Profile – sculptor Kristiina Haataja

Even if you don’t recognise the name, chances are you’ve seen the work of Stockholm-based artist Kristiina Haataja on Instagram in recent weeks. Known for her clay figures and heads, she’s just launched a collaboration with Cooee Design that has seen moulded versions of her sculptures go on sale around the world. It’s proven incredibly popular, and pieces from the collection are already gracing homes across the globe (including my own, as shown in the above photo!).

I first came across Kristiina a couple of years ago via online art shop The Ode To, which sells her handmade originals. I instantly fell in love with their serene expressions, minimalist aesthetic and abstract lines – they’re beautifully understated yet at the same time brimming with personality. I’ve since met her in person at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen, and I was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed about the inspiration behind her work, how the collaboration with Cooee Design came about, and the highs and lows on her artistic journey to date…

Hi Kristiina! Please can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your background?

“Of course! I was brought up by Finnish parents in a little town in the middle of Sweden. I now live in Stockholm, where I work as an art teacher and artist.”

Have you always loved art?

“Art was a large part of my childhood, and from a very early stage I was focused on getting to know all kinds of different materials and techniques. So yes, I have pretty much loved all forms of art from the start.

“At the age of 12 I attended courses in both classical painting and sculpture. Later on, at secondary level, I did evening classes with local artists and started visiting the arts classroom during my breaks simply to sit and play with the clay. After graduation I did a two-year foundation course in painting and sculpture, and my dream was to become an artist. I then ended up at university, where I did an MA in Arts and English. It was during that time that I started my career and had my first studio.”

You’re most known for your clay sculptures. Is there a particular story or inspiration behind them?

“I have about 25 years of experience when it comes to creating and exhibiting art in different media, and to be honest my style in both painting and sculpture has varied from time to time. A few years back I was asked by interior designer and stylist Annaleena Leino to make sculptures for different shoots, and at the same time I wanted to develop my own style. I tried not to get influenced by other artists, although I studied ancient looks, nude bodies and heads, as well as some of the famous cubists. That was the start of my emerging style, which I call ‘Ancient Cubism’.

“My sculptures are very timid in expression and not so dynamic. They have rough surfaces that play well with the fine lines. Style isn’t everything, though: my goal is to make them tell stories or raise questions. I get inspired by Biblical personalities and people around me with an interesting story, as they give me ideas for different characters. The names I give my pieces are Greek or Hebrew and they often mean something special.”

Do you go through any particular processes when you create your work? Do you need to be in a certain mood or a certain place?

“I’ve tried out quite a few studios throughout the years and one thing I’ve noticed is that I need a place where it’s OK to sit quietly. I’m a bit of a daydreamer and a thinker. It’s a part of my process. This is also why my sculptures are called ‘Dreamers’, ‘Thinkers’ and ‘Vessels’, since they really refer to my own mood in the studio. My Christian faith is also in focus when I create, so I often try to find prophetic words to work from when forming the clay into whatever comes up. It’s a somewhat complicated process.”

Have there been any particular highs and lows in your artistic journey to date?

“Art is time-consuming and you put a lot of energy into it. There are also many working hours behind every piece, so if some of them don’t make it out of the kiln it can be frustrating. Noticing people doing copies of your work can also be low points. It’s not that you make yourself into a hero in what you do, but it’s very annoying when you have put a lot of time and effort into creating something of your own and someone just rips it off.

“The highs are when people like what I do and give me positive responses. I read nice comments and see beautiful stylings of my work. It’s uplifting to know that my art is appreciated. Also, when people say that my art has touched them in a special way – those moments are the best ones.”

Your collaboration with Cooee Design means your sculptures are now available to a wider audience. How did it come about?

“I first met Catrine from Cooee Design a few years ago and there was an immediate love match. She saw the potential in my work and I saw a business with an eye for new design in terms of both shape and colour. I could sense that it would evolve into a good and healthy business relationship.

“I made a set of sculptures to match Cooee Design’s vases and other pieces, and they’re now produced using an outstanding moulding technique before being shipped to retailers all over the world. It’s going to be very exciting to see how they’re handled by future owners. So far I’ve seen people creating wonderful compositions with the COOEEXKRISTIINA collection and it’s great.”

What’s next for you? Do you have any exciting projects coming up?

“I want to concentrate on my originals, by which I mean my handmade pieces. My aim is to focus on expression and develop my ideas around that. There are a few collaborations that need some care at the moment, as well as some new ones popping up – in fact I’ll shortly be announcing collaborations with contemporary art showrooms in both London and Los Angeles. In the meantime I’m taking things day by day and just working ahead, which is the most important thing for me.”

Finally, do you have any advice for others who want to follow their dream and launch their own creative business?

“When it comes to establishing a creative business my advice would be to stick to your own ideas and not look at what others do. Inspiration is always OK, but not to the point that you copy someone else’s work. Once you’ve got an idea, it’s worth focusing on what you want to express with your art. That’s it, really.

“I don’t think that art is to do with how many followers you have on social media, even though society has framed it that way. The only thing that should matter is that you believe in what you do. Maybe this sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. I think that people will notice that you make art by your own choice and heart, and that will be the key to success in your business.”

Very wise words to end on! Thanks Kristiina.

See more of Kristiina’s beautiful work on her website. You can buy her handmade pieces via The Ode To, and her COOEEXKRISTIINA collaboration via Cooee Design. 

Top photo and final two images by Abi Dare. Second and third images via Kristiina Haataja, fourth and fifth images via The Ode To, and sixth and seventh images via Cooee Design. 

My COOEEXKRISTIINA sculpture was kindly gifted by Cooee Design, but all words and opinions are my own.