HI, it’s me, Matilda!

BIO

I’m a Helsinki-based multidisciplinary artist working in the field of arts and culture, with the experience of being a teacher, designer, crafstperson as well as museum customer service professional. I am especially drawn to roles that involve meaningful human interaction, inclusivity, helping others, and creative problem-solving.

In recent years, my creative practice has focused on both painting and material-based art such as textiles. I am interested in exploring the world through the eyes of a child and in finding magic in the everyday. I believe in the power of art as a space of possibility—one that allows us to look beneath the surface and imagine realities beyond what is immediately visible. Through the process of making art, I create room for dreaming and for bringing alternative worlds into view: places where I can become anything and where anything might be possible.

The recurring themes in my work are nature, alternative realities, play and magic as well as identity through the lens of being queer and autistic. My works are characterized by bright colors, playful expression, and a strong sense of storytelling. I believe that playfulness, cuteness, and childlike wonder can act as transformative forces in the world. I'm fascinated by the contrast between a piece’s appearance and its underlying message, often embedding deeper and highly personal narratives with my seemingly cute creations. 

Over the years, I have taken on a wide range of roles and responsibilities across disciplines. In addition to my artistic practice, teaching, and museum work, I have planned and managed multi-year projects, applied for funding and written project proposals, built and maintained collaborations, organised workshops and developed curricula, created content for social media and visual marketing as well as organized and hosted events and exhibitions. These experiences have strengthened my ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to approach tasks creatively in diverse contexts.

I consider my creativity, sensitivity, and attentive presence to be my strongest assets. I have received positive feedback for my encouraging and inspiring approach, as well as my ability to create safe and supportive environments. I am empathetic and analytical, highly observant and sensory-aware. My core professional strengths include creative problem-solving, wild imagination and vivid inner world, ideation independently and collaboratively, strong observational skills as well as deep interest in cultural well-being. I strongly believe that art belongs to everybody and I am particularly motivated to contribute to how art and culture can enhance people’s well-being and everyday experiences as well as be used as a tool to promote human rights and conservation of nature. Through my work, I hope to bring joy and color into peoples’ lives and to invite viewers to reconnect with imagination and curiosity.

CONTACT

I’m currently looking for new work opportunities, so don’t hesitate to contact me! You can reach me with an email from: matilda.palmu(at)gmail.com

CV

education

2020

Master of Arts, Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Fashion, Clothing & Textile Design MA Programme

2015

Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design programme, Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Fine Arts

2014

Exchange semester, Product design department, University of Arts Utrecht

2008

Degree of Metal Artisan, Mynämäki Craft and Design College

2005

The Finnish Matriculation Examination, Kastu’s Upper Secondary School

exhibitions

Solo

2025

Vestigium, Gallery Jänis, Turku

Spring Fever, Design Kaverit -studio, Helsinki

Flowers & magic, Vallila Brewery Gallery, Helsinki

2024

Wonderland, Gallery 2, Pirkkala

2023/24

Daydreaming, Polhem Showroom, Helsinki

2023

From a Distant Galaxy, Gallery Loisti, Helsinki

2022

Forever Summer, Kulmapala studio, Helsinki

Creatures and other wonders, Asbestos Art Space, Helsinki

They come in peace, Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti

2021

Fantastical creatures in the sexotic garden, HAA Gallery, Suomenlinna, Helsinki

2020

Pussyeyes and nippleflowers, Lokal Satellite Space Gallery, Helsinki

group

2026

State of Play, Koola Art Space, Helsinki

2026

Aamuöiseen sateeseen – Rain Effect, Galleria YÖ, Helsinki

2025/26

Runokuvaa Infinity, Kalliola, Helsinki

2025

YÖn Talvisalonki, Galleria YÖ, Helsinki

2024

Koola Art Space- group show, Helsinki

Between Happiness & Despair, Taiteen Talo & Kunsthal Nord, Turku & Ålborg

Salarakas - 4 years / 50 issues -anniversary exhibition, Kalleria Gallery, Helsinki

Taidemyynti VOL 2, Toinen Silmä Gallery, Helsinki

Ihmemaa X, Purkutaide -exhibition, Kerava

Runokuvaa 6, Levo teatteri, Sörkan Ruusu, Helsinki

2022/23

Identity, Lapinlahden Lähde, Helsinki

2022

Signals, Habitare, Helsinki

TASTE - Shaken and stirred: cocktails and bespoke design, HogoHuone, Helsinki

Paljain silmin - With the Naked Eye, Voipaala art centre, Sääksmäki

Postitaide – MAIL ART, B-gallery, Turku

U-JOINTS - Knots & Knits, Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, Fiskars

2019

Textiles Tomorrow Summit, Aalto University, Otaniemi, Espoo

Protoshop 2019, Habitare, Helsinki

UU Market, Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen, Denmark

2018

Experimental Textile Design, Aalto University, Otaniemi, Espoo

Emoveo, Designmuseum’s courtyard, Helsinki

2017

Welded & Woven, Artek 2nd Cycle, Helsinki

Ecodesign, Habitare, Helsinki

Matter, Atski Gallery, Arabianranta, Helsinki

Barewood, Milan Design Week 2017, Milan, Italy

2016

Nuutajärvi Local, Aalto Yliopisto, Arabian campus, Helsinki

Protoshop 2016, Habitare, Helsinki

2015

Unveiled 2015, Habitare, Helsinki ja DMY Design Festival Berlin, Berlin, Germany

MI15, Kattilahalli, Helsinki

2013

Wire chair, Karisma, Lahti

2012

Woodment, Propuu Gallery, Lahti

GRANTS

2023/24

Alfred Kordelin Foundation, working grant

2023

Arts Promotion Centre Finland, project grant

2022

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Public Display Grant

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland, COVID-19 Grant

2021

The Arts Promotion Centre Finland, COVID-19 Grant

Grafia ry Grant

2020

Aalto University of Arts Scholarship

2019

Aalto University of Arts, DoD Grant

2018

Aalto University of Arts, DoD Grant (for a working group)

2015

Finnish Cultural Foundation, Art and Science Grant (for a working group)

2015

Furniture Foundation Grant (for a working group)

Artist’s residencies

2024

Between Happiness & Despair, Taiteen Talo / Kunsthal Nord, Turku, Finland / Ålborg, Denmark

2021

Archipelago Art Residency in Korpo (AARK)

memberships

2026

Artists’ Association Yö (since 2025)

publications

2020

Pussyeyes and nippleflowers - finding one’s identity and expression with textile as medium, Master’s thesis

2015

Intuitio vs ratio (intuition vs reason), Bachelor’s thesis

work experience

Part-time customer servicer, Amos Rex Art Museum (since 2024)

Part-time art and design teacher at Adult Education College HEO (since 2017)

Freelance artist and designer (since 2020), example of clientele: city of Vantaa, Arabia Street Festival, Lapuan Kankurit, Aalto University, Farkku-Sampo, private persons.

Latest projects ETC:

2025

Art, Craft Fair, Teurastamo, Helsinki

Let all the flowers bloom art workshop planning and hosting at Etelän Syli ry

2024

Puutarhassa art workshop planning and hosting at Kulttuuripaja Casa Turku as part of Between Happiness and Despair residency

2023

Paraati mural in collaboration with artist Maria Björklund, commissioned by Street Art Vantaa

Antaa kaikkien kukkien kukkia vaan art workshop planning and hosting at Tyttöjen talo Helsinki, with Softislab

Artist panelist at Identity group exhibition as part of Huuto Gallery’s Artist Talk series

2022

Midsummer printing studio workshop hosting with Softislab at Sideways Festival

2021

See with hands – taste with nose – eat with eyes workshop planning and hosting at Softislab