Bio
Photo: Bernhard Ludewig
Markus Jäntti is a Finnish-born visual artist and visiting lecturer at the Berlin University of the Arts, living and working in Berlin and Espoo. Jäntti graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from the Berlin University of the Arts (UDK) under Professor Robert Lucander and participated in the Hunter College "Studio Art" Master Program in New York. He has been awarded, among others, the Elsa-Neumann-Stipendium des Landes Berlin and the Finnish Art Society’s young artist grant.
In his artistic praxis he explores the themes of outsiderness, the generativity of endless visual stimuli and the intersection of high and pop culture. In his paintings and prints, Jäntti's composition is loose and his subjects are composed of fragments. They move fluidly between pop art, naivism and contemporary expressionism, building interesting visual bridges. Repetition can be found both within and between works.
His glass sculptures and equestrian motifs borrow their shape from the horses of top brand logos. Equally, they are something other than the silk scarf adorning the shoulders of the upper classes in their sensitivity. Topicality is ultimately timeless; the message of critical discourse is more effective when dressed in a subtle visual costume.
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, Finland2013–2019 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, Germany2024 – 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, Finland2024 – Smuggling, Art Center Salmela, Mäntyharju, Finland
2024 – Automatic, Paja Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
Solo Exhibitions
2022 – Slow Down - Gnomes at Play, Galleri Apoteket, Romakloster, Sweden2020 – 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, FinlandMemberships
Finnish Painters‘ UnionSelected Grants and Prizes
2023 – Aue Stiftung2022 – 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)