Santeri Lehto
Lappeenranta, Finland, 1982
About
Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland
Santeri Lehto uses a unique minimalism and analytical naivety as his stylistic tools. At first the viewer notices the child-like visual simplicity of his paintings, but immersion in the symbols in the works reveals their different, almost paradoxical nature. His works are at once both direct and delicate, as subtle as poems, improvised pieces of music, or randomly doodled drawings. His paintings often present simple forms that refer to everyday life. The surface-level simplicity of the works reflects the mystery of everyday life and existence. Perhaps the important thing in Lehto’s works is not what one sees, but what one often does not see. – Words by Maite Muñoz Iglesias
Santeri Lehto graduated as a visual artist from the Lahti University of Applied Sciences’ Art Institute in 2013 and as a puppet designer from the School of Arts and Crafts in 2005. He has exhibited in many galleries and festivals such as the XXIX Mänttä Art Festival 2025, DOJO Gallery in Helsinki, and he also took part in the Young Artist’ Exhibition at Kunsthalle Helsinki. His works are found in numerous private collections, like the Finnish Art Association.
CV
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
LIFESTYLE, Palau de Casavells, Casavells, Spain (2024)
LOVE OF LIFE_Invisible Love with Maijastiina Lehto, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki, Finland (2023)
LIFESTYLE, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (2022)
LOVE OF LIFE with Maijastiina Lehto, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki, Finland (2022)
LIFESTYLE, with Maijastiina Lehto, HAA Galleria, Helsinki, Finland (2022)
LIFESTYLE, with Maijastiina Lehto, DOJO, Helsinki, Finland (2022)
Ready or Not with Maijastiina Lehto, B-Galleria, Turku, Finland (2016)
Drive-by with Maijastiina Lehto, B-Galleria, Turku, Finland (2015)
Growing Business with Maijastiina Lehto, Galleria Linnakatu 33, Turku, Finland (2014)
Made in Paradise with Maijastiina Lehto, Galerie Pleiku, Berlin, Germany (2013)
Näkymätön rakkaus – Ghost, Galleria OyOy, Lahti, Finland (2010)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
A Secret Language, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (2025)
XXIX Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, Finland (2025)
Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat, Helsinki Contemporary, Helsinki, Finland (2024)
Floralia, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (2022)
Great Art for Young Collectors, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (2022)
Santeri Lehto, Andrew Colbert, Taru Happonen, TM Gallery, Helsinki Finland (2019)
Group Show, Cable Factor, Helsinki, Finland (2012)
Young Artists Exhibition, Kunsthalle, Helsinki, Finland (2011)
The Art of Basware, Sanomatalo, Helsinki, Finland (2010)
OYOY CREW, Galleria OYOY, Lahti, Finland (2010)
Group Show, Jyväskylä Art Museum – Suoja, Jyväskylä (2005)
Doll art Exhibition, The Museum of Central Finland’s Craftsmanship Museum, Jyväskylä (2004)
Doll art Exhibition, Craft Museum Of Finland, Ikkunagalleria, Jyväskylä (2004)
ART FAIRS
FOUNDATIONS, Artsy Curated (2024)
AWARDS
The Finnish Cultural Foundation / Päijäthäme Foundation (2012)
Jyväskylä Craftsmen’s Foundation (2005)
Jyväskylä Craftsmen’s Foundation (2004)
ARTWORK IN COLLECTIONS
Finish Art Association, Lottery Prize, Finland
Private collections in Finland abroad
