”As a young art student in the 1970’s, one of the first things I learned at the Art Academy was that flowers are beautiful, but you can´t paint them, something I have fought against ever since.”

–Tuula Lehtinen

Galleri Thomassen is pleased to present Fragrance, Tuula Lehtinen´s fifth solo show at the gallery. For Fragrance Tuula Lehtinen presents a new series of paintings together with wall mosaics and cushion pieces as well as new porcelain sculptures.

Fog and landscapes, lace, shoes, and flowers are recurring motifs in Tuula Lehtinen´s art, exploring themes of femininity, sensuality, indulgence, nature, and power. Her work can be placed in the tradition of feminist art, which does not conform to prevailing standards of good taste. As such, she exploits concepts that for a long time were banned from contemporary art, such as the frivolous and the decorative. In Fragrance Tuula Lehtinen is as always challenging the traditional separation between the intellectual realm of art and culture and the domain of daily life.

Tuula Lehtinen (b. 1956) lives and works in Tampere, Finland. She received her education at The Finnish Art Academy (1976-1980). Selected solo exhibitions include On Beauty, Wäinö Aaltonen Art Museum (2013) and Hämeenlinna Art Museum (2012), Fog, Lace and Flowers, Konsthallen Hishult (2016), Layers, Gallery Norske Grafikere, Oslo 2010, Om Skönhet, Galleri Thomassen (2009), Sköna hem, Galleri Thomassen (2005), Inredningsutställning, Konsthallen Hishult (2005), Pretty Things, Galleri Rosemarie, Malmö (2004), God konst i hemmiljö, Konstnärshuset, Stockholm (2002). She is the recipient of numerous grants, most recently she received the 5 year work grant from the Finnish State for the third time. She is represented in multiple private and public collections, including the permanent collection of Rhösska Museum of Design and Craft in Gothenburg, Sweden and the Kiasma Art Museums, Finland.