Sandra Kantanen (b. 1974, Helsinki, Finland) was trained in photography at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki, and studied painting at the Central Academy of Art, Beijing. Her work merges photography and painting to explore the tension between reality and image. Distorted landscapes and floral still lifes—often made with large-scale scanners, long exposures and digital interventions—destabilise perception through a delicate balance of control and chance.
Kantanen draws on the Chinese landscape painting tradition as well as the history of European floral painting to create scenes that feel at once timeless and disorienting. In recent series such as Forest Smoke Works and Meadows, she uses smoke bombs and vivid colours to detach landscapes from the familiar, prompting questions about memory, transience and the constructed nature of the photographic image.
Kantanen draws on the Chinese landscape painting tradition as well as the history of European floral painting to create scenes that feel at once timeless and disorienting. In recent series such as Forest Smoke Works and Meadows, she uses smoke bombs and vivid colours to detach landscapes from the familiar, prompting questions about memory, transience and the constructed nature of the photographic image.
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Sandra Kantanen (b. 1974, Helsinki) is a Finnish photographic artist whose work lies at the intersection of photography and painting, blending the two media into ethereal, expressive meditations on nature, perception, and time. Educated at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki, and the Central Academy of Art in Beijing, Kantanen brings together Western photographic traditions with East Asian philosophies of landscape and aesthetics.
Her richly atmospheric images explore the fragility and transience of the natural world, often through digital manipulation and painterly interventions that question the truth-value of photography itself. Whether distorting studio-made floral still lifes or enshrouding forests in vividly coloured smoke, her work renders the familiar uncanny, transforming landscapes into sites of psychological and historical depth.
Kantanen's acclaimed series include Landscape and Heaven (2001–2004), Imperfectly Perfect (2010), Forest Smoke (2019–), and Meadows (2023). Her recent Meadows series focuses on the overlooked beauty of marginal landscapes—untamed strips of greenery nestled between the encroachments of urban expansion—capturing nature as it quietly reclaims its space.
Kantanen has exhibited extensively across Europe and Asia, with solo shows at institutions such as the Purdy Hicks Gallery (London), Galerie Anhava (Helsinki), and Fotografisk Center (Copenhagen). Her work has also featured in numerous international group exhibitions, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma (Helsinki), Shanghai Art Museum, and Daegu Photo Biennale (South Korea).
Her contributions to the field have been recognized through several prestigious grants and awards, including support from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, and the Patricia Seppälä Foundation.
LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, US
Brooklyn Museum, NY, US
J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, US
RISD Museum, Providence, US
KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art, FI
HAM Helsinki City Art Museum, FI
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Saastamoinen Foundation FI
Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, NL
The Museum of Photography, Seoul, KR
Tampere Art Museum, FI
Keravan Taidemuseo, FI
Her richly atmospheric images explore the fragility and transience of the natural world, often through digital manipulation and painterly interventions that question the truth-value of photography itself. Whether distorting studio-made floral still lifes or enshrouding forests in vividly coloured smoke, her work renders the familiar uncanny, transforming landscapes into sites of psychological and historical depth.
Kantanen's acclaimed series include Landscape and Heaven (2001–2004), Imperfectly Perfect (2010), Forest Smoke (2019–), and Meadows (2023). Her recent Meadows series focuses on the overlooked beauty of marginal landscapes—untamed strips of greenery nestled between the encroachments of urban expansion—capturing nature as it quietly reclaims its space.
Kantanen has exhibited extensively across Europe and Asia, with solo shows at institutions such as the Purdy Hicks Gallery (London), Galerie Anhava (Helsinki), and Fotografisk Center (Copenhagen). Her work has also featured in numerous international group exhibitions, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma (Helsinki), Shanghai Art Museum, and Daegu Photo Biennale (South Korea).
Her contributions to the field have been recognized through several prestigious grants and awards, including support from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, and the Patricia Seppälä Foundation.
LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, US
Brooklyn Museum, NY, US
J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, US
RISD Museum, Providence, US
KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art, FI
HAM Helsinki City Art Museum, FI
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Saastamoinen Foundation FI
Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, NL
The Museum of Photography, Seoul, KR
Tampere Art Museum, FI
Keravan Taidemuseo, FI
CV
SANDRA KANTANEN
Born 1974, Helsinki
Lives and works in Hangonkylä, Finland
Education
2001 Central Academy of Fine art, Beijing China
1996-03 University of Art and Design (Aalto University) Helsinki, MBA in Photography
1995 Västra Nylands folkhögskola, Fine art
1994 Västra Nylands folkhögskola, Photography
Solo exhibitions
2026 Retrospective 2020-2026, Turku Art Museum, Turku
2025 “Ikkuna” Kirpilän Taidekoti, Helsinki FI
2024 Solo exhibition “Meadow” Laukko Manor, Vesilahti,FI
2023 Solo show at Paris Photo with Purdy Hicks Gallery, Grand Palais Ephemere, FR
2023 Soloshow “Meadow” at Purdy Hicks Gallery, London EN
2023 “Smokeworks” Turun Taidemuseo FI
2020 “LUSTRE”
, Duo at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York, US
2019 “Smoke Works” Gallery Taik Persons, Berlin DE, December 2019
2019 ”More Landscapes” Pohjoinen Valokuvakeskus, Oulu, FI September 2019
2019 “More Landscapes” Purdy Hicks Gallery, London UK,
2019 ”Smoke Works” Galleria Uusi Kipinä, Lahti FI
2015 Purdy Hicks Gallery, London UK
2014 “Landscapes and moths” Korjaamo Gallery, Helsinki, FI
2013 Stockholms sjukhem, commissioned artwork, Stockholm, SE
2012 Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, UK
2012 Kuusamo Nature photo festival, Kuusamo, FI
2011 Korjaamo Gallery, Helsinki, FI
2010 Pobeda Gallery, Moscow, RUS
2009 Photographic gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki FI
2008 Shadow Images, Gallery TAIK, Berlin, DE
2005 Seydler AG Bank Frankfurt, Frankfurt, DE
2005 Landscape and variations, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, FI
2005 Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, NO
2005 Seydler AG Bank Frankfurt, DE
2003 Black Landscape, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, FI
Grants and Awards
2024 Suomen Kulttuurirahasto 1-year working grant
2023 H&W Grönqvists stiftelse, konstpris
2022 Svenska kulturfonden/1-årigt stipendie
2019 Arts Council of Finland/ 3 year working grant
2017 Swedish Art council
2014 Konstsamfundet
2014 Finnish Cultural Foundation
2012 Arts Council of Finland/ 5 year working grant
2012 Swedish Art council
2010 Arts Council of Finland/ publication grant
2008 Aomori Contemporary Art center, Japan,Artist in residence grant
2007 Oskar Öflund grantfund
2007 Kordelin foundation
2007 H&W Grönqvist foundation award
2006 Swedish Art council
2006 Arts Council of Finland
2005 Maire Gullichsen 80-year jubileum award
2005 FRAME Finnish fund for art exchange
2005 Swedish art council working grant
2004 Fotofinlandia finalist award
2004 Arts Council of Finland
2004 Swedish art council working grant
2003 KESKO award for young artist
2002 Swedish art council
2002 FRAME foundation for Finnish art exchange
2002 University of Art & Design scholarship
2000 Sleipnir NIFCA
1999 Scholarship of Ministry of education
COLLECTIONS -
LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, US
Brooklyn Museum, NY, US
J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, US
RISD Museum, Providence, US
KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art, FI
HAM Helsinki City Art Museum, FI
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Saastamoinen Foundation FI
Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, NL
The Museum of Photography, Seoul, KR
Tampere Art Museum, FI
Keravan Taidemuseo, FI
Fondazione Fotografia Modena, IT
Olorvisual Collection, Barcelona, ES
Wihuri Foundation, Rovaniemi, FI
Pro Artibus Foundation, FI
SOK collections, Helsinki, FI
The National Gallery, State Art collection, FI
Parliament of Finland, FI
City of Hanko, FI
Stockholms sjukhem hospital, SE
Guys and St Thomas hospital, London, UK
Folkhälssanhuset Wasa, Vasa, FI
Vasa Centralsjukhus, Österbottens välfärdsområde, FI
Oulu City hospital, FI
Seydler AG Bank collection, Frankfurt, DE
Sparkasse Osnabrück Bank collection, DE
Fidelity Investments, HK China
Four Seasons Hotel, St.Petersburg, RU
Pentti Kouri collection, New York, US
University of Nottingham, UK
Fernando Baldellou Collection, ES
Per Gessle collection, Halmstad SE
Private collections in Finland, Sweden, Italy, Holland
Born 1974, Helsinki
Lives and works in Hangonkylä, Finland
Education
2001 Central Academy of Fine art, Beijing China
1996-03 University of Art and Design (Aalto University) Helsinki, MBA in Photography
1995 Västra Nylands folkhögskola, Fine art
1994 Västra Nylands folkhögskola, Photography
Solo exhibitions
2026 Retrospective 2020-2026, Turku Art Museum, Turku
2025 “Ikkuna” Kirpilän Taidekoti, Helsinki FI
2024 Solo exhibition “Meadow” Laukko Manor, Vesilahti,FI
2023 Solo show at Paris Photo with Purdy Hicks Gallery, Grand Palais Ephemere, FR
2023 Soloshow “Meadow” at Purdy Hicks Gallery, London EN
2023 “Smokeworks” Turun Taidemuseo FI
2020 “LUSTRE”
, Duo at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York, US
2019 “Smoke Works” Gallery Taik Persons, Berlin DE, December 2019
2019 ”More Landscapes” Pohjoinen Valokuvakeskus, Oulu, FI September 2019
2019 “More Landscapes” Purdy Hicks Gallery, London UK,
2019 ”Smoke Works” Galleria Uusi Kipinä, Lahti FI
2015 Purdy Hicks Gallery, London UK
2014 “Landscapes and moths” Korjaamo Gallery, Helsinki, FI
2013 Stockholms sjukhem, commissioned artwork, Stockholm, SE
2012 Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, UK
2012 Kuusamo Nature photo festival, Kuusamo, FI
2011 Korjaamo Gallery, Helsinki, FI
2010 Pobeda Gallery, Moscow, RUS
2009 Photographic gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki FI
2008 Shadow Images, Gallery TAIK, Berlin, DE
2005 Seydler AG Bank Frankfurt, Frankfurt, DE
2005 Landscape and variations, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, FI
2005 Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, NO
2005 Seydler AG Bank Frankfurt, DE
2003 Black Landscape, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, FI
Grants and Awards
2024 Suomen Kulttuurirahasto 1-year working grant
2023 H&W Grönqvists stiftelse, konstpris
2022 Svenska kulturfonden/1-årigt stipendie
2019 Arts Council of Finland/ 3 year working grant
2017 Swedish Art council
2014 Konstsamfundet
2014 Finnish Cultural Foundation
2012 Arts Council of Finland/ 5 year working grant
2012 Swedish Art council
2010 Arts Council of Finland/ publication grant
2008 Aomori Contemporary Art center, Japan,Artist in residence grant
2007 Oskar Öflund grantfund
2007 Kordelin foundation
2007 H&W Grönqvist foundation award
2006 Swedish Art council
2006 Arts Council of Finland
2005 Maire Gullichsen 80-year jubileum award
2005 FRAME Finnish fund for art exchange
2005 Swedish art council working grant
2004 Fotofinlandia finalist award
2004 Arts Council of Finland
2004 Swedish art council working grant
2003 KESKO award for young artist
2002 Swedish art council
2002 FRAME foundation for Finnish art exchange
2002 University of Art & Design scholarship
2000 Sleipnir NIFCA
1999 Scholarship of Ministry of education
COLLECTIONS -
LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, US
Brooklyn Museum, NY, US
J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, US
RISD Museum, Providence, US
KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art, FI
HAM Helsinki City Art Museum, FI
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Saastamoinen Foundation FI
Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, NL
The Museum of Photography, Seoul, KR
Tampere Art Museum, FI
Keravan Taidemuseo, FI
Fondazione Fotografia Modena, IT
Olorvisual Collection, Barcelona, ES
Wihuri Foundation, Rovaniemi, FI
Pro Artibus Foundation, FI
SOK collections, Helsinki, FI
The National Gallery, State Art collection, FI
Parliament of Finland, FI
City of Hanko, FI
Stockholms sjukhem hospital, SE
Guys and St Thomas hospital, London, UK
Folkhälssanhuset Wasa, Vasa, FI
Vasa Centralsjukhus, Österbottens välfärdsområde, FI
Oulu City hospital, FI
Seydler AG Bank collection, Frankfurt, DE
Sparkasse Osnabrück Bank collection, DE
Fidelity Investments, HK China
Four Seasons Hotel, St.Petersburg, RU
Pentti Kouri collection, New York, US
University of Nottingham, UK
Fernando Baldellou Collection, ES
Per Gessle collection, Halmstad SE
Private collections in Finland, Sweden, Italy, Holland
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