Heidi Ukkonen

Heidi Ukkonen
Heidi Ukkonen, born in 1980 in Stockholm, Sweden, is an artist whose captivating paintings construct a mesmerizing utopian world. Her artworks resonate with a compelling narrative, depicting characters immersed in imaginative everyday scenarios that blur the boundaries between reality and the fantastical. 
The artist’s brushstrokes expertly reveal the intricate interplay between figures and their environments, offering a playful distortion of contemporary animations within modern society. Her artistic expressions transcend traditional boundaries, seamlessly blending diverse textures and materials to create almost sculptural pieces.
Heidi’s creative process is an ongoing exploration, fueled by a perpetual quest for captivating structures to unveil. Influenced by her formative experiences at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and inspired by the profound artistic legacies of Guston, Matisse, and Bosch, her artwork resonates with explosive bursts of color and humour, igniting contemplation and amusement. Heidi navigates the intricate balance between emotions, carefully moving between humour and melancholy, optimism, and despair. Her artistic journey invites viewers into a world where the ordinary takes on an extraordinary and unusual form. From the unconventional emerges beauty, and within pain lies the chorus of laughter. Her paintings stand as an invitation to explore the enigmatic landscapes of her boundless imagination.
 
Education
 2015 Royal Academy of Fine Art Antwerp (BE), Master of Fine Arts, painting
2014 Royal Academy of Fine Art Antwerp (BE), Bachelor of Fine Arts, painting
 
Selected Exhibitions
2024

Demain Art, Brussels (BE) − WONDERS, in Collaboration with Kickcancer

Beers Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London (UK) – Painting, Sleeping, Eating, curated by Kurt Beers & Andrew Salgado

Plus One Gallery, Antwerp (BE) - Aesthetic Echoes
Staffordshire St, London (UK) – A Painting Show, curated by Mark Connolly Weserhalle, Berlin (GER)- Only Fans, DUO
Artchurchrochus, Kortrijk (BE) Les Rebelles Sacrèes

 

2023
Demain Art, Brussels (BE) − WONDERS, in Collaboration with Kickcancer Galerie LJ, Seoul (SE) − Kiaf
Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, Ibiza (ES) − Contemporary Art Now
Galerie LJ, Paris (FR) − Pour Toujours, SOLO

 
 

Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, Antwerpen (BE) − Forever...and ever...and ever, SOLO Tuesday To Friday, Valencia (ES) − Summer Mix Vol 1
Gallery Sandberg, Odense (FR) − 13-A-Dozen
Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, Brussels (BE) − Art Brussels

Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, Rotterdam (NL) − Art Rotterdam

Madonna at KMSKA (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten) (BE), Antwerp – DUO

 

2022

Andrea Festa Fine Art, Rome (IT) − The Appearance Formula Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Goerne (DE) − Uprising Plus-One Gallery, Antwerpen (BE) − Infinite Flowers Part 4 Madè Van Krimpen, Rotterdam (NL) − Art Rotterdam
Lorin Gallery, Los Angeles (USA) − Feminitiy
Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, New York (USA) − Future Fair Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, Brussels (BE) − Art Brussels Moosey Gallery, Norwich (UK) − Suspirium
Ruby Gallery, Brussels (BE) − Ruby and Friends
Diskus, Aalst (BE) − Another Spring
Galerie LJ, Paris (FR) − The Ballroom

 

2021

Pictura, Dordrecht (NL) − Richard Waar'
Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (UK) − In Momentum Moosey Art, Norwich (UK)
Madè Van Krimpen, Amsterdam (NL) − The Time Is Now Delphian Gallery, London (UK) − All About Eve

Ruby Gallery, Brussels (BE) − Stars Are Never Sleeping

This Art Fair, Amsterdam (NL)

(PR)OXYMORON, Knokke (BE)

Unit 1 Gallery Workshop, London (UK) − Delphian Open Call Winners 2021

Galerie LJ, Paris (FR) − Hotter Than July

The Wunderwall, Brussels (BE)

Gallery 46 Whitechapel, London (UK) − The First Swing Of The Bat

Cuturi Gallery, Singapore (SG) − Transcendental

Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City (USA) − The Mothershipment

 

2020

Sofie Van De Velde Gallery & PLUS ONE Gallery ART FEEDS NR 2 (BE)

Paint Talk online Group Exhibition

Marian Cramer (NL) − Amsterdam Gallery Weekend

Four You Gallery, Dubai (AE) − Hide and Seek, SOLO

Marian Cramer, Amsterdam (NL) − TheDon'tGiveADamn's Curated By Sasha Bogojev

Stad Antwerpen, Antwerpen (BE) − Billboardproject

@showhousejayjay #SHOWHOUSEARTCALL An Instagram Exhibition

Sofie Van De Velde Gallery & PLUS ONE Gallery, Antwerp (BE) − The Wunderwall

252CC, Cultuurcentrum Ekeren Kasteel Hof De Bist (BE) − Hier hebben we veel werk ingestoken, Curated By Idris Sevenans &

Zena Van Den Block

 

2019

Kopvzw, Antwerp (BE)

Kunstpodium T, Tilburg (NL) − Cowboys and Aliens
Antwerp Art Weekend, Showhouse Jay Jay (BE) − My Biggest Small

 

2018

ABC KLUBHUIS, Antwerp (BE) − Christmas Market
Gallery Golsa, Oslo (NO) − Velvet Ropes
Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp (BE) − Screw your courage to the sticking place Winter Tuin, Antwerp (BE) − Copy Cat

 

 
 
Creative Design
2019 Kunstpodium T, Tilburg (NL) − Cowboys and Aliens: Koen Taeslaar, Kristen Dirkx, Mila Xinyue, Ralf Kokke, Jóhanna
2019  Kristbjörg Sigurðardóttir, David Noro, Heidi Ukkonen
2019 Overamstel Uitgevers, Antwerp (BE) − No Sweat: Benny Van Den Meulengracht-Vrancx, Aurelie Salavert, David Noro, Amber
2019 Andrews, Felix de Clerq
2018 Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp (BE) − Bob’s Your Uncle: ABC-Klubhuis, Coen Vunderink, Diana Roig, Hannelore Vandepoel
2018  Helene Meyer, Pieter Jennes, Victoria Iranzo, Victoria Parvanova & Ime Su Ozbilge
2018 Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp (BE) − The Ball Is In Your Court: Guy Vording, Warre Mulder, Denie Put, Lysandre Begijn, Annea
2018 Lyvv Dreisz
2018 Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp (BE) − Screw your courage to the sticking place: Jack Davey, Maartje Folkeringa, Ralf Kokke
2018  Robert Roest, Emilia Ukkonen & Heidi Ukkonen