Emma Luukkala

Emma Luukkala (b. 1992) lives and works in Helsinki.

Luukkala draws inspiration from the abundant mundane objects that surround us in everyday life – even outright clutter. Recurring motifs in her paintings include household items, toys, and patterns borrowed from interior textiles. Her work centres on human interaction – acts of care and sheltering – in which these humble objects play a vital role.

Luukkala mixes oil paint with beeswax, fillers, and dammar gum, sometimes applying it in thick impasto that rises in relief, while other areas remain completely smooth. “Materiality is my gateway to painting. I approach a painting primarily as an object, as surface, colour, and texture – but also as a language of its own, a multidimensional, symbolic semiotic system,” she explains.

Her recent paintings explore the convergence of the sacred and the mundane, incorporating motifs reminiscent of church windows or gates. These works suggest that the joy and meaning often associated with sacred experiences can emerge within ordinary – even monotonous –moments.

Exhibition Freshly Painted 14.5.–30.8.2026