About | Sallamari Rantala

Contact sallamari.rantala@gmail.com instagram

Sallamari Rantala is a Finnish artist currently living and working in Vilnius. Her work crystallises from observing the movement and transformation of materials in her surroundings. Combining drawing and material-shaping techniques, she often creates relief-like works that blur the boundary between surface and three-dimensionality, creating hints to compositions and stories hidden within their reciprocal relationship.

In recent years her work has focused on exploring the connections between landscape, memory, and history, layered through nonlinear narratives, transformation and contradiction. By using imitation stone techniques, where imitation itself can mirror the constructive nature of storytelling, she reflects on how narratives about real places, people, and events are assembled and shaped.

Lives and works in Lentvaris, Lithuania b. 1988, Kempele / Finland

Education

2017-2019 Vilnius Academy of Arts, sculpture, MA
2013-2017 Turku Arts Academy, BA
2016 Vilnius Academy of Arts, sculpture
2010-2012 Academy of Pekka Halonen
2008-2009 University of Lapland, graphic design
2007-2008 Liminka School of Arts, comics program

Solo exhibitions

2022 Baby Bone, European Capital of Culture, Kaunas, LT
2022 Baby Bone, Marcinkonys train station, Marcinkonys, LT
2021 Fire Place Between Spirals Kulttuurikauppila, Ii, FI
2020 My world is worth returning to, online-exhibition
2017 Love my car Å-galleria, Turku, FI
2014 Kl 20.55 - 06.30 Våga se, Stockholm, SE
2013 Caves Nordens ljus, Aktersalongen, Stockholm, SE
2012 Trees in a room Arkadia International bookshop, Helsinki, FI

Collaborative exhibitions

2025 Pillows Were Soft, SIC, off-site, Helsinki, FI
2025 It Used To Be a Castle, Editorial, Vilnius, LT
2018 By Land, Turun Raatihuoneen galleria, Turku, FI
2017 Mustarinda: Works with me, Titanik, Turku, FI
2017 Even Share, EKKM, Tallinn, EST
2016 Earthlings, Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi, FI
2015 Luonnollinen pakko, B-galleria, Turku, FI
2015 The truth is not out there, 3H+K gallery, Pori, FI
2014 Näyte, Giverny, Köysiratagalleria, Turku, FI
2014 Time Warpers, Kalevatron -art festival, Lappeenranta, FI
2014 Rakennus, Vapaan taiteen tila, Helsinki, FI
2013 Ordinary heroes, Artbat -art festival, Almaty, KZ

Selected group exhibitions

2023 Kaip karštis slysta paviršiais, Antanas Mončys House-Museum, Palanga, LT
2023 Sleeplessness, Videograms-festival, Vilnius, LT
2022 How Heat Slides Across Surfaces, Hawerkamp 31, Munster, DE
2021 Thickeners, Editorial, Vilnius, LT
2020 The Words I have, JCDecaux Premija, CAC Vilnius, LT
2019 Localised Temporalities - Cutting Together-apart, Treignac Projet, Treignac, FR
2019 Meno Celės, Titanikas, Vilnius, LT
2019 Purpuritanssit, SIC, Helsinki, FI
2019 Vasaros paroda, National Library, Vilnius, LT
2017 Depas/Depot, Lentvaris, LT
2015 Channeling, ICT-talo, Turku, FI
2015 Kaikki sanat on jo käytetty, Stockfors art fair, Pyhtää, FI
2012 Grafikens Hus, Mariefred, SE
2012 Art of Basware, Helsinki, FI

Selected workshops / events

2024 Workshop for seniors, National Art Gallery, Vilnius, LT
2023 Lichenfest, Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi, FI
2021 Wilder Sort of Walk, event with curator Lily Tonge, Rupert, LT
2018− Lichenfest - art & forest science festival, Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi, FI
2017 2016− open studio series, Various Partners, Vilnius, Lit
2017-2019 art and environment workshops, Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi, FI
2015 a weekly event Looking-for-un-like-minded, B-galleria, Turku, FI

Residencies

2023 Nida Art Colony, Neringa Forest Architecture, Nida, LT
2021 Kulttuurikauppila, Ii, FI
2021 Väinö Tanner Foundation, Mazzano Romano, IT
2020 Rupert, Vilnius, LT
2019 Treignac Projet, Treignac, FR

Other, selected

2024 Anthropogenic Soils -conference, Oslo University, Kirkenes, NO
2023 Collaborative article, Reconstructing in/with the house; a familiar conversation, Tiede&Edistys journal, FI
2022 Presentation of a collaborative article, Gender studies conference, Oulu University, FI
2018 Mustarinda column in Kaltio-magazine
2015 - coordinating, organizing and curating program at Mustarinda, Hyrynsalmi, FI
2014 assistant for Tiina Vainio, Turku, FI
2012 assistant for Mikael Kihlman, Stockholm, SE

Grants and prices

2025 Finnish Cultural Foundation, residency grant
2025 Lietuvos Kultūros Taryba, working grant
2024 Arts Promotions Centre Finland, working grant
2022 Frame Finland, exhibition costs
2022 Finland embassy in Vilnius, exhibition costs
2021 Arts Promotions Centre Finland, working grant
2021 Ii municipality, exhibition costs
2021 Lietuvos Kultūros Taryba, working grant
2020 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, mobility grant
2020 JCDecaux Award, 1st prize
2019 Finnish Cultural Foundation, mobility grant, Fin
2019 Arts Promotions Centre Finland, Mustarinda workgroup, local culture activity
2018 Arts Promotions Centre Finland, Mustarinda workgroup, local culture activity
2017 Arts Promotions Centre Finland, Mustarinda workgroup, local culture activity
2013 Artbat-art festival, production and travel grant, Kazakhstan
2012 Svenska kulturfonden, exhibition costs
2012 Keuda, stipendium
2012 Art of Basware
2009 EU comic competition

Member

2024 − Association of Finnish Sculptors
2024 − Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association
2017 − Arte ry, FI
2015 − Mustarinda, FI