Pekka Niittyvirta (b. 1974, Helsinki) 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. 

Education

2003 – 2007 Master of Arts (photography), TAIK (Aalto University), Helsinki, Finland
1998 – 2001 Bachelor of Arts (photography), Kent Institute of Art and Design, Rochester, UK
1997 – 1998 VNF College of further education (photography), Karjaa, Finland

Solo Exhibitions

2020 Efter et nyt Minut, Saeby, Denmark
2018 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, Finland
2018 Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, Scotland, UK
2016 Galleri Format, Malmö, Sweden
2014 Gallery Oksasenkatu 11, Helsinki, Finland
2014 MUU Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2013 Gallery Alkovi, Helsinki, Finland
2010 Galleri Sinne, Helsinki, Finland
2009 Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu, Finland
2009 Culture Centre “Annankatu6”, Pori, Finland
2009 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, Finland
2007 Häme Galleria, Lahti, Finland
2007 Galleri Sinne, Helsinki, Finland
2006 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, Finland
2005 Helsinki International Airport
2004 Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki, Finland
2000 Gallery Laterna Magica, Helsinki, Finland

Projects

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

Group Exhibitions (Selected)

2022 Serlachius Museums, Mänttä, Finland (virtual)
2022 Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
2022 HAM – Helsinki Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2021 Lumiere Durham, Durham, UK
2021 WAM – Turku City Art Museum, Turku, Finland
2020 Ars Electronica – Kepler’s Garden Paris, France
2020 Atelierhaus Aachen, Aachen, Germany
2020 MAIF Social club culture centre, Paris, France
2019 UNTITLED, ART Miami Beach (Monuments program), by FB Art Dept. Miami FL, USA
2017 Rosphoto – The State Russian Museum and Exhibition Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
2017 Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Kemi Art Museum, Kemi, Finland
2017 Espoo Culture Center, Espoo, Finland
2016 LAM360 – Mongolia Land Art Biennale, Ulaan Baatar/Altan Ovoo, Mongolia
2016 “Freedom” Pop up, Curated by Laura Köönikkä, Pori, Finland
2016 Art Vaasankatu, Helsinki, Finland
2016 Fotofinlandia 2016, Helsinki, Finland
2015 Serlachius Museums, Mänttä, Finland
2015 Galerii PIX.HOUSE, Poznan, Poland
2015 Mottisfont Abbey, Hampshire, UK
2014 The Jerusalem Show VII/Qalandiya International, Jerusalem/Ramallah
2014 Videoforma Festival – Kuryokhin Center of Contemporary Art, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
2014 Tamper Art Fair, Tampere, Finland
2014 Es Baluard – Museum of modern and contemporary art, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
2014 Art-Athina, Athens, Greece
2014 3rd Art Prospect, St. Petersburg, Russia
2014 Backlight’14 Photo Festival, Tampere/Valkeakoski, Finland
2014 M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art/Kaunas Foto Festival, Kaunas, Lithuania
2014 Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, Finland
2014 Zingst Photo Festival, Zingst, Germany
2014 Kunstvlaai, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2014 Fotofinlandia 2014, Helsinki, Finland
2013 Mustarinda Art Center, Hyrynsalmi, Finland
2012 Kotka Photographic Center, Kotka, Finland
2012 Kallio Kunsthalle, Helsinki, Finland
2011 Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, Vaasa, Finland
2011 Mustarinda Art Center, Hyrynsalmi, Finland
2011 Raseborg Photographic Centre, Karjaa, Finland
2011 Supermarket Artfair, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2010 Artists 2010, TR1/Art Centre Mältinranta , Tampere, Finland
2010 ArtParis – Stressed Beauty, Curated by Leevi Haapala, Grand Palais, Paris, France
2009 Young Artists 2009, Kunsthalle, Helsinki
2009 Kaunas Foto Festival, Kaunas, Lithuania
2009 Gallery Fluss, Wolkersdorf, Austria
2009 Studio Marangoni, Florence, Italy
2009 Victor Barsokevitsch Photographic Centre, Kuopio
2008 Art Helsinki, Wanha Satama, Helsinki, Finland
2008 Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande, Bologna, Italy
2008 Helsinki Biennale, Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2008 Lodz Art Center, Lodz, Poland
2008 Backlight’08 Photo Festival, Tampere/Valkeakoski, Finland
2008 Art Goes Kapakka, Helsinki, Finland
2008 Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, Finland
2008 Taidepanimo, Lahti, Finland
2007 Gallerie Elverket, Tammisaari, Finland
2007 Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland
2007 “Stadthaus”, Mölln, Germany
2007 Jukka Male Museum, Helsinki
2007 Seh(e)stücke, Pasewalk, Germany
2007 Luftschlosserei, Passentin, Germany
2007 Galleria Silta, Helsinki, Finland
2007 Historisches U, Pasewalk, Germany
2007 Jukka Male Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2006 Art Goes Kapakka, Helsinki, Finland
2006 The Fifth International Festival of Photography in Lodz, Poland
2006 Galerie Oljemark, Helsinki, Finland
2006 VB-Keskus, Kuopio, Finland
2006 Fotofinlandia 2006, Helsinki, Finland
2005 Beyond The Valley, Lontoo, UK
2004 Fotofinlandia 2004, Helsinki, Finland
2004 Hanki04, Helsinki, Finland
2003 Hanki03, Helsinki, Finland
2001 A and D Gallery, London, UK
2001 In-Motion, London, UK
2001 Zhandra Rhodes Gallery, Rochester, UK
2000 Association Of Photographers Gallery, London, UK

Prizes

2016 Fotofinlandia prize nomination
2014 Fotofinlandia prize nomination
2013 Environmental artwork of the year
2006 Fotofinlandia prize nomination
2004 Fotofinlandia prize nomination

Works in collections

Kiasma museum of contemporary art / Finnish National Gallery
HAM (Helsinki Art Museum)
Serlachius Museums
The Palestinian Museum
The Finnish State Art Collection
The Finnish Art Society
Pro Artibus Foundation
Private collections: Finland & abroad