news & past exhibitions
Earth Photo 2025
17.6.–20.8.2025
Royal Geographical Society, London, UK,
followed by UK tour.
Woohoo!! My piece Another April Day at the Arctic Circle, single-channel video, has been selected for Earth Photo 2025 exhibition. There were 1582 submissions by 250 artists and the shortlist includes 30 photographers and 8 filmmakers…. So it is one of only eight moving image works and in a super impressive company, have a look here: https://www.earthphoto.world/2025-exhibition-tour
RBSA Drawing Prize 2025
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
29.5.–28.6.2025
Birmingham, UK
Dear Drawing I has been selected for RBSA Drawing Prize 2025 -exhibition at Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. Info here: https://rbsa.org.uk/event/rbsa-drawing-prize-2025/ Very happy to hear that this single-channel video has been awarded a Highly Commended Award. Thank you to the selectors Brendan Flynn, Alison Lambert & Fiona Robinson.
Touch of our hands
Artist of the month May
1.5.-19.6.2025
Galleria Lovisa, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
”The graphite drawings in this exhibition are based on crafts made by Alaluusua’s Great-Grandmother Alina Tervo (1887-1956) – a schoolteacher and a talented craftswoman – in Pelkosenniemi about 100 years ago. In her work Alaluusua explores family history, our understanding of particular places, memories and how they link to our identity.”
Gallery Duetto’s Artists’ Book Exhibition 2025
22.4.-18.5.2025
Galleria Duetto, Helsinki, Finland
Could not be happier to have been invited to take part in Gallery Duetto’s Artists’ Book Exhibition 2025: “The exhibition will be a presentation of resent book works from 25 artists from Finland, four from Norway, two from Sweden, two from Great Britain as well as one from France. On display is also a small collection of artists’ books from RikArt, Finlands only public artists’ book collection. Galleria Duetto arranges a curated artists’ book exhibition every third year to give an opportunity for artists’ book artists to appear together and to give visibility for this art form in Finland.” Gallerist Hannele Nyman champions book art in Finland. She is in the photo with her fellow book enthusiast Emmi Martin.
LUUSUA screeded as part of Artists’ Association MUU programme
Delighted that Luusua, 2-channel video (presented as 1-channel) was selected for "Where do you come from, where do you belong?" video programme curated jointly by Artists’ Association MUU, Jewelry Association & South Karelia Artists’ Association. The programme was screened 12.03.2025 at MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre, Helsinki, Finland; and later invited to Finnmark Flicker festival 19.-24.05.2025 in Kirkenes, Norway. Photos from Finnmark Flicker programme of 2025: Luusua. Festival director Zhanna Guzenko. Elisa Alaluusua presenting Luusua. A morning meet in beautiful surroundings.
DRAWING EXHIBITION AT THE ARCTIC CIRCLE / #DEatAC
Artists around the world responded to an open call invitation that was organised at Gallery Napa run by Artists’ Association of Lapland’s in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland. The exhibition was organised by Elisa Alaluusua with the help of other volunteers including four esteemed selectors Aira Huovinen (Finland), Hannele Nyman (Finland), Sharon Lacey (US) & Paul Ryan (UK). 140 artists proposed 257 drawings of which 100 drawings from 77 artists were selected for the exhibition, dates 14.12.2024–7.01.2025. There was a full programme of live and online events during the exhibition. Some photos below. Thank you Marko Junttila for many of these photos! The original open call info can be found here at the Artists’ Association of Lapland’s website here. Also on Instagram @lapland_international
B.A.G. SHOW 2024
26.11.–4.12.2024
Group show
Greatorex Street Gallery, London, UK
with Frances Coleman, Jane Colling, Jane Deakin, Tony Fleming, Ron Henocq, Peter McLean, Martin Pover & Louise Sheridan – celebrating 41 years of Bermondsey Artist Group’s existence. I am super excited to exhibit with these guys… they are the original BAG artists and I have been in the group only since 2008…. I am a newbie amongst this lot. They set up what is now called Southwark Park Galleries - a truly marevellous group of artists who make things happen. My works in the exhibition were: Great-Grandmother’s Little Dress with a Collar, Great-Grandmother’s Floral Handkerchiefs (together with the originals by Alina Tervo, 1887-1956) & Dead or Alive -video. What a wonderful private view we had! Thank you for popping in.
TRINITY BUOY WHARF DRAWING PRIZE 2024
3.-16.10.2024 Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, then touring UK
The UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing, the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2024 received over 2,280 submissions from 1,270 candidates located across the world for its 30th edition. A total of 115 works by 108 drawing practitioners were chosen… one of those is my Dear Drawing II (4 min, looped). Over the moon to be included in this exhibition once more - it is the highlight of the year for anyone interested in drawing. There is something to look forward to in a form of talks, workshops, the touring exhibition itself….. It starts with a bang: a symposium ’I Draw a Line from Me to You’ on Thursday 3rd October in London - hope to see you there!! Info DPUK & TBW. Photos included below:
LUUSUANI / MY LUUSUA
21.9.–15.10.2024
Solo show
MustaNapa, Artists’ Association of Lapland’s gallery, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
The exhibition explores everyday versus extraordinary on nine screens while creating a portrait of the village Luusua that is situated near the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. More information here.
An installation exploring everyday vs extraordinary: 8 works on 9 screens.
KYLÄSSÄ KYLÄSSÄ / VISIT–À–VILLAGE
3.12.–17.12.2023
Solo show
Kemijärven Kulttuurikeskus / Kemijärvi Cultural Centre
A Portrait of Luusua (Luusua potretti) is taking shape and presented here for the first time together with drawings on paper from the Absentees (Poissaolevat) –series that is based on lace pieces made by my great-grandmother Alina Tervo (1887-1956) who lived in Pelkosenniemi. The audience’s contribution to these on-going projects is welcomed and encouraged through an exhibition programme of events. Supported generously by TAIKE.
Click on the invite below to find the schedule (in Finnish). OHEISOHJELMAN AIKATAULU: klikkaa kutsua alla.
TRINITY BUOY WHARF DRAWING PRIZE 2023
Delighted to have two drawings – Great-Grandmother’s Little Dress with a Collar (on paper) & two months apart (video drawing) – selected for my favourite drawing exhibition Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2023, the UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing. A total of 124 works by 111 drawing practitioners were selected from 3,000 submissions from 1,450 candidates located across the world. More information at TBW & from Drawing Projects UK, for example here.
ABSENTEES / POISSAOLEVAT
Solo show, Korundin seinä, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Rovaniemi, Finland, 1.6.-31.7. 2023
Great-Grandmother’s ‘Hand Made’ Little Dress / Iso-Mummin ‘Hand Made’ pikkumekko, 2021
Great-Grandmother’s Flower Shirt / Iso-Mummin kukkapaita, 2022
Great-Grandmother’s Baby Tops (or Death) / Iso-Mummin vauvapaidat (tai kuolema), 2022.
Graphite on handmade paper, 77 x 57 cm or 57 x 77 cm.
LUUSUA POTRETTI / A PORTRAIT OF LUUSUA
Super excited to be working on this project after so many years of collecting material and thinking about it. Thank you TAIKE for making it possible! Thank you for everyone in Luusua and around who are somehow connected to this wonderful village of ours. Come and pay us a visit and share your story. More to follow....
Hei kyläläiset, klikkaa linkkiä, jos sinulla on salasana hallussa.
AIKA JA AJALLISUUS / TIME & TIMENESS curated by Juhani Tuominen
Group exhibition, Gallery Valo & Katve I & II, Arktikum, Rovaniemi, Finland, 15.12.2022-5.2.2023
Great-Grandmother’s Baby Collar / Iso-Mummin vauvakaulus, 2022
Great-Grandmother’s Collar, perhaps / Iso-Mummin kaulus, ehkä, 2021
Graphite on handmade paper, 57 x 77 cm
Fragmentary Memories / Keskeneräisiä muistikuvia, two-channel video with stereo sound, 26 mins.
BOOKED 2022 – Artists Book Exhibition
26.11.-18.12.2022
MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre, Helsinki, Finland
MUISTIN YTIMESSÄ / MEMORY NUCLEI solo show
9.11.-4.12.2022
Gallery Duetto, Helsinki, Finland
TRINITY BUOY WHARF DRAWING PRIZE 2022
First Prize: Elisa Alaluusua, Unconceivable Line, single-channel video drawing, 2022.
From over 3,200 submissions by 1,673 artists located in 45 countries,134 works by 112 drawing practitioners were shortlisted for the TBWDP22. Video clip from the award ceremony on the 28th Sept 2022 at TBW London: '6 Feet' performative drawing by M. Lohrum in the foreground & the winning video drawing projected on the wall behind. More information at TBW & DPUK.
TRINITY BUOY WHARF DRAWING PRIZE 2022
Delighted to have TWO drawings included in this prestigious drawing exhibition: video drawing ‘Unconceivable Line’ (single-channel video drawing, 5 mins, 2022) & drawing on paper ‘Paula’s Lace Top IV’ (graphite on paper, 83x83cm, 2021).
Exhibition 29.9.-16.10.2022 at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London
26.10.2022-22.01.2023 at the Willis Museum & Salisbury Gallery, Basingstoke
9.2.-26.3.2023 at ArtHouse, Jersey.
JUURET / ROOTS curated by Elisa Alaluusua
18.8.-9.10.2022
Gallery Valo & Katve I & II, Arktikum, Rovaniemi, Finland
Photos by Marko Junttila, artworks by Mari Parpala (Matti Tainio & Esa Meltaus in the background). Exhibition catalogue designed by Jutta Luukkonen can be found here.
ARTISTS’ BOOKS EXHIBITION
20.7.-14.8.2022
Gallery Duetto, Helsinki, Finland
EHDOTON & MAASSA - trilogy part I & II solo shows
2020 & 2021
Gallery Katve 2, Rovaniemi, Finland
NÄKYMÄTÖN NÄKYVÄSSÄ / THE INVISIBLE IN THE VISIBLE
Group show: Elisa Alaluusua, Tom Engblom, Jaana Erkkilä-Hill, Michael Marnin Jacobs, Kalle Lampela,
Leila Lipiäinen, Esa Meltaus, Pirjo Puurunen. 13 February – 11 April 2021
Voipaala Art Centre, Valkeakoski, Finland
ALALUUSUA ON ALALUUSUA – PROPOSITIO(N) solo show
January 2020
Gallery Lovisa, Rovaniemi, Finland
SLICE OF SKETCHBOOKS / SI(I)VU LUONNOSKIRJOISTA
solo show, January 2020, Gallery Kopio, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
Video works: sketchbooks of Elina Brotherus & sketchbooks of Chris Wainwright
Video Backstage Production: Elephant & Castle (2019)
produced by Theatrum Mundi and Lucia Sceranková (direction, camera, editing) together with Rui Pignatelli, John Scott & Roman Štětina. Visit to my studio in 4:00-4:43.
My Very Own Brexit –video drawing
KUOLLUTTA LIHAA [DEAD MEAT] exhibition
2 September – 3 November 2019
Arktikum, Rovaniemi, Finland
RE - A BERMONDSEY ARTISTS' GROUP EXHIBITION
10 October - 3 November 2019
Lake Gallery, Southwark Park Galleries, London, UK
YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART
EILEEN HOGAN: Personal Geographies
9 May to 11 August 2019
I am delighted that my video: EILEEN HOGAN / Artist-in-Residence, Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London / SKETCHBOOKS (12'20'') is exhibited at Yale Center for British Art from May to August 2019. Eileen's Opening Lecture can be viewed here.
Image courtesy of Yale Center for British Art.
MUU Gala
November 2018 onwards
Exciting news - Making The Arctic Line / Circle (Part III) – has been selected to be part of MUU Gala 2018 and will be touring in Finland, Russia and beyond. Curated by artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Mika Taanila. The screenings, Beautiful Confusions and Pysäyttäjät, highlight the distinctiveness, diversity and richness of Finnish media art.
"The 30th anniversary year of Artists’ Association MUU culminates in the premiere of MUU Gala 2018 in Helsinki on 21 November 2018, treating the invited audience to the very best of Finnish media art!" The artists featured in the gala are:
ELISA ALALUUSUA | ANNA-KAISA ANT-WUORINEN | RISTO-PEKKA BLOM | JENNI ESKOLA | TAIJA GOLDBLATT | HELINÄ HUKKATAIVAL | JUHA VAN INGEN | PANU JOHANSSON | TUOMO KANGASMAA & MARKUS RENVALL | JOHANNA KETOLA | YASSINE KHALED | ARJA KÄRKKÄINEN | HARRI LARJOSTO | DAVID MUTH | ELINA OIKARI | SARA PATHIRANE | MIIA RINNE | JUKKA SILOKUNNAS | MINNA SUONIEMI | PINJA VALJA | MARJO VIITALA | TIMO WRIGHT
EXCERPT from Making The Arctic Line / Circle (Part III), 8 mins.
dRAWing strength
Montsalvat, Melbourne, Australia
Nov 2018 to Jan 2019
Couldn't be happier --- the Sketchbook video drawings are debuting in Australia!
Three videos from the Sketchbooks installation feature in 'dRAWing strength' exhibition near Melbourne, Australia, 16 November 2018 - 6 January 2019. This exhibition of contemporary drawings is curated by artist Jo Lane and Montsalvat's Arts Manager Jeannette Davison. It showcases international artists in the field of contemporary drawing and its expanded practice.
'dRAWing strength' presents:
sketchbooks of Stephen Farthing
sketchbooks of Anne Howeson
sketchbooks of William Raban
An exhibition view from dRAWing strength. Photo courtesy of Jo Lane.
Eileen Hogan’s Artist Not-in-Residence exhibition in The Garden Museum
I was delighted to be commissioned to make a video for Eileen Hogan's exhibition at the newly renovated Garden Museum in London (May-Sept 2017). Info here: https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/eileen-hogan/
Eileen Hogan is one of the artists I interviewed for my PhD research on Sketchbooks. A video I made about her sketchbook practice sketchbooks of Eileen Hogan is part of the installation that grew out of that research. Making another video of her most recent sketchbooks was fun. They are amazing!
 |  |  |
|---|
Eileen Hogan Garden Museum Sketchbooks
Excerpt from video: EILEEN HOGAN / Artist-in-Residence, Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London / SKETCHBOOKS (12'20'')
Jerwood Drawing Prize 2017
I am delighted to be included in the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2017 with my video drawing The Arctic Circle (Part II).
This was the last year of Jerwood Drawing Prize - from now on known as Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize.
Exhibition dates:
Jerwood Space, London 13 Sep – 22 Oct 2017
East Gallery, Norwich University of the Arts 14 Nov 2017 – 20 Jan 2018
The Edge, Bath University 10 Feb – 31 Mar 2018
Sidney Cooper Gallery, Canterbury Christchurch University 11 Apr – 6 May 2018
Vane Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne 26 May - 28 Jul 2018
Drawing Projects UK, Trowbridge 18 Aug - 6 Oct 2018
The Arctic Circle (part II), 12 mins.