Doing My Thing, Living My Life

Born 1985 in Västerås, Sweden. Currently lives and works in Stockholm. Ojanen entered into the arts through graffiti through which led him to use animation programs and make short movies and music videos. He also pursued drawing, publishing fanzines and organizing art shows. These endeavours led to his BA for Illustration and Graphic Design in 2012 from Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, as well as his MFA in 2014 thereafter. Seeking a new creative outlet apart from illustrations, Ojanen signed up for a ceramics open studio session outside of school. It was during these sessions that he started to make sculptures from his drawings. Since then, he has exhibited widely from Stockholm to Los Angeles, Cologne and Paris, Edinburgh, Belgium and New York. Ojanen's works feature a variety of unique characters. Many of the motifs are based on his home country and living environment where Ojanen grew up. At first glance, the artist's deep emotions and sensations are directly reflected in original expressions that seem innocent, such as raw textures and expressive characters that can be seen in sculptures and paintings, and unique color sense that puts them together. In recent years, his expression has extended to include various materials such as bronze, glass as well as ceramics, and all works have been united into high-level expressions that emphasize the affinity between materials and expressions. Regardless of the material, Ojanen's advanced technology and creativity are clearly visible. SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2023 Circle of Life | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong 2022 We've Danced For A While Now And I'm Slowly Learning Your Steps | Nanzuka Underground | Tokyo, Japan 2021 The Part You Throw Away | Västerås Konstmuseum, Västerås, Sweden The Part You Throw Away | The Hole | New York, NY 2020 A show for the lonely distant baby souls | Richard Heller Gallery | Santa Monica, CA Drawing Attention | Larsen Warner | Stockholm, Sweden 2019 Second meeting is always a bit tricky, last time was so spontaneous and easy, now there’s all these expectations and I’m not so good with social responsibility | Ruttkowski;68 | Paris, France Snakebite | The Hole | Los Angeles, CA 2018 Where do we go from here? | Larsen Warner | Stockholm, Sweden Year of the Dog | Richard Heller Gallery | Santa Monica, CA 2017 Anthropocene | Ruttkowski;68 | Cologne, Germany Interrupted Boredom | | Galerie Lefebvre & fils | Paris, France 2016 What a Time to be Alive :( | Richard Heller Gallery | Santa Monica, CA GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2025 KALEIDOSCOPE | AISHO | Hong Kong 2023 The Cuteness Factor | Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art | Budapest, Hungary Art Unlocked | Side X Side Gallery | San Francisco, CA Storage Wars | The Hole | Los Angeles, CA Assemble! | Nanzuka 2G | Tokyo, Japan Into the Vortex | The Pit | Palm Springs, CA Online Exclusive: | End to End Gallery | Hollywood, FL Mixed Pickles 12 | Ruttkowski;68 | New York, NY 2022 Universes 5 | The Hole | New York, NY Kick Off | Die Horia | Athens, Greece The Iconic Edition | Lorin Gallery | Los Angeles, CA New Construction | The Hole | Los Angeles, CA 2021 Hollywood Road | AISHONANZUKA| Hong Kong WOP | WOAW Gallery | Hong Kong Mixed Pickles 10 | Ruttkowski;68 | Cologne, Germany 2020 10 YEARS RUTTKOWSKI;68 | Ruttkowski;68 | Cologne, Germany HYBRIDS | CFHILL | Stockholm, Sweden Extra Time | PLUS-ONE Gallery | Antwerp, Belgium BLM Fundraiser | The Hole Mixed Pickles 7 – The Ghost Edition | Ruttkowski;68 | Cologne, Germany Friends Non Show | Dio Horia | Athens, Greece 2019 Paper View | The Hole | New York, NY Carry On | The Hole | Basel, Switzerland Clayborn | Galerie Lefebvre & fils | Paris, France 2018 Mixed Pickles 4 | Ruttkowski;68 | Cologne, Germany Rue Charlot | Ruttkowski;68 | Paris, France The Ashtray Show | Fisher Parrish Gallery | Brooklyn, NY Aftermath | Setareh Gallery | Düsseldorf, Germany Lust, Laughter & Liquor | PLUS-ONE Gallery | Antwerp, Belgium Clay Today | The Hole | New York, NY A Tree Falls in the Woods | FMLY, Hashimoto Contemporary | San Francisco, CA 2017 Beheaded | Richard Heller Gallery | Santa Monica, CA Jump Ball | Dio Horia | Athens, Greece Joakim Ojanen and Ryan Travis Christian | The Hole | New York, NY Eyes, Nose, Lips, Etc. Etc. | Left Field | San Luis Obispo, CA Figurative Futures | 101/EXHIBIT | West Hollywood, CA Morph | Asya Geisberg Gallery | New York, NY 2016 Mixed Pickles 1 | Ruttkowski;68 | Cologne, Germany Booby Trap | The Hole | New York, NY COLLECTIONS Colección Solo | Madrid, Spain Statens Konstråd (Public Art Agency Sweden) Västerås Art Museum | Sweden Åberg Museum | Bålsta, Sweden Frans Masereel Centrum | Belgium The City of Gothenburg | Sweden The City of Linköping | Sweden The City of Eskilstuna | Sweden The City of Östersund | Sweden The City of Katrineholm | Sweden County Council of Gävleborg | Sweden Värmdö municipality The Ryerson & Burnham Libraries | Art Institute of Chicago, US Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection | The Bunker Artspace | West Palm Beach, FL