Photo: Joël Petzold
Milja Havas
milja.havas@gmail.com
IG: miljahavas
Bio
Milja Havas often approaches her works as scenes, detached from their original imaginary context. She draws inspiration from fairy tales and the allegories of reality that emerge through them. In her works, play becomes reality: drawn and sculpted figures inhabit their own miniature world within ours. In addition, I think her works as “stages” which can also be understood as a synonym for scene. There is, of course, the dramaturgical stage where plays are performed, but also the sociological or socio-psychological stage described by Erving Goffman, who adopted the concept from theatre to explain how individuals perform different roles in everyday life.
For me the “Havasian stage” can be understood as a mixture of folklore, absurd storytelling, myths, and encounters between imaginary worlds and reality. Within this mixture, the Freudian uncanny is present. These stages acknowledge the essential significance of childhood and the abundance of material in our lives, imaginary or real, that cannot be fully rationalized or explained. Reality is populated by stick figures, commedia dell’arte characters, flowers hugging each other, and running dogs. Through her works, Havas explores the absurdity of life and the search for meaning in a world where none seems to exist.
When I see Milja’s works exhibited I can almost hear her voice in the background, explaining an endless loop of ideas: “Here could be a man with long fingernails, and here a codger with a broom. And here are snails moving in a slow convoy to a party. And then I have these stilts…” In that sense, Milja Havas is a grand storyteller who creates a stage every day.
Milja Havas (b. 1985, Lahti) is a Helsinki based artist working with sculpture and drawing. Her works have been exhibited in Finland and internationally. She holds MFA from Uniarts Helsinki, Academy of Fine Arts.
-Joonas Pulkkinen, Finnish freelance art worker, curator, critic and journalist
CV
Education:
2024-2026 Master of Fine Arts, Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Sculpture Department
2020-2023 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Sculpture Department
2016-2018 Wood Artisan, Omnia
2007-2013 Drama Instructor, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Upcoming Exhibitions:
2026, Kotka Art Biennale, Kotka (group)
2026, Galerie K, Vantaa (group)
2026, Galerie Anhava, Helsinki (group)
2027, Turku Art Museum (solo)
Selected Exhibitions:
2025 Korttelit, together with Emma Vilppula, Torikorttelit, Helsinki
2025 Synzoochory, University of Helsinki, Viikki Plant Science Centre, Department of Pathology, Helsinki
2025 Majat, together with Emma Vilppula and K0ira1, K17, Sipoo
2025 Kuvan Kevät, KUVA/TILA, Helsinki
2025 Einsichten 2025, Visarte Zürich / Portland gallery
2025 Taidehaistelija Biennale, Gallery Loisti, Helsinki
2025 S2E1, Portland gallery, Zürich
2024 Pienet Ilot, Delphian Gallery, Helsinki
2024 Metsämaa, together with Johannes Rantapuska, Paja gallery, Helsinki
2024 Gatherings, Music House, Helsinki
2024 Out/Back, Takatila, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki
2024 Merkillisiä tähteitä ja leijuvia hedelmiä, Venetsia building, Helsinki
2023 Avajaisnäyttely, Kyykky Gallery, Helsinki
2023 BFA degree exhibition, KUVA/TILA, Helsinki
2023 Yhtäkiä / Suhduhnle, KUVA/TILA, Helsinki
2022 Exits Exist, Vapaan Taiteen Tila, Helsinki
2022 Kesä ja me, Vapaan Taiteen Tila, Helsinki
2022 Enigmatic, Marcy Home Exhibition, Helsinki
2022 Monumental Change: Public Art (What) Now?, Project Room, Helsinki
2021 Mihin palata, Sisä-hattu island, Helsinki
2015 Art in Odd places: RECALLed, together with Johannes Rantapuska, The Lodge Gallery, New York
2015 Paikan tuntu, GreyCube gallery, together with Johannes Rantapuska, Korkeasaari, Helsinki
2014 Art in Odd Places: Free, together with Johannes Rantapuska, 14th St. New York
Events:
2024 Cake Fair, Esplanadi,Helsinki
2023 Risumaja / Stick Hut, Pitted Dates, Helsinki
Publications:
2020 Community Of Useless Tools, Photobooks from Finland
Grants:
2025 Sipoo Municipality, subsidies grant
2025 Greta and Alfred Runebergs Foundation, project grant