Bio


Photo: Bernhard Ludewig
Photo: Bernhard Ludewig

Markus Jäntti works on a project-by-project basis, using a variety of artistic techniques including painting, glass, video, 3D animation, ceramics, printmaking and drawing. He occasionally collaborates with artists from other disciplines on adventurous cross-art explorations.

In his work, Jäntti explores the images, myths, and symbols of Central and Northern European legends, which over time become banal objects of mass production and lose their original meaning. Jäntti often uses castles and garden statues as symbols of various intersections of high and popular culture. In his work, the castle itself represents something precious, but at the same time something childlike and unreal. As a physical place, it can also be a stage for other kitsch-classical figures and their encounters with each other.

Jäntti studied fine arts at the Berlin University of the Arts with Professor Robert Lucander, art pedagogy at the Helsinki University of the Arts and participated in the master's program "Studio Art" at Hunter College in New York. He is a guest lecturer in Fine Arts at the Berlin University of the Arts.

Finnish Painters

Artist Register of the Artists’ Association of Finland

Universität der Künste Berlin

Education

2020–2022 Pedagogical Studies for Teachers in the Arts, Uniarts Helsinki, Finland
2013–2019 Meisterschüler der Künste (MFA), Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany
2018 MFA programme in studio art, Hunter College, City University of New York, USA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024 – The Artist as Curator's Art vol.XIV, Schaufenster, Berlin, Germany
2024 – Suoja / Shelter, Toinen silmä, Helsinki, Finland
2023 – Softpower private collection, Berlin, Germany
2023 – Superdruckmarkt, Berlin, Germany
2023 – Oulu Music Video Festival, Oulu, Finland
2023 – Art Center Salmela, competition for young artists, Mäntyharju, Finland
2023 – Roaminale #2, roam space, Berlin, Germany
2022 – Premiere of Et le passé revit le temps d’une visite, Schwartzsche Villa, Berlin, Germany
2022 – Vague, Hilbertraum, Berlin, Germany
2022 – Reykjavik Arts Festival, Reykjavik, Iceland
2022 – Heads, Gallery Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany
2018 – Mänttä Art Festival 2018, Mänttä, Finland
2018 – GIFC, Fisher Parrish, Brooklyn, USA
2018 – Showpiece by pro temp, Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark

Duo Exhibitions

2024 – Laine & Jäntti feat. Outi Heiskanen, Voipaala Art Centre, Valkeakoski, Finland
2024 – Smuggling, Art Center Salmela, Mäntyharju, Finland
2024 – Automatic, Paja Gallery, Helsinki, Finland

Solo Exhibitions

2022 – Slow Down - Gnomes at Play, Galleri Apoteket, Romakloster, Sweden
2020 – Unicorn Stories, Finnland Institut in Deutschland, Berlin, Germany
2018 – Trampoliini – Trampolinen, ARTag Galerie, Helsinki, Finland
2017 – I.M.M.J. – It's the Most Marvellous Joy, VAERK_stedet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Residency

2020 – Tapiola Guest studio, The Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation, Espoo, Finland

Memberships

Finnish Painters‘ Union

Selected Grants and Prizes

2023 – Aue Stiftung
2022 – Paulo Foundation
2022 – Elsa-Neumann-Stipendium des Landes Berlin
2021 – Neustart Kultur - Stiftung Kunstfonds
2021 – Alli Paasikivi Foundation
2021 – Project grant, City of Espoo
2020 – Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2020 – Finnish Art Society, Young Artist Grant
2020 – Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse
2020 – Alfred Kordeliin Foundation
2019 – PLAYGROUND ART PRIZE 2019 (Nomination)
2017 – Märkisches Stipendium (Nomination)