Riikka Latva-Somppi
Master of Arts, Doctoral Researcher
Riikka Latva-Somppi works in the intersection of fine art and craft. Her studio practice extends to multiple roles in curating, teaching and other assignments of expertise in the field. She has a Masters degree in Ceramic and Glass Design from the University of Art and Design (now Aalto University) from 1995. Since then she has exhibited widely in Finland and abroad, worked as a part-time teacher for Aalto University and curated several exhibitions. Her public artwork Satakieli/Nightingale was awarded The Certificate of Environmental Art 2009. Her public artwork Kotiseutu/Home is part of the Art4-group’s public art concept and works in Tikkurila, Vantaa, which gained notable recognition by awards in architecture, landscape structure and municipal technology in 2017-2018.
In her practice-led doctoral research, she studies the role of craft in the environmental discourse. She investigates the relationship between humans and the environment with case studies that merge scientific and artistic methods. Her practice includes curating exhibitions as a way of making visible the insights gained through craft practice. Her doctoral research is funded by The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.