SYLVIA JAVÉN
PORTFOLIO
< INSTAGRAM sylviajaven
< CONTACT
SYLVIA JAVÉN
Sylvia Javén’s art is deeply connected to the Finnish archipelago where she was born. Her work explores islands, not only as physical locations but as metaphors for emotional states and a visual exploration of lines and form. Using installations, videos, and paintings, she explores the layers of landscapes, both geographical and emotional, often connecting her own experiences with themes of survival and personal transformation. Her language is poetic, inviting introspection through subtle storytelling.
For Sylvia, painting is a spiritual practice and a process of discovery, revealing the essence of her subjects by stripping away the unnecessary and capturing their core in minimal, symbolic forms.
She has a master's degree from Aalto University’s Department of Art and Design and has exhibited her work in Finland and internationally in Sweden, Russia, Germany, Denmark, and the UK at various festivals and exhibitions.
Education
Master of Arts
2023 Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki Finland
(incl 60 sp from Master in Fine Art program, Valand Academy, Gothenburg University, Sweden)
BA in Fine Arts
2011 Novia University of Applied Sciences, Nykarleby Finland
Visual artisan
2007 Swedish Vocational Institute (now: Vocational College of Ostrobothnia), Nykarleby Finland
Exhibitions
Solo and duo exhibitions
2023 - Souvenir Box, Galleria Ronga, Tampere, Fi
2022 - Storyteller, with Ustina Yakovelva, Anna Nova gallery, St Petersburg
2021 - Hundratals hav, Black Wall Gallery, Vasa Finland
2021 - Livsfarliga öar och berg, After Eight, Jakobstad Finland
2018 - Paintings, Raawka, Vasa Finland
2017 - Landskap, Stundars Museum, Solf, Finland
2014 - "Did I tell you about the..." with Cora Wöllenstein, Bothnia Biennale. Konsthallen, Vasa, Finland
2010 - Syster Yster After Eight, Jakobstad, Finland
2009 - Kulturskafferiet Ritz, Vasa, Finland
2009 - Library of Jakobstad, Finland
2007 - Min värld av drömmar, Rådhusgallery Nykarleby, Finland
2006 - Tid, Library of Mariehamn, Aland Islands Finland
Group:
2024- Heritage gallery, Helsinki
2023 - Runo biannual - From Earth to heaven, Porvoo, Finland
2023 - Kontakti, Pohjanmaan Museum, Vaasa, Finland
2023 - Ystävyys, Galleria K, Vantaa, Fi
2022 - Sedan reste jag mig, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki Fi
2021 - Taidemaalariliiton teosvälitys, Kaapeli, Helsinki, Finland
2020 - RED, Black Wall gallery, Finland
2020 - Kulturhuset i Korsholm, Finland
2020 - Entangled, Homegallery 13, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2019 - Ung konst i Österbotten, Vasa Konsthall, Finland
2018 - Humlefestivalen, Finland
2017 - Seinäjoki Art & Design week, Finland
2016 - Symbios, Tobaksmagasinet Jakobstad, Finland
2015 - Can you dig it? Vasagatan33, Göteborg Sweden
2015 - Homeland, Västerbottens Museum, Umeå Sweden
2014 - Homeland, Kuntsi Museum of modern art, Vasa, Finland
2014 - Landskapa, Bristol Biennial, UK
2014 - Moscow international Biennale for young art, Russia
2014 - Springhouse, Tannenstr 2, Dresden Germany
2013 - 3 painters, Kulturskafferiet Ritz, vasa, Finland
2013 - Springhouse, Haus h, Dresden Germany
2012 - Al Dente II – Secondi Piatti, Elverket, Ekenäs, Finland
2012 - The Infamous Outpost, with Flux Factory (NY, USA)Spanien 19C, Denmark
2011 - International reichswald research, Kreis gallery, Nürnberg, Germany
2011 - Blaue Nacht, Nürnberg, Germany
2011 - Al dente, Österbottens museum, Vasa, Finland
2011 - Present, Lucerne, Galerie Erfrischungsraum, Switzerland
2010 - Documentary exhibition of the international art symphosium Kreis Im Wald Nurnberg, Germany
2010 - När jag blir stor, Tobaksmagasinet, Jakobstad Finland
2008 - G18, Helsinki, Finland
Screenings and performance
2019 - Screening "Why look at animals" Parallell program at Fiskars Biennale, Finland
2018 - Screening, October Filmfest, Vasa Finland
2018 - Screening. The GoldenThread gallery, Belfast Northern Ireland
2017 - Aland action art, performance with Ursula Sepponen Emmausfestivalen, Åland
2014 - Screening.The GoldenThread Gallery, Belfast Northern Ireland
Residency
2023 - Virtual stories, residency at Svenska Teatern, Helsinki Fi
2020 - Kronstadt residency, NCCA, Saint Petersburg Russia
2014 - Digital Arts Studios, Belfast Northern Ireland
2013 - Residency in Berlin, Germany, by Centret för konstfrämjande, Österbottens regionalbyrå, Finland.
2012 - Residency with artist collective Flux Factory from New York in Aarhus Denmark
2012 - Culturia, Berlin Germany
Artworks in collections
- National Center for Contemporary Arts in Moscow, Russia
- Private collections
- Central Hospital of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Kokkola, Finland
Prize, grant
2021 Project grant, Svensk-Österbottniska Samfundet
2021 Project grant, Svenska Kulturfonden
2020 1 year working grant, Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2019 Project grant, Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2016 1 year working grant, Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2015 Travel grant, Arnulfska stipendiefonden, Sweden
2014 Project grant, Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2013 1 year working grant, Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2009 Lennart Svanbäcks stipendium, Jakobstad, Finland
2012 The Arvid Mörne Prize in poetry, 2nd prize
CV