Sculptures like poetry
- Aamulehti Newspaper
I’m interested in empathy and connection. Do they have natural limits such as time or biological differences, and if so, what are they? In my work, this shows in themes of ecological questions - connection between human and nature, and social questions - how to learn to see more fully another human being.
Trained both as an architect and visual artist, my work has a continued emphasis on site specific work, and I mainly work with commissions for installations and sculpture in public space.
I also work to help cities and companies wanting to integrate contemporary art into urban planning and architecture, through my company Public Art Agency Finland. With my team, we have helped dozens of cities, organising competitions, curating, and creating public art strategies, as well as facilitating the production process of individual public art projects. I enjoy researching international best practices and have written about the field of public art in cities such as Singapore (2016) and New York (2018).
CV
Maija Kovari (b.1985) is a sculptor and architect who lives in Finland. She works globally in the field of contemporary art in public spaces.
Education
Architect, Msc.Arch, 2010 - 2014 / School of Architecture, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland,
Bachelor of Visual Arts, B.F.A., 2007 - 2011 / Fine Art, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland
Specializing in installation and sculpture, 2009 / Construction - Art & espaces, Haute Ecole d’Art et de Design, Genève, Switzerland (Erasmus Exchange Program)
Basics in Philosophy, 2006 - 2007 / Faculty of Philosophy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Basics in Architectural Design, 2005 - 2006 / Faculty of Architecture, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
Public works & exhibitions
2025 Untitled (upcoming) - public sculpture, commissioned work, City of Valkeakoski
2024 The Collector - public sculpture, commissioned work by Tampere Art Museum
2023 Midsummer Night’s Stars - public sculpture, commission, YIT Housing Inc
2023 Tree that shelters - public sculpture, Aleksander’s Church, Tampere
2020 Cheers! - Tampere Artist Association 100 years - invited group exhibition, Tampere
2019 Important Things - public sculpture, commission, Tampere Finland
2019 Heard by the Water - public sculpture, commission, Tampere Finland
2018 Seven Steps to Save the Ocean / Large environmental artwork inside Ranua Wildlife Park, Lapland
2016 Mirror Clear, Otavalankatu, Tampere, Finland / public artwork
2016 Most touchable sculpture - group exhibition, Sanomatalo & Art Kaarisilta, Helsinki, Finland
2016 Familiar strangers / a solo exhibition, Ti-La, Jyväskylä
2015 Artist in a street design team - a pilot project City of Tampere, Foundation of Environmental Art
2014 Lilies, Play, and Light - designs for sewer covers / commissioned work, City of Tampere
2011 Borderlines / group exhibition, Gallery Muro, Geneve, Switzerland,
2011 Borderlines / group exhibition, Gallery Emil, Tampere, Finland
2011 Ars Kärsämäki / group exhibition, Kärsämäki, Finland
2011 House Games / group exhibition, Jyväskylä, Finland
2011 Work-play-work / solo exhibition, 00130Gallery Project Room, Helsinki, Finland
2010 Human | Culture / group exhibition, theme year of interactive art, Imatra, Finland
2010 Home / invited group exhibition, Haihara Art Center, Tampere, Finland
2010 Robinson et Vendredi à Berlin, invited group exhibition, Skulpturenpark Berlin Zentrum, Berlin, Germany
2010 I’m pretty sure I need this, solo exhibition, Ikuinen Gallery, Tampere, Finland
2009 D’iles et d’Ídentities, invited group exhibition, LIYH, Genève, Sveitsi
2009 ArtVeturit / group exhibition in an old train hall, Tampere, Finland
2008 Forces of Light, Festival of public art, Helsinki, Finland
Residencies
2018 Public Art in NYC / research residency - Residency Unlimited, New York City, USA
2018 Integrated Public Art - History & Future / research residency - Finnish Cultural Institute of Rome, Rome, Italy
2016 Public Art: Important, Boring, ______? / research residency - Instinc Residency - Singapore
Work positions
1 / 2016 -
Founder & director at Public Art Agency Finland
Facilitating the use of contemporary artists in the field of urban planning
integrated public artworks as part of urban design projects
8 / 2012 - 1 / 2016
Designer & Artist at Ramboll Finland Oy
strategic planning and general development of urban areas trough land use planning
developing the role of art as part of urban planning and design
designing integrated artworks as a member of urban planning and design teams
site planning and detailed urban design
6 / 2012 - 8 / 2012
Assisting designer at Area Planning / City of Tampere
area planning and other site-specific land use planning
graphic design
1 / 2011 - 3 / 2012
Producer & Curator at Borderlines Exhibitions / Finland & Switzerland
curating and producing a pair of contemporary art exhibitions
finding collaborators and organizing funding