Emilia Mäkelä (b.1989) is visual artist based in Tampere. She specializes in oil painting and other traditional painting and drawing mediums such as gouache and charcoal. She is currently focused on painting figuratively and has a strong intention towards realism. What inspires her with oils is the challenge and meditative process of painting. She considers the constant planning and analyzing of tones and values to be endlessely intriguing.

Mäkelä paints figurative portraits using herself as the model for the paintings. Purposefully awkward poses are her go-to. She is fascinated by the subtle shapes of the body and how the light bounces off the skin. Her work with self-portraits often dwells around the subject of sexuality and gender. In her work solitude of her model becomes a reflection of the soliloquy that is present in the act of painting itself. The low self-esteem, insecurity and sexual innuendo oozing from the character she portrays gives away the search for acceptance in the eyes of the viewer. Underlining the fact that this is often the case with the artist itself merely seeking approval through their work.

She has held multiple solo exhibitions in Finland and has taken part in a notable group shows such as Mäntän Kuvataideviikot XXI in Pekilo and FLIP! skeittaus ja taide exhibition in Vantaa Art Museum Artsi. She also has other artistic outlets such as illustration, animation, zines and music.

Artist CV