hi, IT’s me, matilda

Matilda Palmu is a Finnish artist and designer (MA) who talks about her inner world, as well as being queer and autistic, through her art. Her work combines bright colors, playful expression and storytelling. Matilda is fascinated by the contrast between a piece’s appearance and its underlying message, often embedding deeper and highly personal narratives with her seemingly cute creations. She believes in the transformative power of playfulness, cuteness, and childlike wonder, aiming to bring joy and color to the world and bring people together with her art.

The characteristic elements for her art are use of bold colors and surface patterns as well as working simultaneously with different mediums, such as painting and textile-making.

Matilda strongly believes that art belongs to everybody and it can support mental wellbeing as well as be used as a tool to promote human rights and conservation of nature. The recurring themes in her work are nature, alternative realities, identity through autistic and queer point of view and inclusivity.

Matilda has a background in craft, applied arts and design, interior architecture and furniture design. She graduated as Master of Arts from Aalto University in 2020 focusing on contemporary art and textile design. She also has years of experience working as a teacher as well as organising art-workshops for different kinds of focus groups.

“I love working with different materials and techniques and colors are my passion. For example, when I see a certain shade of blue or pink, I start to drool :)

It’s very important to me that my art has some kind of story or a hidden meaning. I often process heavy issues (such as the struggles of being queer and autistic in a heteronormative world) through my art but the outcomes are quite the opposite of what one might expect; cute and colorful. 

I'm a very outgoing and social person and working together with other people is close to my heart. Whether it is teaching or hosting a workshop, community art or a collaboration, I love it!

I also think that art (whether it’s creating it or enjoying it) belongs to everybody and it’s a big part of being a human. Therefore, I want to make the art world more accessible through my own practice”

CONTACT

You can reach me with email from matilda.palmu(at)gmail.com and you can also find me at Instagram