Kanerva Kartano is a Finnish visual and community artist based in Tampere. Her work explores the aesthetics of ageing, human encounter and everyday aesthetics through visual art and community-based processes. Since 2017 she has worked as a community artist at Sointu Senior Services, developing long-term cultural practices within eldercare environments. Her book Rohkeus kohdata – Taiteilija vanhustyössä (Courage to Face – An Artist in Elderly Care, 2023) reflects on the ethical and artistic dimensions of encounter in care.
Kanerva Kartano holds a Master of Arts (Art and Design) from the University of Lapland, Faculty of Art. Her master’s thesis explored the aesthetics of old age and its ethical dimensions from an artist’s perspective. She previously graduated as a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tampere University of Applied Sciences in 2004.
Artistic Practice
Kartano’s work combines visual art and participatory artistic processes, bringing together artistic practice and philosophical reflection. Her work moves between visual expression, spatial thinking and collaborative art-making, often emerging through encounters with people, places and lived experience.
In care environments her artistic work frequently takes the form of community-based projects, participatory performances and exhibitions created together with residents and care staff.
Professional Work
Since 2017 Kartano has worked as a community artist at Sointu Senior Services in Tampere. Her work focuses on developing sustainable cultural practices within eldercare environments and integrating artistic processes into everyday life in care communities.
Her work includes facilitating participatory art processes, curating exhibitions within care environments and developing new artistic methods for cultural wellbeing.
Selected Artistic Projects
Rollaattorimarssi Exhibition (2026)
Kuuselakeskus Cube Space, Tampere
Exhibition presenting residents’ protest signs and documentary photographs related to the Rollaattorimarssi event.
Kuuselakeskus Cube Space, Tampere
Exhibition presenting residents’ protest signs and documentary photographs related to the Rollaattorimarssi event.
Sointu Sings Peace (2024)
Participatory songwriting project culminating in a public peace concert.
Participatory songwriting project culminating in a public peace concert.
Fairytale Forest Textile Panels (2021)
Acoustic textile panels based on community paintings created with residents.
Acoustic textile panels based on community paintings created with residents.
Toivo Community Musical (2016–2018)
Large-scale community art project across three senior centres.
Large-scale community art project across three senior centres.
Publication
Kartano, K. (2023)
Rohkeus kohdata – Taiteilija vanhustyössä
Courage to Face – An Artist in Elderly Care
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
Courage to Face – An Artist in Elderly Care
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)