A presentation of Darien Arikoski-Johnson’s artwork while discussing the influence of his Finnish Heritage.

What does being Finnish have to do with being an artist? Arguably, not a lot. I mean there aren’t an unusually large number of Finnish artists as compared to other cultures. Yet there are parallels that can be drawn between stereotypical Finnish attributes and common traits associated with artists. In this lecture I’ll explore aspects of Finnish culture and how they relate to being an artist, while using my artwork and experience as a backdrop.

Artwork, when done well, reflects on self as well as on aspects of humanity more broadly. For many years my work has asked questions about consciousness, memory, perception, and other aspects of being human. These ideas are embedded in the work, and manifest in clay. Other thoughts about the integration of screens into society and a shift in perceptual experience are reflected in layers of mark making that reside on the ceramic surface of the work. These topics will be discussed, while I also draw connections between being an artist and stereotypical Finnish attributes.

Darien Arikoski-Johnson’s work is recognized internationally through awarded grants, exhibitions, and residencies. In 2012 he was awarded the Emerging Artist Award through NCECA. His work has been featured in various national and international exhibitions and publications. A-Johnson’s work was awarded the Gold Prize in the Korean International Ceramics Biennale 2021 and in 2023 his work was featured in the 62nd Faenza Prize – International Competition of Contemporary Art Ceramics. A-Johnson resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is an Associate Professor at Georgia State University.