About 1 — LAURA MERZ

UPCOMING

SKiB Campus, Pori, Finland: series of works 2025

REALISED

Wintteri Campus, Uusikaupunki, Finland: series of works 2025

Lahti Gaudia Campus, Finland: six community artworks 2023

Vallila park, Helsinki, Finland: perforated metal mural 2023

Metsola Nursery School, Espoo, Finland: series of works 2022

Riihimäki public library, Finland: murals 2022

Tommilankatu Nursery School, Turku: murals 2021

Espoo, Finland: community artwork 2021

Hanko, Finland: mural 2021

Lohja, Finland: mural 2021

Institut Finlandais, Paris, France: textile work 2020

Oodi Helsinki Central Library: art rug 2018

2025: Aistinvarainen / On senses, Craft Museum Finland. Muuttolinnut / Migratory Birds, Vuotalo, Helsinki (FI).

2024: Hauras / Fragile, Onoma Summer Exhibition, Fiskars (FI)

2023: Joy, solo exhibition, Naantali, (FI). Arts, Crafts & Rabbit Holes, Fiskars, (FI). ILO OLLA, Heinola Art Museum, (FI).

2022: Hidden - Forms of the Senses / Art and Design Biennale Fiskars (FI), With the Naked Eye, Voipaala Arts Centre, (FI).

2021: Bratislava Biennial of Illustration (SK), Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations (AE), Finnish Institute Stockholm (SE)

2020: Illustrators 62, New York (USA). Mikkeli Illustration Triennial (FI). With the Naked Eye, HAA-galleria, Helsinki (FI)

2019: Bologna Children’s book fair Illustrators Exhibition (IT), CHART Art and Design Fair Copenhagen (DK), Nami Concours Illustration, Nami Island (KR)

2018: Beasties, Kuvitus gallery, Helsinki (FI) Little Citizens, Hyundai Museum of Kids Books & Art (KR)

2017: Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (EE), Bratislava Illustrations Biennial (SK), Mikkeli Illustrations Triennial (FI)

2016: Tuhat ja yksi otusta, Helsinki Museum of Natural History (FI)

2015: Menagerie, Myymälä 2, Helsinki (FI), 15th China Textile Conference, Tsinghua, Peking (CN)

2014: Animal, Lokal, Helsinki (FI)

2013: Sustainable and Innovative Fashion, Lume gallery, Helsinki (FI)

2012: Mutual Weirdness, Stoa Gallery, Helsinki (FI), Premier Vision Indigo, Paris, (FR) Koru minussa, Kalevala koru flagship store, Helsinki (FI)

2011: Bookmark2, Zirkumflex, Berlin (DE)

ADC*E Art Directors Club Europe Awards gold prize 2023

Grafia Best Finnish Creative Design silver award (FI) 2023

World Illustration Awards shortlist Highly Commended Award (UK) 2023

The V&A Illustration awards shortlist (UK) 2022

World Illustration Awards shortlist Highly Commended Award 2022

Hiiibrand Awards, merit award (CN) 2022

World Illustration Awards shortlist (UK) 2021

USBBY Outstanding International Books List (USA) 2021

Seymour Chwast Prize, Museum of Avant-garde Awards (CH) 2021

First prize in Hanko public art competition, (FI) 2021

First prize in Vallilan salaisuus public art competition (FI) 2020

Third prize in Turku Tommilankatu Nursery School public art competition (FI) 2020

Honorary award in Rudolf Koivu illustration prize (FI) 2019

Golden Pinwheel shortlist (CN) 2019

Japan Illustration Awards bronze prize (JP) 2019

Grafia Best Finnish Creative Design silver award (FI) 2018

Ibby Honours List (INTL) 2018

Nami Concours shortlist (KR) 2018

Honorary award in Rudolf Koivu illustration prize (FI) 2017

Little Hakka shortlist (CN) 2017

White Ravens, International Youth Library (INTL) 2017

Third prize in Mikkeli Illustration Triennial (FI) 2017

Grafia Best Finnish Creative Design shortlist (FI) 2017

Institute for Children’s Literature’s Punni prize, honorary award (FI) 2017

Book Art Committee’s Most Beautiful Books of award (FI) 2016

I have illustrated three picture books and I’m currently working on new book ideas. My children’s books are represented by Etana Editions in Finland and Rights & Brands internationally.

Absurdit aakkoset, 2022 (text by Harri Hertell, music by Pentti Luomakangas)

Otusten joukossa, 2019 (text by Aino Järvinen)

Tuhat ja yksi otusta, 2016 (text by Aino Järvinen)

EMMA Espoo Modern Art Museum
JKMM Architects
ALA Architects
AFRY Ark Studios
Grafia
Naantali Music Festival
LoudSoft
All Our Children
Hei Schools