Contact
kristofferalaketola AT gmail.com
@kristofferalaketola
@kristofferalaketola
BIO
Kristoffer Ala-Ketola's work engages in symbolism, semiotics, speculative futures, and queer theory with recurring themes of various emotions and other psychological phenomena. Using moving image, photography, sculpture, installation, painting, and text he anchors his practice in the uncertain forms of existence. His interest in the formation of identities melts into the genre of portraiture and gives way to a mix of new and unknown characters and environments.
He imbues the artworks with body horror, the grotesque, camp, and absurdist humor to fixate on the liminal edges between the fantastical, human, and the speculative. He merges fiction, autobiography, and theory into a visual language where the signs reflect and contradict each other, which creates a vortex of associations through themes of desire, transformation, dreaming, and coping.
Kristoffer Ala-Ketola is a multidisciplinary artist based in Helsinki, Finland who graduated from Yale School of Art with a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture in 2019. He received his Bachelor’s degree at the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 2016 from the department of Time and Space Arts. His works have been exhibited in 4th Ward Project Space in Chicago, Kunsthalle Helsinki, Kunsthalle Turku, Exhibition Centre WeeGee in Espoo and he has also participated in video screenings at the Helsinki International Film Festival and Video Art Festival Turku.
CV
Kristoffer Ala-Ketola
b. Oulu, Finland, 1991
email: kristofferalaketola at gmail.com
b. Oulu, Finland, 1991
email: kristofferalaketola at gmail.com
Selected Exhibitions
2025
The Nightspell, SÍM Gallery, Reykjavík, IS
The Moon Watches Back, Café Bar no 9, Helsinki, FI
Innards, Galleria ia, Helsinki, FI
The Moon Watches Back, Café Bar no 9, Helsinki, FI
Innards, Galleria ia, Helsinki, FI
2024
The Hole, The Mistake & The End, Kaunas Artist's House, Kaunas, LT
Expect Revenge, Sinne Gallery Video Weeks, Helsinki, FI
Existential Skeletons, Basis Projektraum, Frankfurt am Main, DE
Esoteric Diesel, Pitted Dates, Helsinki, FI
Expect Revenge, Sinne Gallery Video Weeks, Helsinki, FI
Existential Skeletons, Basis Projektraum, Frankfurt am Main, DE
Esoteric Diesel, Pitted Dates, Helsinki, FI
2023
Infatuation with the Never Ending Past, VAFT Video Art Festival Turku, FI
Infatuation with the Never Ending Past, Forum box Mediabox, Helsinki, FI
Urbaani kyläjuhla, Oulu, FI
Like a Windless Cloud/ Nagu tuuletu pilv, Hobusepea Galerii, Tallinn, EE
Expect Revenge, ILMIÖ Festival, Turku, FI
Expect Revenge, Exhibition Centre WeeGee, Espoo, FI
Nuoret 2023, Kunsthalle Helsinki, FI
Infatuation with the Never Ending Past, Forum box Mediabox, Helsinki, FI
Urbaani kyläjuhla, Oulu, FI
Like a Windless Cloud/ Nagu tuuletu pilv, Hobusepea Galerii, Tallinn, EE
Expect Revenge, ILMIÖ Festival, Turku, FI
Expect Revenge, Exhibition Centre WeeGee, Espoo, FI
Nuoret 2023, Kunsthalle Helsinki, FI
2022
Auguries, Kunsthalle Turku, FI
Infatuation with the Never Ending Past, Solstice Festival, Ruka Kuusamo, FI
Impulses Pass Darkly, AX-Hotel, Helsinki, FI
Infantasy, Forum box Mediabox, Helsinki, FI
Dreams & Delusions, 4th Ward Project Space, Chicago, IL, US
Infatuation with the Never Ending Past, Solstice Festival, Ruka Kuusamo, FI
Impulses Pass Darkly, AX-Hotel, Helsinki, FI
Infantasy, Forum box Mediabox, Helsinki, FI
Dreams & Delusions, 4th Ward Project Space, Chicago, IL, US
2021
The Mud Held Me In..., Light-harvesting Complex, Online exhibition
2019
Too Full To Cry, Shin Gallery, New York City, NY, US
MFA Sculpture Thesis Show, Green Hall Gallery, New Haven, CT, US
MFA Sculpture Thesis Show, Green Hall Gallery, New Haven, CT, US
2018
Portrait of the Finnish President, Ateneum, Helsinki FI
VAFT, Video Art Festival Turku, Turku, FI
Love & Anarchy, Helsinki International Film Festival, Helsinki, FI
2nd year MFA Show, Yale Green Hall Gallery, New Haven, CT, US
Kun katsoit minuun, Magyar Kulturális és Tudomán…, Helsinki, FI
VAFT, Video Art Festival Turku, Turku, FI
Love & Anarchy, Helsinki International Film Festival, Helsinki, FI
2nd year MFA Show, Yale Green Hall Gallery, New Haven, CT, US
Kun katsoit minuun, Magyar Kulturális és Tudomán…, Helsinki, FI
2017
1st Year MFA Show, Yale Green Hall Gallery, New Haven, CT, US
Finland 100 - Critical Map, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki, FI
Opening Ceremony for the University of the Arts, Helsinki, FI
Närmare Borta, Kungliga kunsthögskolan, Stockholm, SE
We’ve been having these weird…, Space for Free Arts, Helsinki, FI
Budapest, Taskugalleria, Helsinki, FI
Selected Parts of My Diary, Fondia, Helsinki, FI
Finland 100 - Critical Map, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki, FI
Opening Ceremony for the University of the Arts, Helsinki, FI
Närmare Borta, Kungliga kunsthögskolan, Stockholm, SE
We’ve been having these weird…, Space for Free Arts, Helsinki, FI
Budapest, Taskugalleria, Helsinki, FI
Selected Parts of My Diary, Fondia, Helsinki, FI
2016
BFA show, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki, FI
Bots, Bodies, Beasts, Vlaams Cultuurhuis, Amsterdam, NL
Techniques of Delusion, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki, FI
Friendship screening, Battell House, Norfolk CT, US
I miss you forever and ever Norway xoxo, Blip blip blip, Leeds, UK
Bots, Bodies, Beasts, Vlaams Cultuurhuis, Amsterdam, NL
Techniques of Delusion, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki, FI
Friendship screening, Battell House, Norfolk CT, US
I miss you forever and ever Norway xoxo, Blip blip blip, Leeds, UK
2015
Kristoffer Ala-Ketola TBH, Asematila, Helsinki, FI
Pocket Gallery, Pocket Gallery, Reykjavík, IS
Young Artists 2015, Kunsthalle, Helsinki, FI
After Nature, Nordic Artists’ Center Dale, Dale i Sunnfjord, NO
⌷⌷ ⌷⌷⌷ ⌷⌷ ⌷⌷⌷⌷, Normcritical Gallery, Helsinki, FI
Friendship, Space for Free Arts, Helsinki, FI
Sorbus video week, Sorbus Gallery, Helsinki, FI
Pocket Gallery, Pocket Gallery, Reykjavík, IS
Young Artists 2015, Kunsthalle, Helsinki, FI
After Nature, Nordic Artists’ Center Dale, Dale i Sunnfjord, NO
⌷⌷ ⌷⌷⌷ ⌷⌷ ⌷⌷⌷⌷, Normcritical Gallery, Helsinki, FI
Friendship, Space for Free Arts, Helsinki, FI
Sorbus video week, Sorbus Gallery, Helsinki, FI
Studies and Residencies
MFA 2019
Yale University – School of Art
New Haven, CT, US
Yale University – School of Art
New Haven, CT, US
BFA 2016
Taideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemia
Helsinki, FI
Taideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemia
Helsinki, FI
Study Exchange 2016
Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Amsterdam, NL
Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Amsterdam, NL
SÍM-Residency 2025
SÍM
Reykjavík, IS
SÍM
Reykjavík, IS
AIR Frankfurt Residency 2024
Basis
Frankfurt am Main, DE
Basis
Frankfurt am Main, DE
Summer Residency 2016
Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art
Norfolk, CT, USA
Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art
Norfolk, CT, USA
Residency 2016
EEA European Exchange Academy
Dale i Sunnfjord, NO
EEA European Exchange Academy
Dale i Sunnfjord, NO
Grants and Scholarships
Finnish Cultural Foundation (SKR) Working Grant 2025
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Project Grant 2024
Finnish Cultural Foundation (SKR) Working Grant 2024
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Project Grant 2024
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2023
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Project Grant 2022
Paulo Foundation Grant 2022
Alfred Kordelin Foundation Grant 2021
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2021
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2020
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2020
Yale Teaching Fellowship 2018
Yale School of Art Scholarship 2018
Nanny Lilius Stipend 2017
Yale School of Art Scholarship 2017
Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship 2016
Academy of Fine Arts Grant 2016
Academy of Fine Arts Grant 2015
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Project Grant 2024
Finnish Cultural Foundation (SKR) Working Grant 2024
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Project Grant 2024
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2023
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Project Grant 2022
Paulo Foundation Grant 2022
Alfred Kordelin Foundation Grant 2021
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2021
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2020
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Grant 2020
Yale Teaching Fellowship 2018
Yale School of Art Scholarship 2018
Nanny Lilius Stipend 2017
Yale School of Art Scholarship 2017
Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship 2016
Academy of Fine Arts Grant 2016
Academy of Fine Arts Grant 2015
Works in Collections
Harvard University Medical School Neurobiology
Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
University of the Arts Helsinki
Arts Association Finland
City of Vantaa, Jokiniemi School
Private Collections (FI, USA)
Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
University of the Arts Helsinki
Arts Association Finland
City of Vantaa, Jokiniemi School
Private Collections (FI, USA)
Selected Work Experience
2021
Exhibition Guard
Helsinki Biennale
Exhibition Guard
Helsinki Biennale
2020-
Freelance Photographer
Freelance Photographer
Freelance Exhibition Technician
2020
Preparator
MoMA PS1
2019-2020
Art Handler
Gladstone Gallery
2019-2020
Freelance Preparator
Petzel Gallery
2020
Freelance Preparator
Austrian Cultural Forum in New York
2018-2019
Office Support
Yale University – School of Art – Sculpture Department
2019
Teaching Assistant
Yale University – School of Art
Introductory Film Writing and Directing
2018
Teaching Fellowship
Yale University – Center for Engineering, Innovation, and Design
2018
Digital Technology Studio Assistant
Yale University – School of Art – Sculpture Department
2016
Artist Collaboration in an EU-Pilot
MEDAIA Media innovation platforms (TAMK, Metropolia)
2014
Founding Member and Curator
Club Guggenheim Helsinki
2012-2013
Office help in Public Programmes
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Kultu-group
2011
Founding Member
Kulttuuribingo Gallery and Event Space
2020
Preparator
MoMA PS1
2019-2020
Art Handler
Gladstone Gallery
2019-2020
Freelance Preparator
Petzel Gallery
2020
Freelance Preparator
Austrian Cultural Forum in New York
2018-2019
Office Support
Yale University – School of Art – Sculpture Department
2019
Teaching Assistant
Yale University – School of Art
Introductory Film Writing and Directing
2018
Teaching Fellowship
Yale University – Center for Engineering, Innovation, and Design
2018
Digital Technology Studio Assistant
Yale University – School of Art – Sculpture Department
2016
Artist Collaboration in an EU-Pilot
MEDAIA Media innovation platforms (TAMK, Metropolia)
2014
Founding Member and Curator
Club Guggenheim Helsinki
2012-2013
Office help in Public Programmes
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Kultu-group
2011
Founding Member
Kulttuuribingo Gallery and Event Space