My Artistic Journey
My journey as a full-time artist began in Costa Rica...
In 2008 I graduated from the University of Jyväskylä with a Master's degree in Education, specializing in art education. Honestly I was terrified of the thought of finding a job as a teacher and was longing for something else.
So I decided to leave Finland to figure out what to do with my life. I wrote down a list of things I wanted to learn and experience. The list included surfing and learning Spanish in warm weather. Costa Rica stood out as an obvious choice.
My two month getaway turned into two years. The pura vida lifestyle, surfing, psychedelics and immersion with nature made me finally brave enough to follow my dream in 2009. I let go of the limiting beliefs that had me filled with fear and followed the calling I had already felt as a teenager.
I literally googled: ''How to become an artist?'' and found a blog text. I still remember the first part; start by calling yourself an artist. I started there and followed the next steps of creating a body of work and exhibiting it.
My first exhibition was at a friend's surf restaurant in Playa Hermosa next to my favourite surf brake. I sold my first paintings and it quickly took off from there. Just two months later, I showcased my work in my first gallery show in San José.
Since then, my art and installations have made their mark across Finland, appearing in galleries, empty business spaces, museums and festivals.
I am currently excited for the opportunities to exhibit internationally again. I look forward to further developing my light reactive art and all the possibilities to showcase my new ideas around the globe.
CURRICULUM VITAE EDUCATION 2005 Hobart Art School, Tasmania, Australia 2008 Master of Education, Jyväskylä University Art Education minor, Jyväskylä University & University of Art and Design Helsinki MEMBERSHIPS The Finnish Light Art Society FLASH Culture Society TUFF! SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2025 ”Quinceañera” Vakiopaine, Jyväskylä 2024 ”Tropical Paradise” Wibes Festival, Uusikaupunki 2023 ”Hope is Where the Heart is” Out of the Box Gallery, Helsinki 2021 ’’Hope is Where the Heart is’’ Poppari, Jyväskylä 2019 ’’Auroras Florealis’’ 7 Fells, Äkäslompolo 2018 ’’riikka.arte goes Local’’ Local Culture Gallery, Jyväskylä 2011 ‘’Greetings from Costa Riikka!’’ Gallery Patina, Jyväskylä 2010 ’’Élan Vital’’ Gallery Yar Burba, San José, Costa Rica GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2025 ''Sacred exposure'', Helsinki Cathedral Crypt 2025 Jyrock Festival 40 years, Jyväskylä 2024 ”Psykedeelit ja Luovuus”, Helsinki, Konepaja Bruno 2024 ”Valoa ikkunoissa”, Jyväskylä (curated by Elisa Hilgen) 2021 ’’Woima’’ Art House Walvola, Iisalmi 2018 ’’City of Digital art’’, uv-installation, Jyväskylä Art Museum 2018 ’’Hullu Talo’’ Art Center Toinila, Petäjävesi 2017 ”E=adhd2”, Vakiopaine, Jyväskylä 2016 ’?Mitä kaikkea!’’ Gallery Patina, Jyväskylä 2015 ’’Paljastus’’ Gallery Värinä, Rovaniemi 2013 ’’Kesäkatu’’ Jyväskylä Art Museum 2010 ’’40x40’’ Red Wall Gallery Tasmania, Australia INSTALLATIONS with Michael Nurmi LABYRINTH OF LOVE 2024 Whirling Disco, Yoga School Shanti, Helsinki 2023 Hansakortteli, Turku 2023 Paviljonki, Jyväskylä 2023 & 2022 Valojen Yö Festival, Hamina 2022 Tiivistämö, Helsinki 2021 & 2020 Forum, Jyväskylä AURORAS FLOREALIS 2019 Valon Haihatus Festival, Art Center Haihatus, Joutsa 2018 Gallery Kellokas, Äkäslompolo 2019 Tunturi-Lapin luontokeskus, Enontekiö 2018 City of Light Festival, Jyväskylä PLANET RIIKKA ARTE 2019 City of Light Festival, Jyväskylä WORKS IN COLLECTIONS •Aalto University Physics Department, Helsinki •Works in private collections in Finland, Costa Rica, United States, Cuba and Spain EVENT PRODUCTION 2024 Club Keidas, Jyväskylä 2021 LOVE-klubi, Jyväskylä 2019 & 2021 Artlesque, burlesque night, Jyväskylä 2021 Voir- poetry night, Jyväskylä 2021 Painting club for adults, Jyväskylä 2019 Planet riikka.Arte-klubi, Valon Kaupunki, Jyväskylä 2018 Avaruusdisco, Vakiopaine, Jyväskylä 2014 Parasomnia aerial acrobatics showcase, Kankaan paperitehdas, Jyväskylä GRANTS Arts Promotion Center Finland: June 2020, November 2020, August 2021 & April 2022