Marketta Holmberg
Works available
Helsingin Taiteilijaseuran taidelainaamoBasic information
b. 1939, Lammi – d. 2018
Visual Artist, Painter
Residence: Helsinki
Artist’s Statement
Background
Starting at the age of 30, I have been full time artist. Before that I was studying law, University of Helsinki 1959-1962, languages, English Language Exam, University of Cambridge 1967, and the arts. While studying I also had jobs ranging from office employee to temporary ones within the fields of experimental and commercial photography, film, TV and fashion. 1980-2004 I have been teaching art classes at Swedish Adult Education Centre of Helsinki, and further had some commissions for illustration and portraits.
Artist Activities
Since 1970 my works have been shown in more than 170 exhibitions or festivals in 22 countries and they are part of public or private collections in 14 countries. Since 1988 my works have won eight international prizes or diplomas. Starting 1975 about 20 Finnish or Nordic grants, stipends or art contributions have been given to me. Further, important to my art have also been working periods at the following artists´ residences: Bergen 1994, New York 1996, Vilnius 1997 and Athens 1998.
My works also are included in the Documentary of Finnish Conceptual Art 1991-1994, Central Archives of Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki, Photograph Collections/Collection: Conceptual Art (Publication "Ephemeral Art", Ateneum 1999).
What I Would Like to Say
Because we all so to say have our own experience concerning the contemporary world and the history of art, other artists´ work must to some extent influence our own work. Aware of this, my aim is to focus on ideas, projects and techniques, which through my continuous work feel most proximate and familiar and thus also richest of innovative openings. Probably aptly it has been said about my art: "In her works, the artist expresses her own whimsical and witty apprehension of the world around her, whether of persons, seasons or aspects of urban culture" (MA & LT 2001).
Starting at the age of 30, I have been full time artist. Before that I was studying law, University of Helsinki 1959-1962, languages, English Language Exam, University of Cambridge 1967, and the arts. While studying I also had jobs ranging from office employee to temporary ones within the fields of experimental and commercial photography, film, TV and fashion. 1980-2004 I have been teaching art classes at Swedish Adult Education Centre of Helsinki, and further had some commissions for illustration and portraits.
Artist Activities
Since 1970 my works have been shown in more than 170 exhibitions or festivals in 22 countries and they are part of public or private collections in 14 countries. Since 1988 my works have won eight international prizes or diplomas. Starting 1975 about 20 Finnish or Nordic grants, stipends or art contributions have been given to me. Further, important to my art have also been working periods at the following artists´ residences: Bergen 1994, New York 1996, Vilnius 1997 and Athens 1998.
My works also are included in the Documentary of Finnish Conceptual Art 1991-1994, Central Archives of Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki, Photograph Collections/Collection: Conceptual Art (Publication "Ephemeral Art", Ateneum 1999).
What I Would Like to Say
Because we all so to say have our own experience concerning the contemporary world and the history of art, other artists´ work must to some extent influence our own work. Aware of this, my aim is to focus on ideas, projects and techniques, which through my continuous work feel most proximate and familiar and thus also richest of innovative openings. Probably aptly it has been said about my art: "In her works, the artist expresses her own whimsical and witty apprehension of the world around her, whether of persons, seasons or aspects of urban culture" (MA & LT 2001).
