Joel Karppanen

Joel Karppanen (b. 1993) is a visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, writer, critic and the artistic director of Oulu Music Video Festival. Known for long-term documentary photography series, experimental films and personal essays exploring themes of labor and class, his work has often been described as “historically-aware", "honest" and "sensitive". 

Karppanen has received recognition including New Photo Journalist Award and Jouko Lehtola Foundation’s Young Hero Grant in 2017. His first monograph 'Finnish Pastoral' was published in 2018; the same year he participated in We Feed The World, a global photographic exhibition in London, featuring names such as Martin Parr, Susanna Meiselas and Graciela Iturbide.

In 2019 Karppanen had his first museum solo show in the Aine Art Museum. Furthermore his works have been exhibited in Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, KunstHausWien and Mänttä Art Festival among others. His latest exhibition in Gallery Halmetoja in August 2023 received critical acclaim. Karppanen's works can be found in various collections including The Finnish State Art Commission, The Finnish Museum of Photography and Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.Originally from Northern Finland, Karppanen now lives and works in Helsinki, Finland.