About
Milena Huhta is a Helsinki-based Finnish-Polish freelance artist and illustrator who graduated from Aalto University in 2015. She is best known for her detail-oriented digital illustration whose signature style combines a pastel color palette with heavy, even macabre, motifs. In her personal work, Huhta explores themes of femininity, isolation, the subconscious, and our relationship with nature whilst drawing inspiration from both symbolists of the past and utopias of the future. Huhta’s work has been shown in several group exhibitions and most recently in ‘Harsh’, a solo exhibition in 2021 in AHJO gallery, Espoo. Besides art and illustration, she also works as a tattoo artist in a shared private studio.
@milenahuhta / @harpysroom
CV
Studies
2015 — BA, Visual communication design, Aalto University, Helsinki
2012 — Study Exchange, Visual communication design and fine art, Hongik University, Seoul
2012 — Study Exchange, Visual communication design and fine art, Hongik University, Seoul
Work experience
Present — Freelancer (painting, illustration, tattooing)
2015-2017 — Graphic designer, Marimekko
2012-2015 — Graphic designer, Bonnier Publications and Aller Media
2015-2017 — Graphic designer, Marimekko
2012-2015 — Graphic designer, Bonnier Publications and Aller Media
Solo exhibitions
2021 — Harsh, AHJO gallery, Espoo
2019 — Thaumaturgy, collaborative exhibition with Diana Luganski, Galleria Kuvitus, Helsinki
2019 — Thaumaturgy, collaborative exhibition with Diana Luganski, Galleria Kuvitus, Helsinki
Group exhibitions
2022 — Power in Numbers 7, Gallery Nucleus Portland, US
2022 — Synkkä Kevät, Myymälä2, Helsinki
2021 — Power in Numbers 6, Gallery Nucleus Portland, US
2020 — Mikkeli 12th Illustration triennale, Mikkeli Art Museum
2019 — Neobaroq, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki
2019 — SLUT, Savonlinnan Uusi Taidemuseo, Savonlinna
2019 — Hot Mess (OMVF), Valvegalleria, Oulu
2017 — Mikkeli 11th Illustration triennale, Mikkeli Art Museum
2022 — Synkkä Kevät, Myymälä2, Helsinki
2021 — Power in Numbers 6, Gallery Nucleus Portland, US
2020 — Mikkeli 12th Illustration triennale, Mikkeli Art Museum
2019 — Neobaroq, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki
2019 — SLUT, Savonlinnan Uusi Taidemuseo, Savonlinna
2019 — Hot Mess (OMVF), Valvegalleria, Oulu
2017 — Mikkeli 11th Illustration triennale, Mikkeli Art Museum
Presentations etc.
2021 — PechaKucha speaker in Huiput Creative Festival, in collaboration with Helsinki Design Week
2020 — Presentation/class in Aalto University for 1st year graphic design students, Helsinki
2019 — Guest and panelist in Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Kendal, UK
2019 — Panelist, ‘More than human’ discussion (part of the Neobaroq exhibition), Helsinki
2017 — Jury member, ‘Image’ category, Huiput Creative Festival design competition, Helsinki
2020 — Presentation/class in Aalto University for 1st year graphic design students, Helsinki
2019 — Guest and panelist in Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Kendal, UK
2019 — Panelist, ‘More than human’ discussion (part of the Neobaroq exhibition), Helsinki
2017 — Jury member, ‘Image’ category, Huiput Creative Festival design competition, Helsinki
Selected grants
2022 — 1-year artist working grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2021 — Project grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2020 — Public display grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2020 — Project grant, Kuvittajat ry
2020 — Project Grant, Grafia ry
2021 — Project grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2020 — Public display grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
2020 — Project grant, Kuvittajat ry
2020 — Project Grant, Grafia ry
Selected illustration clients
Samsung, Mathematic Studio, Hi-Fructose, publications such Die Zeit, Image and Suomen Kuvalehti, publishers such as Teos, Into and Kosmos
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