[FR]
Heidi Ukkonen est originaire de Suède. Elle vit et travaille à Anvers, Belgique, depuis une quinzaine d’années. Elle y a obtenu un Master of Fine Arts en peinture, à la Royal Academy of Fine Art of Antwerp, en 2015.
Son travail explore les thèmes des relations mondaines, de l’angoisse et de la souffrance. Ses images figurent des représentations déformées de façon ludique, de la vie sociale contemporaine. Ses peintures sont à l’acrylique et à l’huile, tandis que la peinture à l’aérosol vient renforcer la texture de ses œuvres. Heidi Ukkonen puise son inspiration principale de sa vie dans la ville dynamique d’Anvers, où elle travaille depuis qu’elle y a obtenu son diplôme de l’Académie Royale des Beaux-arts. En puisant son inspiration et ses références dans l’oeuvre de Philip Guston, de Henri Matisse ou de Hieronymus Bosch, elle souhaite amener son public dans un monde où l’habituel devient inhabituel, où le laid devient beau et où la douleur devient humour.

[ENG]
Heidi Ukkonen explores through her paintings themes of the mundane such as relationships, anguish, and suffering. These depictions are represented through playfully deformed animations within the life of modern society. Her works are built using materials such as acrylic, oil paint, and spray paint which adds and builds texture to her works. Most of her inspiration derives from her life living in the vibrant city of Antwerp where she has worked since graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
Her thought process begins towards the end of each day and through trial and error, explosive, colourful and humorous works are brought about. Drawing knowledge and inspiration of the works of Philip Guston, Henri Matisse and Hieronymus Bosch she aims to bring her audience into a world where the usual becomes unusual , where the ugly becomes beautiful and where pain becomes humour.

 

SELECTED SHOWS

2023
Madonna at KMSKA (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten), Antwerp – Solo presentation
Galleri Sandberg, Odense (Danemark) – 13-A-DOZEN – Group show curated by Joachim Lambrechts
Galerie LJ, Paris – ‘Pour Toujours’ – Solo show
Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp – ‘Forever and ever and ever’ – Solo show

2022
Art Antwerp, Antwerp – Represented by Sofie van de Velde
Kristin Hjellegjerde, Schloss Görne (Germany) – ‘Uprising‘ – Group show
Diskus, Antwerp – ‘Another Spring’ – Group show
Galerie LJ, Paris – ‘The Ballroom‘ – Group show
Moosey, Norwich (UK) – ‘Suspirium’ – 2-person show with Lysandre Begijn
Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam – Represented by Made Van Krimpen
Art Brussels, Brussels – Represented by Sofie van de Velde
Andrea Festa Fine Art,  Rome – ‘The Appearance Formula’ – Group Show
Plus-One Gallery, Antwerp – ‘Infinite Flowers Part 4’ – Group Show
Lorin Gallery, Los Angeles – ‘Feminitiy’ – Group Show
Ruby Gallery, Brussels – ‘Ruby and Friends’ – Group Show

2021
Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London – ‘In Momentum’ – Group show
Madé Van Krimpen Gallery, Amsterdam – ‘The Time Is Now’ – Solo show
Ruby Gallery, Brussels – ‘Stars Are Never Sleeping’ – Group show
This Art Fair, Amsterdam
Kustlaan, Knokke – ‘(PR)OXYMORON’ – Group show
Delphian Gallery, London – ‘All About Eve’ – Group show curated by Hew Hood
Galerie LJ, Paris – 3-person show with Justin Liam O’Brien and Nastaran Shahbazi
Gallery 46 Whitechapel, London –  ‘The First Swing Of The Bat’ – Group show
Cuturi Gallery, Singapore – ‘Transcendental’ – Group show
Deep  Space Gallery, Jersey City (NY) – ‘The Mothershipment’ – Group show

2020
Sofie Van De Velde Gallery & PLUS ONE Gallery, Antwerp – ‘Art Feeds Nr 2’ – Group show
Marian Cramer, Amsterdam – Gallery Weekend – Group show
Four You Gallery, Dubai –  ‘Hide and Seek’ – Solo show
Marian Cramer, Amsterdam – ‘Don’t Give A Damn’ – Group show curated by Sasha Bogojev
Stad Antwerpen, Antwerp – Billboard project
Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp – ‘#SHOWHOUSEARTCALL’ – Group show
Sofie Van De Velde Gallery & PLUS ONE Gallery, Antwerp – ‘The Wunderwall’ – Group show

2019
Kunstpodium T, Tilburg (Germany) – ‘Cowboys and Aliens’ – Group show
Showhouse Jay Jay -‘My Biggest Small’ – Antwerp Art Weekend Group Show

2018
Gallery Golsa, Oslo -‘Velvet Ropes’ – Group show
Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp – ‘Screw your courage to the sticking place’ –  Group show
Winter Tuin, Antwerp – ‘Copy Cat’ – Group show

PUBLICATIONS

212 Magazine, “Heidi Ukkonen: Remains of the Day”, printemps-été 2022, issue 13: Herland
The Art Couch, “De bevreemdende werken van Heidi Ukkonen in The Wunderwall, Brussels“, avril 2022
FAD Magazine, “The First Swing of the Bat: a group show you should visit“, 15 avril 2021
Juxtapoz, “And after all, you’re my “Wunderwall”, with Heidi Ukkonen, Ralf Kokke and David Noro“, 26 mai 2020