, Rooma 2005 The 11th National Pottery & Ceramics Festival, Hatfield House, Englanti 2003 The 10th National Pottery & Ceramics Festival, Hatfield House, Englanti 2002 Artspace, Barn Galleries, Aston, Englanti 2001 The Hawker Gallery, Bucks, Englanti 2000 Neighbours, Pietarin Taideteollisuusmuseo 2000 5th Cairo International Biennale for Ceramics, Oopperan näyttelytila, Kairo 2000 Northlands festival, Åsa Hellman/Ulla-Maija Vikman, St. Fergus Gallery, Wick, Skotlanti 1999 Lera, fiber+färg, Åsa Hellman/Ulla-Maija Vikman, Galleri IngerMolin, Tukholma 1998 Craftsmen TAIKO, Contemporary Ceramics from Finland, Morley Gallery, Lontoo 1998-2000 Nordic Ceramic Triennale 1998, travelling exhibition: Historic Museum Stockholm, Rackstad Museet, Arvika, Höganäs Museum, Kolding Art Museum Denmark, Nordische Botschaften Berlin, Rhösska Museum Göteborg 1997 Collection Design Maggi, Musée de l’Alimentation, Vevey, Sveitsi 1997 Pro Arte, Gjerstad, Norway 1996 L’Europe a table, Musee des Ursulines, Macon, Ranska 1995 Galleri Norby, Copenhagen 1995 Nordisk keramik, Galleri Lejonet, Stockolm 1991 Galleri Lief, Los Angeles 1990 Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Madrid 1990 Contemporary Nordic Ceramics, Galleri F15, Moss, Norway 1990 World Triennale Exhibition of small ceramics, Zagreb 1989 Scandinavian ceramics & glass, Victoria & Albert Museum, London 1988 Frydendal Galleri-Verksted, Norway 1988 Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburg 1987 Utblickar/Konst och konsthantverk från Finland, Växsjö, Sweden 1985 Finnish Design, Madrid and San Sebastian, Spain 1984 Design Finland, Australian Design Centre, Adelaide, Australia 1984 Centrum voor Kunst en Cultuur, Sint Pietersabdij, Gent, Belgia 1984 Museo Arte Moderno, Mexico City 1983 Artisaanit, Nordic House, Reykjavik 1983 Två keramiker – två temperament, Åsa Hellman/Lou Schmidt, Form/Design Center, Malmö, Sweden 1982 Finnland gestaltet, Hetjens Museum, Düsseldorf 1982 Artisaani, Galleri Vognremissen, Oslo 1982 "Scandinavia Today", Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York 1982 Four hands and clay, Åsa Hellman/Lou Schmidt, Het Wapenschild, Antwerpen 1982 Contemporary Scandinavian Craft, Kenmin Hall Gallery, Kanagawa, Japani 1982 Scandinavia and Japan craft design exhibition, Kanazava, Japani 1982 Unikate Finnischer Kunstler, Das Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt am Main 1982 Mostra internazionale dell’arredamento, Villa Reale, Monza, Italia 1982 Finnland Gestaltet, Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg 1982 Exhibition MIA, Milano 1981 Craft and Folk Art Museum, LosAngeles 1980 5 Finska Konsthantverkare, Rhösska Muséet, Göteborg, Sweden 1979 Pejling, Fredrikshavn, Denmark 1979 "Exempla" München 1978 Åsa Hellman/Birgit Dyhr, Konsthantverkarna, Stockholm 1977 II Ceramics Triennale, Museum of Applied Art, Belgrade 1976 Antverpen-Brügge-Bryssel, (Travelling Finnish design exhibition)
Selected exhibitions in Finland 2023-24 Dialogeja – Dialoger, Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA, Espoo 2023 Landscapes on Clay, Galleria A2, Helsinki 2022 Paikka Platsen The Place, Craft Museum of Finland, Jyväskylä 2022 Paikka Platsen The Place. Levyhalli, Suomenlinna, Helsinki 2021 On the Edge Äärellä, Rovaniemi Art Museum 2021 Encounters Kohtaamisia, Hungarian Cultural Institute, Helsinki 2021 Kohtaamisia-Encounters, U-galleria, Helsinki 2021 On the Edge, Art Museum of Rovaniemi Korundi 2020 From form to surface, Vantaa Art Museum Artsi 2019 Grand opening, KWUM ceramics museum, Fiskars 2016 Kotona XI, Studio Karin Widnäs, Fiskars 2016 Behind the Seen, Porvoo Art Hall, Porvoo 2015-2016 Kyllikki Salmenhaara 100 - Works by five of her students, Copper Smithery, Fiskars 2015 Kohti Valoa, Galleria Uusitalo Kauppakeskus Strand, Inkoo 2015 Stone Paper Scissors, O Galleria Helsinki 2014–2015 Ceramics & Space, Design Museum, Helsinki 2014 Helsinki Fat Clay, Arabia Gallery, Helsinki 2013 Pinnan alla, Auran Galleria, Turku 2012 Ceramega 2012, Voipaalan taidekeskus 2011-2012 Savi vieköön, Salo Art Museum, Salo 2009 Luksus 09, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki 2008 Keramiikan kevät, Galerie Oljemark, Helsinki (curator together with K. Riska) 2007 Mera ugnsfärskt II, Art Museum of Åland (also curator) 2007 Ennen näkemätöntä! Art Foundation of Fortum, Helsinki Art Hall 2006 Mera ugnsfärskt, Galleri Elverket, Ekenäs (also curator) 2006 Uunituoretta, Uutta suomalaista keramiikkaa, Galleri Sinne, Helsinki (also curator) 2005 Craftsman of the Year 2005, Cable Factory, Helsinki 2004 Syvällä savessa, Suomalaista nykykeramiikkaa, Craft Museum of Finland, Jyväskylä 2003 Suomalaisen keramiikan vuosisata – A. W. Finchin jälkeläiset, Design Museum, Helsinki 2003 Kaikenkarvaiset ystävämme – eläinhahmot muotoilussa, Design Museum, Helsinki 2002 Potpourri, Arabia Museum Gallery, Helsinki 2002 Finndesignnow, Design Forum, Helsinki and Fiskars 2001 Naapurit II, Gallery Rantakasarmi, Suomenlinna 2001, 2000 Summer Art Exhibitions of Pyhäniemi, Hollola 1999 Savi, kuitu + väri, Åsa Hellman/Ulla-Maija Vikman, Into Galleria Helsinki 1998 Savesta syntynyt, international ceramics exhibition, Fiskars 1998 ”33 m2 –kalustettuna”, Artek Oy, Helsinki 1997 Pot Viapori 25 Years, Suomenlinna, Helsinki 1997 Åsa Hellman Ceramics/Raija Siikamäki Glass, Galleria Pintura, Helsinki 1996 Luovat kädet 1996, Kerava Art Museum 1995 Pro Arte taidon puolesta, Craft Museum of Finland, Jyväskylä 1992 Materia, Craftsmen TAIKO 10 Years, Helsinki Art Hall 1990, -91, -92, -93 Design Forum Helsinki 1988 Käytä, Design Museum, Helsinki 1987, -85, -83, -81, -79 Suomi muotoilee- exhibitions, Design Museum, Helsinki 1986 Suomi haaveilee, Helsinki Art Hall and Historic Museum of Lahti 1984 Artisaani 10 Years, Kluuvin Galleria, Helsinki 1984 Posliinia vapaasti Artekissa, Artek, Helsinki 1984 Metaforum, Design Museum, Helsinki i 1975 Finnish Association of Applied Art, 100 Years, Atheneum Art Museum 1973 Exhibition of Ornamo, Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki 1973 Nuorten näyttely, Helsinki Art Hall
Solo exhibitions 2022 Slow Clay, Galleria 12, Helsinki 2021 Lavender Fields and Snow Landscapes, Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Söderkulla 2013 Keramiikka riihessä, Gallerian, Fasars Gård, Porvoo 2011 Magic & Mystery, LB Contemporary Gallery, Helsinki 2008 Keraamisia seikkailuja (Ceramic Adventures), Vanha Kappalaisentalo, Porvoo 2007 Värikkäästi – uutta keramiikkaa (Colourful –New Ceramics), Galleria Johan S., Helsinki 2000 Uniikkivateja (Unique Plates), Design Forum, Helsinki 2001 Jumalattaria Porvoosta (Godesses from Porvoo), Galleria Vanha Kappalaisentalo, Porvoo 1997 Kreikkalaisia jumalia savesta(Greek Gods in Clay) Arabia Museum Gallery, Helsinki 1997 Grekiska gudar i lera (Greek Gods in Clay), Blås & Knåda, Stockholm 1994 Åsa Hellman - keramiikka, Galleria Vanha Kappalaisentalo, Porvoo 1992 Lyster (Lustre), Blås & Knåda, Stockholm 1992 Ruukkuja saarelta (Pots from an Island), Artek, Helsinki 1988 Åsa Hellman Keramiikka-Keramik, Galleria Bronda, Helsinki 1987 Åsa Hellman Keramiikka-Keramik, K.H.Renlundin Museum, Kokkola 1984 Viidakkopolkuja (Jungle Paths), Ässä Galleria, Helsinki 1981 Lysteria (Lustre), Artisaani, Helsinki 1980 Photographs: ”Potteries in Devon and Cornwall”, Pohjoisesplanadi, Helsinki Festival 1976 Teekannuja Suomenlinnasta (Teapots from Suomenlinna), Kirjavintti, Helsinki 1975 Åsa Hellman- Keramik, Galleria Amam Knez Milos, Belgrad 1973 Keramiikkaveistoksia (Ceramic Sculpture,) debut,Taidesalongin kellari, Helsinki
