Tellervo Kalleinen is a Helsinki-based artist whose practice spans participatory cinema, interactive installations, performance, and public art. Her works range in scale—from years-long productions to fleeting low-tech performances. She is known for work that celebrates community, collaboration, and unexpected perspectives. For her, art is a creative adventure—and each piece an open invitation to take part.
In addition to her distinctive path as a visual artist, she also makes music. [Find more about her releases here.]
Tellervo forms an artist duo with Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen. Their collaboration began in 2003 in Helsinki when they organized The First Summit of Micronations while curating the Amorph!03 performance festival (produced by Artists’ Association MUU). In 2005, they founded the Complaints Choir concept, which has since spread to over 150 cities around the world as an open-source initiative. Together, they have created several participatory cinema works, including: The Making of Utopia (2006), People in White (2011), Dreamland (2010), I Love My Job and Archipelago Science Fiction (2011). Their interactive video installation 101 For All (2015) explores the perspectives of a cross-section of the Finnish population. Keskustelupuisto (2018–2020) was a two-year public space game that invited residents of Rauma to co-create a new park in their town. A book detailing insights from this project was published in Spring 2022. Their permanent interactive digital artwork titled Yhteinen mielenmaisema / Common Mind Scape was released in Siltasairaala, a cancer hospital in Helsinki, in 2023. Currently they are developing The Most Valuable Clock in the World, a commissioned piece for Oulu26, curated by Alice Sharp / Invisible Dust, to be unveiled in June 2026.
Other collaborations
Tellervo is part of a performance trio JOKAklubi (since 2009). Tellervo is a founding member of YKON -collective (2005). She is a former member of The Speech Karaoke Action Group.
Education
2003 Master of Fine Arts, Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts
2000-01 Guest student at HFBK, Hamburg (prof. Cosima Von Bonin)
2000-01 Guest student at HFBK, Braunschweig (prof. Marina Abramovic)
Awards
2003: GRANT IN HONOUR OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FINNISH ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
When graduating from The Finnish Art Academy she won a prize with her graduation work In The Middle Of A Movie, from the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
2012: BEST FEATURE FILM -AWARD
People in White – a film describing doctor-patient relationship in mental health care from the subjective point of view of the patient – won a „Best feature film -award“ at Lo Spiraglio Film Fest, Rome.
2012: AVEK Media Art Award
With Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen she received the biggest Media Art Award of Finland.
2014: FACES OF WISDOM – 2nd prize
Tellervo and Niina Lehtonen Braun won the 2nd prize of Faces of Wisdom -film festival with their work Play This At My Funeral
2014: ARS FENNICA
Tellervo and Oliver received the most prestigious art award of Finland, Ars Fennica.
2015: WILLIAM THURING PRIZE
Finnish Art Society awarded her with their annual prize.
Publications
Keskustelupuisto / Conversation Park (Published by Lönnström Art Museum and Studio Kalleinen, Rauma)
The First Summit of Micronations (Published by Artist Association MUU, Helsinki)
In The Middle Of A Movie (Published by Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki)
Lost And Found (Published by S.M.A.K., Ghent)
Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen (Published by Mori Art Museum, Tokyo)