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Biography
Exploring humanity with art, seeking what is sustainable. Works on paper by Pirjo Virtanen reveal the flow of time and urge the audience to reflect their position as a human being in the context of built environment and nature. She has a background in science and technology, which has made it natural to extend her artistic expression from pure watercolor to printmaking, installations and digital art, always considering the least harmful ways of making visual art. Besides her artistic practice, she is passionate about the sustainability impacts of the art world. She aims at enabling artists to make conscious choices and at making the social and environmental impacts of art measurable.
For years, she has participated in the exhibition activities of the Finnish Watercolor Art Association and Akvart gallery and, in addition, she has been selected as Finland’s representative in several international watercolor exhibitions, the most important of which is participation in four consecutive Fabriano in Acquarello exhibitions in Italy.
Pirjo Virtanen has held private exhibitions in Tampere and Helsinki, and she has set up a summer gallery in Virrat on a private island.
Artist CV
Member of the Finnish Watercolor Art Association.
Artist member of Pirkkala Art Association.
Member of Akvart cooperative.
Lives and works in Tahmela, Tampere. Studio at Villa Tahmelan Huvila.
Contact information
+358407368637, pirjoamv@gmail.com, www.akvarellitie.fi, www.linktr.ee/akvarellitie
www.instagram.com/akvarellitie for watercolor and _pirjovirtanen for other work.
EducationLapland University of Applied Sciences
BA (Art and Design) 2025-2026
University of Lapland, art studies at open university 2024 – 2025: Basic studies of art history and visual arts 25 + 25 credits.University of the Arts Helsinki, Open university: 30 credits 2024 – 2025
Watercolor courses 2021-24 mm. Irina Rebnitskaja, Mika Törönen, Tatsuo Hoshiko, Outi Aho, Outi Virtanen
Pirkan Opisto art school 2020-2024, basic studies in visual arts (800 h)
Exhibitions
Private exhibitions
Coming up in 2026 Connections. Tahmelan Huvila. Tampere. April 2026.
2025 Nostalgia. Porin Saskiat Gallery. Pori. November to December 2025.2025 Red and White Pispala, Hirvitalo, May, Tampere
2024 Treasure. Gallery Koppelo, in August, Tampere.
2024 Natural wonders, TAYS University Hospital, May-July, Tampere
2024 Chiaroscuro e Dolci Colori, February-March, Akvart Gallery, Helsinki
2024 Private Island Gallery. June-August. Virrat.
2021 Pispala Day and Night, Pispala library, Tampere
2020 Little Steps in Pispala, Tahmelan Huvila, Tampere
2020 Small sSteps in Helsinki, Yao Art Gallery, Helsinki
Artist statement of an aspiring painter who fell in love with water and color
I paint watercolors because working with water and color is sufficiently challenging, delicate and uncontrollable. I have a passion for testing the limits of the watercolor technique. I want the paintings to convey stories and evoke emotions. Colors are the biggest source of energy for me.
I am not one of those who believe that the grip of the brush defines the artist’s handprint, but in addition to diverse and multi-sized brush work, I typically let the water carry the color, drain, spray water, tilt the paper in different positions and let the color puddles find shapes of their own. I use various tools, from sponges to rollers, textiles, natural objects and combine monotypic working with classic watercolor painting methods.
Watercolor is like a poem, and painting is my yoga. Watercolor painting offers a refuge of concentration and silence in an otherwise busy world for both the artist and the viewer of the painting. The unpredictability of watercolor evokes a special mixture of joy, energy, surprise and calmness, and I hope that some of it is also transmitted to the viewer.