Arja Äikäs is known as an active advocate of art and culture. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions and held several solo exhibitions. This coming summer, Arja’s graphics works will be featured in the Välähdyksiä exhibition at Iso-Syöte.
Art has been a lifelong companion
Arja Äikäs was born in Sarakylä, a village in Pudasjärvi. After living in Espoo for more than 40 years, she eventually returned to her roots in Northern Finland. Art has long played an important role in her life, and nearly twenty years ago she fell in love with metal graphics in particular.
Metal graphics is a form of fine art printmaking in which images are created on metal plates using techniques such as etching, engraving, and printing. The art form is known for its delicate expression, rich detail, and the fact that each print is handcrafted. This is precisely what makes graphics such a continuously inspiring and surprising medium for the artist.
Winter landscapes and small details as inspiration
The world portrayed in Arja’s works is deeply inspired by wintery nature, small animals, and the atmosphere of homes and interiors. Her art reflects the environments in which people live — both external landscapes and internal spaces and emotions.
The artist’s personal motto, “respect the old,” is strongly reflected in both her work and her way of life. Old buildings, traditions, and the quietness of nature form an essential part of her visual language.
A historic log house as a source of inspiration
Today, Arja lives in the historic Äikäs log house in Rytinki, Pudasjärvi, originally built in 1805. The house won the Finland’s Most Beautiful Home 2025 competition. More than just a home, it has become an important part of her artistic environment.
“The house in Rytinki, Pudasjärvi, is already a work of art in itself, but it is also a source of inspiration. The surrounding scenery offers a constantly changing art exhibition — from the yard you can admire the lake, the hills, the northern lights, and the stars,” Arja describes.
An active advocate for arts and culture
Arja Äikäs is known as an active figure in the arts and cultural scene. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions and held solo exhibitions in cities including Helsinki, Espoo, Loviisa, Salo, and Pudasjärvi.
In addition to her own artistic work, she has also taught art at adult education centers and actively taken part in a wide range of cultural events and activities.
Making graphics both challenges and rewards
For Arja, graphics is above all an art form that encourages continuous learning and experimentation.
“Graphics is a beloved art form that challenges its creator but also encourages trying new things. Different techniques and materials offer endless opportunities for new ideas and inspiration in visual expression. Making prints is also exciting. When a print is pulled, the final artwork comes alive — that is really the very essence of the art form,” says Arja Äikäs.
It is precisely this sense of surprise and craftsmanship that makes graphics such a unique art form, where every print carries both the artist’s personal touch and the uniqueness of the moment in which it was created.
Glimpes of the North (Välähdyksiä) is part of the Oulu 2026 programme.
