Erno Pennanen

Erno Pennanen’s paintings explore the human condition and the significance of painting in an era where most images are viewed through a screen. In his work, Pennanen examines the relationship between images captured by a camera and painting. He views painting as one of the last remaining ways to produce a slow image. He considers painting to be an alternative, historically based method of observing the world and sees it essential in an age where modern trends are not designed to stand the test of time. 

Erno Pennanen (b. 1989) graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki with and MFA 2023. In 2026, three of his paintings are installed at Mäntyniemi, the official residence of the President of the Republic alongside 13 other Finnish visual artists. Pennanen’s work is represented in collections of the Finnish State and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.