Melissa Sammalvaara - Tahti

Melissa Sammalvaara is an adventurous artist based in Espoo and various campsites around Finland. Currently she is experimenting on rya, finding new approaches and techniques to combine with more traditional working methods. Sammalvaara creates her artworks - the rya rugs - by hand with various techniques: weaving, knotting and tufting, sometimes even knitting. Nature and our relation to it is a large inspiration for her, which can be seen in her mossy, luscious artworks and the preference in ecological and second hand materials.

Sammalvaara has been working as an artist since graduating from Aalto University in 2019. Her works can be found in the Finnish State Art Deposit, Art museum of Oulu, and as well as the largest private textile art collection in Finland. Sammalvaara has also received numerous grants including working grants from the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, the Arts Promotion Centre and Finnish Cultural Foundation. Sammalvaara has also visited several residencies in Finland and Cité des Arts in Paris. She has exhibited her works abroad and widely around Finland. Sammalvaara was invited to be part of Mäntän kuvataideviikot in summer 2024.

The Mättäät series is an ever-expanding collection of various moss-like artworks. Each piece in the series is hand-tufted from recycled materials, making every piece unique. The artworks are signed and numbered. Each piece is hung from a small hook, and the back is glued to prevent the tufted yarn loops from unraveling. If necessary, the artwork can be aired out, and any dust can be gently patted away.

Tahti
Year of Manufacture: 2024
Size: 12 x 12 cm
Photos: Melissa Sammalvaara