beauty can be found even in the rawness of life

 

my name is emmi ohraniemi,

I’m a full-time visual artist form Helsinki, Finland (b. 1988). My work focuses primarily on painting – at the core of it is the combination of sculptural three-dimensionality and a monochromatic palettes, roughness and softness together.

I continually explore how to merge different art forms together, such as poetry, performance-inspired painting, and video work.

My artistic practice is guided by sensing, feeling and observing the human experience – and the connection to our environment. My intention is to tell stories about life, about the full spectrum of being a human.

The softness and rawness, and how beauty can exist in both.

I have been working as a full-time artist since 2021 and painting professionally since 2016. I also facilitate unique courses, retreats and workshops combining creativity, painting and/or writing and somatics.

My work has been collected by private collectors across Finland and the United States, and I have exhibited during the years in galleries as well as in commercial contexts. Among paintings, my videoinstallation has been presented as part of a gallery exhibition.

I’ve published a book Kotona kehossa with Susanna Jussila (2021, Otava & Hidasta elämää), and wellness cards (Lempeyttä keholle and Hitaammassa tahdissa, 2021 & 2025, Hidasta elämää), all of which include my art.

  • Solo exhibitions:

    • Fyyri, Kirkkonummi
      13.11.-7.12.2024

    • Walleniuksen Wapriikki, Juupajoki,
      10.9.-7.10.2024

    • Helsinki Outlet, Äärellä, 1.6.-30.6.2023

    • Tikkurilan kirjasto, Hengähdyksiä, collaboration with Sielun sopukoita/Susanna Jussila, 20.2. - 11.3.2023

    • Relove Töölöntori,
      1.9.-31.10.2022

    Group exhibitions:

    • Kaapelitehdas, Valssaamo, Suomen taiteilijat ry, 12.-31.8.2025

    • Kaapelitehdas, Puristamo, Suomen taiteilijat ry, Loisto, 1.-14.4.2024

    • Kaapelitehdas, Valssaamo, Suomen taiteilijat ry, 9.8.-28.8.2022

    • Kuusankoskitalo, Valon taikaa, Suomen taiteiljat ry, 3.5.-28.5.2022

    • Galleria Fogga, Jos metsään haluat mennä nyt niin takuulla yllätyt, 14.8.-2.9.2021

    • Kaapelitehdas, Valssaamo, Suomen taiteilijat ry, vuosinäyttely, 10.8.-29.8.2021

    • Galleria Fogga, Elämän monet kerrostumat, 30.1.-18.2.2021

    Publications:

    • Hitaammassa tahdissa -cards, Emmi Ohraniemi, 2025, Hidasta elämää

      The designs of the cards are based on paintings

    • Lempeyttä keholle –cards, Emmi Ohraniemi & Susanna Jussila, 2021, Hidasta elämää

      The designs of the cards are based on paintings

    • Kotona kehossa, Emmi Ohraniemi & Susanna Jussila, 2021, Otava / Hidasta elämää. Non-fiction book

      The book's visual design is largely based on paintings

    Video installations exhibited publicly:

    Kiertokulku, Kaikki se, mikä tekee sinusta kokonaisen -kokoelma

    Walleniuksen Wapriikki, main gallery 11.9.-6.10.2024

    Collections of work

    Let me be the brush, 2025
    A little piece of paradise, 2025
    Kaikki se, mikä tekee sinusta kokonaisen, 2024
    Hiljaisuus, 2024
    Hyvän kosketuksia, 2023
    Äärellä, 2023
    Elements, 2023
    Rose Garden, 2022
    Hengähdyksiä I-III & Säröjä ja säihkettä, collaboration with Sielun sopukoita/Susanna Jussila, 2021, 2022, 2023

    Emmis works are held with private collectors around Finland and USA.

  • Art has been a part of my life since childhood, but it wasn’t until later — after a burnout forced me to meet myself, re-evaluete my values and direction — that I truly returned to it.

    And I’m grateful for that shift.

    Someone once said, that life is about remembering who we really are, and for me this has been true. Under the layers of different conditioning, I found something real.

    I returned to painting in 2016 and almost immediately painted my first commissioned pieces. In 2020 I started to work as an artist full-time.

    Nowadays I live slowly, observe the human experience, and seek inspiration both from the ordinary and extraordinary details of life.

    My art is an invitation to pause, slow down and feel – whatever it is it makes you feel. I believe everyone has their place and an authentic, unique meaning in this world.

  • Embodiment:

    My working method is embodied, and in my occasional events I often guide movement or yoga practices focused on somatics and nervous system care.

    In my guidance, I emphasize the wisdom of listening to the body, somatics, and the seamless integration of soundscape, instruction, and movement.

    Embodied education background:

    • Authentic Embodied Flow 200h, Satu Tuomela & Elisa Kuuttila

    • Depth, Advanced Yoga Teacher Training 100h, Satu Tuomela

    • Alchemist, Advanced Yoga Teacher Training 100h, Satu Tuomela

    Writing:

    I write a blog called Hitaammassa tahdissa ("At a Slower Pace") on the Hidasta elämää -website, and together with Susanna Jussila, we have published the book Kotona kehossa (At home in the body) as well as the Lempeyttä keholle (Gentleness to the body) activity cards. In 2025 new publication, Hitaammassa tahdissa (At the slower pace) were published by Hidasta elämää

  • I offer unique courses, retreats and workshops combining creativity, painting and/or writing and somatics/yoga.

    Over the years I’ve hosted multiple different events and retreats in Finland, Sri Lanka and Gili Air (Indonesia).

    If you can’t find any available events from my page, feel free to ask for private workshops for you or your group.

Contact via info@emmiohraniemi.com or from the form below.

Kotona kehossa
Hitaammassa tahdissa -blogi Hidasta elämää -sivustolla
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