Finnish design – Ella Varvio

Engraved glass art at Glass Museum Gernheim 19.03. – 09.09.2023

Glass Museum Gernheim in Germany is hosting an exhibition of contemporary glass engraving art from allover Europe. The show wants to highlight how old craft skills can turn into contemporary art. Exhibition is called Gravur on Tour and it’s curated by the museum and a network of European glass engravers. I am proud to be part of the exhibition with three artworks. Exhibition opens 19th of March and continues until 9th of September 2023.

*Horses I will ride in the afterlife*, 2022 – artworks that I have send to Gernheim, Germany

Gravur on Tour: Glashütte Gernheim 2023
19.03. – 09.09.2023
LWL-Museum Gernheim Glassworks
Gernheim 12, Petershagen, Germany
Museum open from Tuesday to Sunday 10-18

https://glashuette-gernheim.lwl.org/en/

Welcome to the new age of glass – exhibition and talk at Institut français de Finlande

I am having a mini-exhibition of my glass artworks and samples from PhotonArt project at the French Institute in Helsinki 1-17.6.2022. Moreover the institute is organizing a Café scientifique talk around the new era of glass. Talk is held on 16th of June, glass scientists Laeticia Petit and Jonathan Massera – and glass artist yours truly – are talking about past, presence and future of glass!

More info and registration to the event :

Welcome to the new age of glass

My glass artworks, Summer Night and Trot, by the window at the French Institute’s library, on Yrjönkatu central Helsinki

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

Helsinki Design Week is just around the corner! 🍭🍰✨Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice – designer’s pop-up exhibition will be at St.George Hotel’s Bakery 5-15th of September. You’re warmly welcome to see fresh fun products, artworks and prints from four design talents : Sarianna Niskala, Lotta Maija, Ella Varvio and Orcum Erdem.

The name and theme of the exhibition is inspired by the style and character of the groups designers Sarianna Niskala, Lotta Maija, Ella Varvio and Orcum Erdem, who all always add something sweet, cute and sparkly into their works and designs. The exhibition showcases interior mirrors, prints and glass art by the young designers.

The exhibition is part of the official program of Helsinki Design Week 2019 and is open to the public during the Bakery’s opening hours.

Bukowskis Exhibition and Auction 12-19th June

I am excited about my own theme auction at Bukowskis Helsinki. The online action and the actual exhibition at Mastokatu 4-6, Helsinki will be up 12-19th of June. The collection consists mainly of my older work. My mind is very much on new production and thereby I’d be glad if these pieces would find a new home.

Follow the link to the auction catalogue, below are also some samples of the work on sale.

https://www.bukowskis.com/en/auctions/E397/lots

Spring Witch

Suburban Nocturne

After Bees have gone

Teardrop

Deep Blue Sleep

Burn Out

Horseplay

Let it bloom!

Urban Deer

Meet you at Designtori 9-10.12.

Designtori, Tampere is held this weekend, my glass art and design are part of Galleria Rajatila’s sales exhibition. Designtori is open Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm, free entrance, welcome! Here’s pictures of works I’ve selected for the exhibition /// Viikonloppuna tavataan Designtorilla Tampereella! Designtori on Tullikamarilla la&su klo 11-17, vapaa pääsy. Teoksiani ja tuotteitani mukana Rajataiteen myyntinäyttelyssä, tässä muutama niistä:

Nemeton vases – mouthblown clear glass with prints of different tree silhouettes /// Nemeton maljakko, Suomessa valmistettua suupuhallettua lasia.

Simasuu tumblers, made of recycled glass /// Simasuu -juomalasit, valmistettu Suomessa kierrätyslasista

Springtime Witch – unique artwork, mouthblown glass, Graal technique /// Kevään noita -uniikki lasitaideteos

Ghosts -stoneware cups with decals /// Ghosts keramiikkakupit, kivitavara printeillä, valmistettu piensarjana Suomessa

Old school

I’m such an old-school designer: these pictures present some of my most essential tools for product (or artwork) development: pens, brushes, rulers, plaster wheel, hands on experimenting with material. Many thanks to co-operative Pinkka‘s ceramic studio and Katzstudio glassworks (both in Tampere, Finland) for being part of this early stage of prototyping. Pictures of the outcomes coming up later…

Dylan Katz at Katzstudio making a prototype from my drawing. Dylan’s cozy studio is located in Hiedanranta, old industrial site in Tampere, worth to visit.

Designtori Tampere 7.5.

Welcome to see Galleria Rajatila’s exhibition at Designtori, Tampere this Sunday. Proud to be part of the exhibition with my glass artworks. See you at Tullikamari 11am-6pm!

Memento Mori, Carpe Diem -unique graal glass, made in Riihimäki, Finland with glassblower Kari Alakoski 2017

Nemeton & Design District evening

Nemeton glass art exhibition is running still until 13.4., so remember to pop in at Galleria Mafka&Alakoski before the Easter holidays! Mythical forest made of glass reveals itself in several unique pieces and also as small series product: Nemeton-vase. The signature item of the exhibition is made of mouth blown glass with prints of different trees. The idea was to create beautiful home decor item that in multiple pieces forms up an illusion of a forest.

Galleria Mafka&Alakoski is located in Helsinki city centre, Iso Roobertinkatu 19. It is part of Design District Helsinki – cluster of design, antique and fashion stores, galleries and museums. During Design District Eve 6.4. gallery will be hosting Meet-the-artist-evening until 9pm. You’re more than welcome to pop by, see the artworks, videos from glass studio and hear about the story behind Nemeton, mythical glass forest.

Little Viper, unique piece 2017, Photo: Iiro Immonen

Coming up in Helsinki

Welcome to see my art in Helsinki this month!

Ornamo Teosmyynti 2017 – designer’s sales exhibition 13.4.-16.3.2017 Kaapelitehdas, Puristamo, Tallberginkatu 1 C. Open Mon-Fri 12–18, Sat-Sun 11–17
Ella Varvio: Nemeton 16.3.-13.4.2017 Galleria Mafka&Alakoski, Iso-Roobertinkatu 19. Open Tue-Sun 11-18

Both exhibitions have free entry and you can also check exhibition’s facebook events for more info: Ornamo Teosmyynti and Ella Varvio: Nemeton. Ornamo Teosmyynti presents artworks and designs from several artists and it’s part of Suomi100 events. (centenary of Finland’s 100 years of independence is full of events).

I’m also very glad (and slightly nervous) about my first solo exhibition in Helsinki at Galleria Mafka&Alakoski, gallery specialized in glass art at Iso-Roobertinkatu 19. The theme of my exhibition is the universal myth of sacred grove and forest as a playground for one’s imagination. Most of the artworks are unique pieces made with demanding Graal technique. Hope you’ll be enchanted by eerie images, hues of greenish blue and three dimensional effects of Graal technique. More pictures coming up, and most importantly -if you’re in Helsinki -come and see the show.

Ella Varvio: Kevään noita / Spring Witch 2016

Ceramics for a change

I have been casting these ghostly mugs for Talents – exhibition at Tendence fair 27-30.8.2016 in Messe Frankfurt. So see you then, at Hall no. 9.0.!

As I decided to show stoneware besides glass at the fair, I’ve been casting clay, waiting it to dry, and making finishing touches in a lovely studio here in Tampere. Feels almost therapeutic making ceramics for change, you can not be too hasty with clay…