Sami Jalonen ^{Emerging artist}

Artist's country of origin: Finland

Sami Jalonen is a Finnish painter whose practice centers on materiality and surface, rather than representational imagery. His approach emphasizes simplicity and transparency—inviting the viewer to see not only the final result but also subtle traces of the painting process itself. Jalonen’s works are characterized by a formalist sensibility, where lightness and restraint meet tactile presence. As noted by wwwcontemporary, “In Sami Jalonen’s formalist works, a sense of lightness blends with subtle suggestions of the creative processes behind the paintings. The movement occurring on the surface refers to itself, creating a delicate impression through almost melancholic color combinations.”

Jalonen is currently completing his Bachelor’s degree in painting at the Turku Arts Academy, with graduation expected in spring 2025. He has held three solo exhibitions to date, the most recent at Asbestos Art Space in Helsinki (January 2024). His work has also been shown in group exhibitions, including at Turku Kunsthalle (2021, 2022). For his thesis exhibition, Jalonen received a material and working grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and his thesis works were selected for the 2025 summer exhibition Realm of Fine Arts in Mänttä.