Biography
Ville Kansanen is a Finnish artist based in California. He works with photography, sculpture, video and land art.
The primary focus of his work relates to digital photography as a unique metaphysical space. A space with its idiosyncratic physics that are uniquely adapted for the practice of reverence: the creation of meaningful relationships with Nature and the sublime. His work seeks to mimic, simulate and interact with natural phenomena that humankind has revered as supernatural, and which formed the basis for nascent religious belief systems.
Ville’s work has been featured in several print and online publications such as American Photo Magazine, GUP Magazine, SFAQ and Diffusion Magazine. In 2015, he was awarded the Lucie Award and the International Photography Award as Fine Art Photographer of the Year. He has exhibited internationally with museums and private galleries. He is self-taught.
The practice of reverence: creating meaningful relationships with Nature and the sublime.
The primary focus of his work relates to digital photography as a unique metaphysical space. A space with its idiosyncratic physics that are uniquely adapted for the practice of reverence: the creation of meaningful relationships with Nature and the sublime. His work seeks to mimic, simulate and interact with natural phenomena that humankind has revered as supernatural, and which formed the basis for nascent religious belief systems.
Ville’s work has been featured in several print and online publications such as American Photo Magazine, GUP Magazine, SFAQ and Diffusion Magazine. In 2015, he was awarded the Lucie Award and the International Photography Award as Fine Art Photographer of the Year. He has exhibited internationally with museums and private galleries. He is self-taught.
The practice of reverence: creating meaningful relationships with Nature and the sublime.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Fort Collins, CO. April, 2017. Center for Fine Art Photography
Berlin, Germany. March, 2016. Galerie Hiltawsky
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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Gwangju, S. Korea. March 2020. Philosopher’s Stone (3-person show). Datz Museum.
Winchester, MA. September 2017. John Chervinsky Award Finalists Show. Griffin Museum
Cologne, Germany. November 2016. Self-portraits as a Concept. Infocus Galerie
Johnson City, TX. September 2016. Diffusion Annual Show. A Smith Gallery
Lyon, France. September 2016. Docks Photo Art Fair
Kobe, Japan. August 2016. Mt. Rokko Photo Festival
Fort Collins, CO. September 2015. Center Forward 2015. The Center for Fine Art Photography
Lexington, VA. October 2013. Botanicals. Kat Kiernan Gallery
New York, NY. June 2011. Whose Self Portrait. Joy Wai Gallery
New Orleans, LA. 14. May 2011. Synthesis. The Darkroom Gallery
Los Angeles, CA. May 2008. Top 40. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art
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AWARDS
2015 Lucie Awards. Discovery of the Year
2015 International Photography Awards. Fine Art Photographer of the Year
2014 International Kontinent Awards. Fine Art Photographer of the Year
London, UK. February 2008. OFCOM Report Exhibition
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Diffusion Magazine. Volume VIII. 2016
Brennpunkt Magazin für Fotografie. Procession of Spectres. March 2016
Art at Berlin. Procession of Spectres. March 2016
The World Weekly. Procession of Spectres. December 2015
Pixel Magazine. Chronicling Depression. November 2015
American Photo Mag. See the 2015 Lucie Award Winners. October 2015
GUP Magazine. The Procession of Spectres. September 2015
Exposure Awards Magazine. Body Collection. August 2015
SFAQ. Damage Control. August 2015
Rinse.io. Who are we? March 2015
Dodho Magazine. February 2015
L’Oeil de la Photographie. February 2015
SFMOMA. Submission Friday. January 2015
PH Magazine. April 2014. Issue 42.
Descry Magazine. Spring 2010. Issue 1.
Photofan. France. March – April 2008. Issue 19.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Fort Collins, CO. April, 2017. Center for Fine Art Photography
Berlin, Germany. March, 2016. Galerie Hiltawsky
–
GROUP EXHIBITIONS & FESTIVALS
Gwangju, S. Korea. March 2020. Philosopher’s Stone (3-person show). Datz Museum.
Winchester, MA. September 2017. John Chervinsky Award Finalists Show. Griffin Museum
Cologne, Germany. November 2016. Self-portraits as a Concept. Infocus Galerie
Johnson City, TX. September 2016. Diffusion Annual Show. A Smith Gallery
Lyon, France. September 2016. Docks Photo Art Fair
Kobe, Japan. August 2016. Mt. Rokko Photo Festival
Fort Collins, CO. September 2015. Center Forward 2015. The Center for Fine Art Photography
Lexington, VA. October 2013. Botanicals. Kat Kiernan Gallery
New York, NY. June 2011. Whose Self Portrait. Joy Wai Gallery
New Orleans, LA. 14. May 2011. Synthesis. The Darkroom Gallery
Los Angeles, CA. May 2008. Top 40. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art
London, UK. February 2008. OFCOM Report Exhibition
–
AWARDS
2015 Lucie Awards. Discovery of the Year
2015 International Photography Awards. Fine Art Photographer of the Year
2014 International Kontinent Awards. Fine Art Photographer of the Year
–
SELECT PUBLICATIONS
Diffusion Magazine. Volume VIII. 2016
Brennpunkt Magazin für Fotografie. Procession of Spectres at Galerie Hiltawsky. March 2016
Art at Berlin. Procession of Spectres at Galerie Hiltawsky. March 2016
The World Weekly. Procession of Spectres. December 2015
Pixel Magazine. Chronicling Depression. November 2015
American Photo Mag. See Photographs from The 2015 Lucie Award Winners. October 2015
GUP Magazine. The Procession of Spectres. September 2015
Exposure Awards Magazine. Body Collection. August 2015
SFAQ. Damage Control: A Conversation Between Kim Anno & Ville Kansanen. August 2015
Rinse.io. Who are we? March 2015
Dodho Magazine. February 2015
L’Oeil de la Photographie. February 2015
SFMOMA. Submission Friday. January 2015
PH Magazine. April 2014. Issue 42.
Descry Magazine. Spring 2010. Issue 1.
Photofan. France. March – April 2008. Issue 19.