Anu Penttinen
Anu Penttinen (b. 1974). One of Finland's leading contemporary glass artists, Anu Penttinen is celebrated for transforming the colour, geometry and energy of urban life into vibrant works of glass. Although she initially studied ceramics, her artistic direction changed dramatically in 1996 when she experienced glassblowing for the first time at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Captivated by the immediacy and unpredictability of hot glass, she found in the material a creative freedom that has shaped her career ever since. After further studies at the Canberra School of Art in Australia, Penttinen established an international reputation through both unique studio glass and collaborations with leading design brands, most notably Iittala. Her best-known industrial design, the Vitriini collection, introduced in 2010, combines colourful glass and natural materials into elegant modular storage objects that have become modern design classics. Throughout her artistic career, colour has remained her greatest source of inspiration—from the soft opacity of early opal glass to the brilliant transparency of solid coloured glass that defines much of her recent work. Whether creating sculptural installations or functional objects, Penttinen balances technical innovation with a playful architectural language, making her one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Finnish glass.
(Anu Penttinen photo: Turun Sanomat)