Pekka Niittyvirta works at the intersection of installation, photography, video, and alternative image technologies — blurring the boundaries of experimental, conceptual, and documentary work. Through several aesthetically and substantively divergent projects, Niittyvirta views our socially constructed realities critically. Since 1999, Niittyvirta’s works have been exhibited in Finland and abroad, in solo and group exhibitions. In 2014, he earned the Environmental Artwork of the Year award, and was a chosen finalist for Fotofinlandia in 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2016. Niittyvirta’s works are included in numerous collections held by institutions such as Kiasma, Serlachius Museums, HAM (Helsinki Art Museum), Pro Artibus Foundation, The Palestinian Museum, Art Society of Finland and The Finnish State Art Collection.

Studies

2007 Master of Arts, University of Art and Design, Helsinki, FI
2001 BA (Hons), Kent Institute of Art and Design, Rochester, UK
1998 College of further education, Department of photography, Karjaa, FI

Solo exhibitions

2020 Efter et nyt Minut, Sæby, DK
2018 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, FI
2018 Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, Scotland, UK
2016 Galleri Format, Malmö, SE
2014 Gallery Oksasenkatu 11, Helsinki, FI
2014 Muu Gallery, Helsinki, FI
2013 Gallery Alkovi, Helsinki, FI
2010 Galleri Sinne, Helsinki, FI
2009 Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu, FI
2009 Culture Centre “Annankatu 6”, Pori, FI
2009 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, FI
2007 Häme Galleria, Lahti, FI
2007 Galleri Sinne, Helsinki, FI
2006 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, FI
2005 Helsinki International Airport, FI
2004 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, FI
2000 Gallery Laterna Magica, Helsinki, FI
1999 Gallery Kinn, Floro, Norway, NO
1999 Gallery Finken, Bergen, NO

Projects

2022 – 23
Línte na Farraige, Dublin/Galway/Wexford, IE

– Lines (Blackrock Park)
– Lines (Galway)
– Lines (Wexford)
with Timo Aho and scientists Zoë Roseby (Trinity College),
Maeve Upton (Maynooth University), Gerard McCarthy (Maynooth University),
and Jamie Mathews (Imperial College London)

2020
Coastline Paradox – Online art project. With Timo Aho + Google Arts & Culture

Public Works

2024 Zone (Red 0001, Blue 0002, grey), Headquarters of the Southeast Finland Border Guard District, Imatra, FI
2022 Lines (Galaway) Spanish Arch, The Long Walk, Galway, IE
2018 Lines (57° 59′ N, 7° 16’W), Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre (Art UK)

Group exhibitions (selected)

2024 LUX Helsinki, FI
2024 Círculo De Bellas Artes, Madrid, ES
2023 Something else Biennial, Cairo, EG
2022 HAM – Helsinki Art Museum, Helsinki, FI
2021 WAM – Wäinö Aaltosen museo, Turku, FI
2020 Ars Electronica – Kepler’s Garden, Paris, FR
2020 Atelierhaus Aachen, Aachen, DE
2020 MAIF Social club culture center, Paris, FR
2019 UNTITLED ART Miami Beach (Monuments program), by FB Art Dept. Miami FL, US
2019 Flash2, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, FI
2017 Rosphoto – The State Russian Museum and Exhibition Centre, St. Petersburg, RU
2017 Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, FI
2017 Kemi Art museum, Kemi, FI
2017 Espoo Culture Center, Espoo, FI
2016 Mongolia Land Art Biennale, Ulaanbaatar/Altan Ovoo, MN
2016 “Freedom” Curated by Laura Köönikkä, Pori, FI
2016 Art Vaasankatu, Helsinki, FI
2016 Fotofinlandia 2016, Helsinki, FI
2015 Serlachius Museum, Mänttä, FI
2015 Galerii PIX.HOUSE, Poznan, PL
2015 Mottisfont Abbey, Hampshire, UK
2014 3rd Art Prospect, St. Petersburg, RU
2014 Es Baluard – Museum of modern and contemporary art, Palma de Mallorca, ES
2014 Qalandiya International/Jerusalem Show VII, Ramallah/East Jerusalem, PS
2014 Backlight 2014, Tampere/Valkeakoski, FI
2014 Zingst Foto-festival, Zingst, DE
2014 Kaunas Foto festival, Kaunas, LT
2014 Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä FI
2014 Kunstvlaai, Amstelpark, Amsterdam, NL
2014 Fotofinlandia 2014, Helsinki, FI
2013 Mustarinda Art Centre, Hyrynsalmi, FI
2012 Kotka Photographic Center, Kotka, FI
2012 Kallio Kunsthalle, Helsinki, FI
2011 Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, Vaasa, FI
2011 Mustarinda Art Centre, Hyrynsalmi, Finland
2011 Raseborg Photographic Centre), Karjaa, FI
2011 Supermarket Art Fair, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, SE
2010 TR1/Art Centre Mältinranta , Tampere, FI
2010 ArtParis+Guests (Stressed Beauty, Curated by Leevi Haapala), Grand Palais, Paris, FR
2009 Young Artists 2009, Kunsthalle , Helsinki, FI
2009 Finnish Museum Of Photography, Helsinki, FI
2009 Kaunas Foto, Kaunas, LT
2009 Gallery Fluss, Wolkersdorf, AT
2009 Studio Marangoni, Florence, IT
2009 VB-Centre, Kuopio, FI
2008 Art Helsinki, Wanha Satama, Helsinki, FI
2008 Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande, Bologna, IT
2008 Helsinki Biennale, Design Museum, Helsinki, FI
2008 Lodz Art Center, Lodz, PL
2008 Museum Centre Vapriikki, Tampere, FI
2008 Art Goes Kapakka, Helsinki, FI
2008 Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, FI
2008 Taidepanimo, Lahti, FI
2007 Gallerie Elverket, Tammisaari, FI
2007 Finnish Museum Of Photography, Helsinki, FI
2007 “Stadthaus”, Mölln, DE
2007 Jukka Male Museum, Helsinki, FI
2007 Seh(e)stücke, Pasewalk, Mölln, DE
2007 Luftschlosserei, Passentin, DE
2007 Galleria Silta, Helsinki, FI
2007 Historisches U, Pasewalk, DE
2007 Jukka Male Museum, Helsinki, FI
2006 Art Goes Kapakka, Helsinki, FI
2006 The Fifth International Festival of Photography in Lodz, PL
2006 Galerie Oljemark, Helsinki, FI
2006 VB-Keskus, Kuopio, FI
2006 Fotofinlandia 2006, Helsinki, FI
2005 Beyond The Valley, London, UK
2004 Fotofinlandia 2004, Helsinki, FI
2001 A&D Gallery, London, UK
2001 In-Motion, London, UK
2001 Zhandra Rhodes Gallery, Rochester, UK
2000 Home Gallery & Bar, London, UK
2000 Association Of Photographers Gallery, London, UK
1998 Gallery Zebra, Karjaa, FI

Works in collections

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
State art collection of FinlandHelsinki Art Museum
Serlachius Museums
Galway City Museum
Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
The Palestine Museum
Pro artibus
Art Society of Finland
Private collections, Finland & Abroad

Prizes

2016 Fotofinlandia finalist
2014 Fotofinlandia finalist
2014 Environmental Artwork of the year prize
2006 Fotofinlandia finalist
2004 Fotofinlandia finalist
2000 Association of Photographers (United Kingdom) and Kodak – Student Award