[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.
Ses peintures figurent des représentations déformées, de façon ludique, de la vie sociale contemporaine. En puisant son inspiration et ses références dans l’oeuvre de Philip Guston, David Hockney, Matisse, Bosch, Ingres, ou bien dans son expérience personnelle passée et présente, elle amène son public dans un monde où l’habituel devient inhabituel, où le laid devient beau, où la douleur devient humour. La combinaison de différents médiums (acrylique, aérosol, tempera, pastel) associés à une multiplicité de couleurs et de textures, contribuent à la forte identité graphique de ses peintures, les rendant vivantes, tel un collage peint.
La vie quotidienne est une source d’inspiration inépuisable pour Heidi Ukkonen. Elle peint la tristesse, la douleur, la solitude et la monotonie avec des couleurs intenses, des dessins dynamiques et des détails qui font sourire. Telle une conteuse, elle traite de la nature humaine sans pour autant renoncer à la joie et à l’optimisme. L’ennui, nos petites manies, le désir de s’accrocher à quelque chose – peut-être quelqu’un, peut-être la vie elle-même, sont tous exprimés sur un ton léger… en apparence.

[ENG]
Heidi Ukkonen (b. 1980) has been living in Antwerp for the past fifteen years. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Art there in 2015 with a Master of Fine Arts in painting.
Her paintings represent playfully deformed animations within the life of modern society. Drawing knowledge and inspiration of the works of Philip Guston, David Hockney, Matisse, Bosch, Ingres, or from her own experience, past and present, she aims to bring her audience into a world where the usual becomes unusual , where the ugly becomes beautiful and where pain becomes humour. The combination of different mediums (acrylic, aerosol, tempera) associated with a multiplicity of colors and textures, contribute to the strong graphic identity of her paintings, making them alive, like a painted collage.
Daily life is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Heidi Ukkonen. She paints the sadness, pain, loneliness and monotony of daily life with rich colors, dynamic drawings and details that put a smile on your face. She is a storyteller who deals with human nature, without compromising on joy and optimism. Boredom, our unique quirks, the desire to hold on to something (perhaps someone, perhaps life itself) are all expressed in a light-hearted tone… seemingly.

 

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
Tuesday to Friday, Valencia – ‘Summer Mix Vol. 1’ – Group 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