My name is Kristo Saarikoski, born in 1992, and I'm an artist/painter based in Helsinki.

My journey as a painter started with painting graffiti in Finland. My choice of media and materials has diversified over the years while studying painting and art history at the Free Art School, where I graduated in 2024. The use of traditional materials is an essential part of my work: I use watercolour, egg tempera and oil paint as mediums on traditional self-made canvases and sizings. Recently I have also studied various fresco techniques in Finland's only fresco group. In addition to painting, I also use installation forms in my art practice.

I am inspired by memories, subconscious images and art history. Painting allows me to situate myself in different times and stages of life, at a kind of intersection between past and present - perhaps sparking dialogues between history and imagination. My way of painting is usually guided by intuition, where communication with the painting leads the way, followed by analysis later in the process. 

Exhibitions

My paintings have been shown in private exhibitions, and in several group exhibitions. For more about my exhibitions, please click here.

Art Residencies

Recently I have been in art residencies in Grassina in 2022  (The Finnish Artists´ Studio Foundation) and in Villa Lante, Rome 2023 (The Finnish Institute in Rome) where I return in July 2024 for a research residency.

Art in Collections 

I have paintings in following collections:  Pentti Säre’s art foundations collection, HUS art collection, Finnish Art Society’s lottery collection.

Other

I’m also a Bachelor of Social Services and I work as an Art Instructor for persons with special needs. 


Feel free to contact me! 
kristo.saarikoski@gmail.com
Instagram: ___kristo____