JOEL KARPPANEN

About

Joel Karppanen (b. 1993) is a visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, writer and critic from Finland. He also serves as the artistic director of Oulu Music Video Festival. 

Karppanen is especially known for personal, long-term documentary photography series considering themes of labour and class. His work has often been described as "historically-aware" , "honest" and "sensitive". Karppanen has received recognition including New Photo Journalist Award and Young Hero Grant in 2017. His first monograph 'Finnish Pastoral' was published in 2018; the same year he participated in We Feed The World, a global photographic exhibition in London, featuring names such as Martin Parr, Susanna Meiselas and Graciela Iturbide.

In 2019 Karppanen had his first museum solo show in the Aine Art Museum. Furthermore his works have been exhibited in Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, KunstHausWien and Mänttä Art Festival among others. Karppanen's works can be found in various collections including The Finnish State Art Commission, The Finnish Museum of Photography and  Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. 

As a filmmaker Karppanen has directed several experimental short films and music videos which have been screened in international film festivals. He's currently working on his first feature-length film, and was invited to Nordic Film Lab 2025.

Karppanen's essays have been published in Long Play, Helsingin Sanomat, Suomen Kuvalehti, Yle, Ylioppilaslehti, Nuori Voima and Taide-lehti.  

Originally from Northern Finland, Karppanen lives and works now in Helsinki, Finland. 

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