Announcement: The first exhibition at Slow Art Gallery in 2026

Slow Art Gallery, opened in 2025, will continue its exhibition program in 2026. The open call for the 2026 exhibitions was highly successful.

The first exhibition of the year 2026 presents a curated dual show by painters Katja Härkki and Leena Vainio. Their works explore the multilayered nature of humanity, how the mind and body can simultaneously suffer, flourish, and deteriorate. The subtle sense of decadence within their work is both alluring and hypnotic, filled with internal tension. They also examine powerful emotions such as grief and abandonment through their intense and evocative pieces.
The exhibition opening will take place on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 5 pm. The opening is welcoming
everyone to celebrate the new year!

“It is incredibly important that art allows us to study humanity and strong emotions, especially in challenging times. Art can bring us closer to our own feelings and strengthen our experiences by transforming lived moments into visual narratives. We are delighted to begin collaborating with Katja and Leena, their remarkable works will provide a fantastic start to the new year,” says Laura Köönikkä, founder and curator of Slow Art Gallery & Confidants Studio.

Katja Härkki is a visual artist living and working in Lahti. At the heart of her paintings lies the layered essence of humanity: the struggles, blossoming, and decline of mind and body. She explores a form of decadence that is simultaneously captivating, seductive, and contradictory. Härkki earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Art and Design Helsinki, specializing in fashion and costume design.
She completed her visual arts studies at the Lahti Art Institute and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts (YAMK) from Turku University of Applied Sciences. Katja’s artworks have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Finland and abroad.
Leena Vainio lives in Southern Finland near the city of Tampere, with her studio located in a former factory building. She received both her BFA and MA from Kankaanpää Art School, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences. Vulnerability is the central theme in Vainio’s work. Leena’s artworks reflect on trauma, grief,
abandonment, transience, and the passage of time. Drawn to nostalgia and the longing for beauty, she selects materials and techniques according to each theme. Her layered paintings also carry visions of hope and light. Vainio has held annual solo exhibitions in galleries across Finland and has participated in group exhibitions
both nationally and internationally.

For more information: info(at)finnishartagency.com or laura(at)finnishartagency.com or +358 50 533 0509