A warm thank you for the past year!
2025 has been a wonderful year of growth and expansion in my own life, especially in terms of art. The seeds that had been brewing beneath the surface for months have finally sprouted and grown visible to the world.
My heart is full of gratitude for all the wonderful encounters this year. You, the people, have helped me see what a truly important role art plays. What deep conversations art can open up between strangers! And what new insights and moments of wholeness one can experience and witness through art!
In April 2025, I held my first solo exhibition in a real gallery. Heritage Art Gallery on Fredrikinkatu in Helsinki provided a wonderful setting for taking this step. Preparing the “Aamunkajo” exhibition was intense and exciting. In the final weeks before the exhibition, I worked day and night preparing the artworks and painted a series of 16 pieces, the last of which was completed on the night before the hanging. My dear father, Vesa Hakala, made wooden frames for my artworks, which made the series look cohesive and stylish.
I joined the Orthodox Church in the spring, and the priest, my godfather, Father Kalevi Kasala, blessed my exhibition! My friends and acquaintances also supported me through my fears and difficulties, encouraging me and praying for me. All the hard work paid off—the exhibition was finally up and running.
I also received help from several friends with the opening arrangements. At the opening, singer-songwriter Haydé performed at the piano, and cellist Maria Wilkus performed. Haydé's songs perfectly suited the themes of the exhibition. The cello was a musthave, and fortunately, that worked out too! We also visited the Nukketeatteri Sampo in late summer for a concert by Haydé and the string quartet Sano se jousin.
I fell in love with the sound of the cello at the annual meeting of the Christian Art Association, where I was elected to the association's board. It is a great honor for me to be part of the board of this art association, founded over 100 years ago by Hilja Haahden. It is interesting to be part of an ongoing brand renewal. (Welcome to follow the activities of the Christian Art Association as well! www.kristillinentaideseura.fi, Instagram: @kristillinen.taideseura, Facebook: Kristillinen Taideseura )
In May, as the cherry trees were blooming, my artworks were on display in the charming gallery shop “Galleria Koskenhaltija” in Billnäs. It was nice to see friends there too and to be part of the atmosphere of the shop!
In June, I participated in a group exhibition curated by Jenni Rajala at Hotel Gustavelund in Tuusula. In addition to Jenni and me, Sofia Ziessler-Korppi was also part of the exhibition. We spent a sunny day with Jenni Rajala at the Hotel Gustavelund Midsummer celebrations, featuring live painting. It was a wonderful event, and we made some great new acquaintances.
During the summer, I also had the opportunity to live paint in the role of Helene Schjerfbeck at the wonderful Veikkola Manor (Vihti) “Dinner with Helene” event. At the event, I also met our country's Minister of Culture, as well as other interesting new acquaintances from Vihti.
I also live painted at the Helsinki Art Night event in Ruttopuisto, alongside the Circus “Outolintu” group and the “Portraits of the Heart” group.
Summer turned into autumn, and I got to join the Christian Art Association to the “Glow” festivals at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, where I was given a large space at the Christian Art Association booth to present my work. It was a wonderful and warm-hearted occasion! The Christian Art Association will also be participating in the Glow festivals next year, in 2026. The “pre-parties” for the Glow festivals are held at Tampere Teopoliks, where an art exhibition curated by the exhibition team (which I am also part of) will be on display until the end of August 2026. The exhibition opening was held in November 2025, and three of my artworks are also on display.
Another group exhibition by the Christian Art Association will be held at “Heritage Art Gallery” in March 2026.
In early October 2025, we held a group exhibition curated by Ninni Lahtinen called “Breakthrough” in Jyväskylä, in the beautiful, historic new “Café Nikolain” cabinet rooms at Nikolainkulma. One of my artworks found a permanent home there.
During October, my own small exhibition was also on display at the library of my own little residential village, Veikkola. The exhibition was titled “On the Path of Peace,” and this message of peace is what I have been exploring in my latest artworks.
It only makes me a little breathless when I seethis list. I have gone from one exhibition to another, and the next year promises more! After all seven exhibitions, it feels like I have been well trained and that this is starting to become second nature. Hanging up the work no longer causes panic, but is handled with routine.
In addition to the exhibitions, I have had the opportunity to get to know the wonderful artist and creative entrepreneur Mia Nurme. We held art workshops with her in her wonderful “Artin” studio in Lohja. The workshops had a warm, experimental, and enthusiastic atmosphere. It is wonderful to be able to offer inspiration and new tools to people exploring art! We will continue to hold these workshops in the future, and perhaps an online course may also appear.
I also got to hold an art workshop at the “Jippii Youth” autumn camp in the Turku archipelago. It was a wonderful experience to guide such smart and talented young people in art. Simply the best! In the spring, Jippii Youth also ordered a “kintsugi”-themed artwork from me for the cover of the “Moments of Silence” piece. That kintsugi is indeed an interesting theme. Kintsugi is a Japanese method in which broken pottery is repaired with gold, and thus becomes even more valuable. In this, it also reflects how God's grace can do the same in us, gilding us with grace and making us even more whole and valuable.
I have personally experienced this wholeness greatly this past year. The dreams that I had already given up have gained completely new wings. Many different creative collaborations and ideas have been planted during the year. Time will tell which of them will grow.
The next opportunity to meet through art is verysoon, on January 5, 2026! “Christian Art and Media” is organizing a group exhibition called“Connection”. The opening will be held on January 5, starting at 3 PM. Heritage Art Gallery, Fredrikinkatu 61A, Helsinki. A warm welcome to the opening!
My photography services are still running alongside this art painting. I opened a new photography account on Instagram with the handle @ikuistava. In addition to my own pages, corporate clients, and family portraits, my photographs can also be seen in the publications of the Helsinki Orthodox Parish, such as the Christmas calendar on Instagram.
You can follow my art world on Instagram with the handle @tanja.lotta and on Facebook on the Tanja-Lotta Art page, as well as on my website www.tanjalotta.com. The website also has an online store, where it is convenient to order artworks. I also accept commissions.
I try to share more of my art and my journey as an artist on social media here in my blog as well as through email.
Every single one of your shared experiences, encouraging words, every purchased artwork or commission, every like, comment, and share gives me confidence to continue on this path and enables me to continue creating art in the future.
It is interesting to hear feedback, so that I can develop my work in the future as well. So please send a message and tell me your wishes!
I wish you all a joyful and peaceful Christmas, my dear fellow travelers!
May the coming year also be full of grace and bliss, inspiration and creativity, joy and authenticity, as well as wonderful connection and love! <3
With blessings
Tanja-Lotta Hakala