Lappalainen, Sirpa Sinikka | Artist Register – Artists’ Association of Finland

Works available

Taiko

Basic information

b. 1958, Imatra

Visual Artist, Painter and Printmaker

Residence: HYVINKÄÄ

Contact information

Email: sirpaslappalainen(at)gmail.com

Artist's Statement

Inside me is the great painter who sees beautiful colors everywhere, and at all times, even in every day contexts, like people’s clothes. My mind is fascinated by sunrises and sunsets because the colors are then particularly full and strong. The theme of movement captures my imagination and has since the 1980s. It has combined with my working aim to paint light, the movement of water or figures in the style of the Impressionists. I was painting figures with different internal emotions already in my diploma year, 1984. In my earlier work there was less external movement.

My first professional studies at the beginning of the 1980s concentrated on all fine arts technologies including the basic skills of printmaking. At the beginning I was not very interested in printmaking but by the 1990s I was. Therefore I took an 8-month course in the basic techniques of printmaking as well as the new photography techniques. I was still mentally a painter but from time to time one part of my work turned to printmaking. For my supplementary studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome in the years 2009 – 2011, I concentrated on printmaking and the photographic aspects of my work as a painter.

I have always photographed a lot. In my work a camera takes on the role of the pen; it supports my thought process. I work out ideas very much by thinking, in other words I hardly make sketches at all. The photograph is the stimulating element in the first phase of the work process and is its support.

Show biography

UPCOMING:
Lahti Graphic Artists Association, 45th anniversary exhibition,
Heinola Art Museum, 24.1. - 1.3.2026.

Bio

SIRPA LAPPALAINEN, painter and printmaker,
born 1958, Imatra - Live and works in Lahti

I paint mainly with acrylic colors, earlier also with oil colors and tempera techniques. In graphic works I use traditional and nontoxic etching techniques: hard and soft-ground, aquatint, and photo etching. In addition, I work with monotype and copy-lithography techniques to get the paintings elements for my work.

ART EDUCATION
2011 - Two-year Diploma in Specialization of graphic art in the Painting section, Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, Italy (excellent grade)
1999 - Diploma of Fine Arts (BFA), Lahti Polytechnic, Institute of Fine Arts
1997 - Academy of Fine Arts, Venice, Italy, project-Erasmus, 6 months
1993/1994 - Institute of Fine Arts of Lahti, 1993-94, 8 months graphic course
1984 - Painter, Art School of Lahti 1984 (present, Institute of Fine Arts of Lahti)

COLLECTIONS
Finnish Art Association, 2018
Itella (Post), 2013
Academy of Fine Arts, Rome, Italy, academy year 2009/2010
Villa Lante, Institutum Romanum Finlandiae, Italy, 2009
Hyvinkää parish, Kytäjä Church, 2008
Collection of Parliament, Helsinki, 2007
Casa Tintoretto, Venice, Italy, 2002
Art Museum Lahti, 1996, 2012
ProBaltica, Toruñ, Poland, 1996
City of Szekszart, Hungary, 1992
Arts of Lahti, 1995
City of Imatra, 1983, 1995

ARTISTIC WORK, selected
1979 - Artistic debut; Provincial art exhibition, Art museum Imatra

2018 -TUOLLAPUOLEN – On the other side – paintings,
14.3.–8.4.2018 in Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti

2016 - Galleria di Circolo degli Artisti “Casa di Dante” in Florence, Italy, - Quando vediamo le stelle – When we see the stars, 9.1. – 21.1.2016 with Leena Halonen in the second showroom

2014 - Joint exhibition “Ulkoisia ja sisäisiä tiloja“ (External and Internal Spaces) with Tytti Götsch and Eija Pii, Art museum Orimattila

2014 -60 year anniversary exhibition “Arvosta”(Valuating), Artists´ Association of Lahti, Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti

2014 - Joint exhibition “Kotona” (At home) with Tytti Götsch, Gallery Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Helsinki

2014 - Joint exhibition with Jukka Ihalainen and Helka Immonen, Art Center Kanneltalo, Helsinki

2012 - Private exhibition “PIENET-SUURET-ILOT” (Small-Large-Joys), Gallery Uusi Kipinän Kulma, Lahti

2010 - Private exhibition “Läheltä – Da vicino” (Near), paintings and graphics, Gallery Aila Seppälä, Lahti, Finland.

2010 - Miniprint Finland, Art museum Lahti
2008 - Private exhibition, paintings, Art museum Imatra
2007 - Miniprint Finland, Art museum Lahti
2006 - Graphic Arts Celebration of the 75-years, (The Association of Finnish Printmakers), Gallery G, Helsinki

2005 - Private exhibition, paintings, Gallery Katariina, Helsinki
2004 - Private exhibition "Merkintöjä" (Notes), paintings, Art Brewery, Lahti

2001-02 Group exhibition abroad, "Diari di lavoro di artisti stranieri a Roma", project "Santitá" National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome, Italy

2001 - Private echibition "Taivaita" (Heavens), Gallery Marian Portti, Lahti
2000 - Graphic Artist Association of Lahti, Art Museum Kouvola
2000 - Private exhibition, paintings, Gallery Katariina, Helsinki
1999 - Private exhibition "Virtaa" (Streaming), paintings, Gallery Kipinä, Lahti

1998 - Miniprint Finland, Lahti Art museum
1998 - Group 8, Gallery of Saskiat, Tampere
1993 - Artists´Association of Finland 98.exhibition, Karkkila