Sampsa Sarparanta

Born1973,Salo,Finland

Sarparanta is an oil painter, who combines classic realism with punk attitude.
His work is often depicted as straightforward, political and even provocative but just as well intimate, very personal and melancholy.
He works from his own photos or images from the media and by making paintings out of them forces us to focus on what is important (if not always pleasant).
In his paintings the beauty and power of human nature clashes with global capitalism, environmental angst, urban loneliness and the general feeling of meaninglessness.

He stakes it clearly: life is beautiful, sadness is beautiful but the system is wrong.

Academy of fine arts Helsinki 2000-2006
Lahti art institute 1998-2000