ICONS OF ICONS

"Icons of icons" are impactful portraits of public figures who have made an impact on me and our society.

The portraits highlight happiness, illuminate injustice, expose abuses of power, and encourage the viewer to act for a positive change.

These paintings are oil and 23K gold leaf on canvas They are all painted in or after 2020 and they are either 90x90 cm or 140x140 cm in size (36"x36" or 55"x55").

White Barry

It shouldn´t matter if people are white, black, orange - or rainbow colored - or that they have blue hair or a red tie. Only their values and actions define their character.

Face Of Death

A death mask or a lethal hatemonger? How close to a new Stalin or Hitler were we? Hopefully we will never know. I developed my regal ”CJ45”-red for this painting.

Lupus Putis

Lupus Putis, the pioneer of oppression dressed as innocence.

I Had A Dream

Even a single person can change the world. The wheels of change turn slowly, but the only thing permanent is change.

Kamala

"Kamala" in Finnish means "horrible" - but Kamala Harris is anything but! She is a delightful caring person - and our first female Vice President.

Ai Weiwei

is an Artist with a capital A since he is more an activist on democracy and human rights than an artist, and that makes his art even more powerful.

Notorious RBG

I respect Ruth Bader Ginsburg´s dedication towards justice, equality and women´s rights. I do wish she had been immortal, but at least she is notorious.

Skolstrejk För Klimatet

Greta Thunberg has single-handedly activated the discussion about climate change and global warming on this planet.

Supermaose (23K)

The Supermaose paintings illustrate how beautiful art can be used as a tool to discredit tyrants and illuminate abuses of power.

Supermaose (CJ45)

Supermaose with the unique and very regal custom CJ45 red.

Supermaose (Kleinish Blue)

Yves Klein developed and exclusively patented the International Klein Blue in 1960. Kleinish Blue is the closest option available.

Supermaose (Naples Yellow)

Naples yellow is like the sun glittering on Italian wheat fields.

Naamiaiset

The Finns are painfully honest. Sometimes they don´t realize how good things are for them. Our Prime Minister Sanna Marin has done an exceptional job during the pandemic.

Metsäläisten Kuningas

Finland lives in the woods and from the trees. That´s why our President Sauli Niinistö feels more like the King of Woodlanders.

King Salmon

Jasper Pääkkönen a famous movie star and a successful businessman – but is also an advocate for wild salmon, free running streams and protected oceans.

Suomi-Neito

Finland is the land of the happiest people on the planet. That´s why I think the fictive Uuno Turhapuro represents Finns better than the traditional Maiden of Finland.

Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier was a huge inspiration for me in my youth with his multidisciplinary approach toward creativity. I still wear glasses inspired by him.

Our Country Is A Wonderland

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be a fine President one day.

Blue In The Face

Is Barack Obama holding his breath, amazed at the path the country took after his presidency? Or is he now able to laugh so freely that he becomes blue in the face?

Michelle

Michelle Obama is a loved and hard-working former First Lady with a solid moral compass. "When they go low, we go high".

Frank Stella

This is my homage to Frank Stella. I admire that his famous graphic shapes are instantly recognizable.

David Hockney

The curiosity of David Hockney has led him to renew himself as an artist many times during his lifetime, always extremely successfully.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was relentless driving his passion forward. All his paintings are iconic now, but at the time he was always one step ahead of his collectors.

Andy Warhola

Andy Warhol is an iconic figure in modern art. He has been a big influence on me. But who was Andy Warhola? Who was the real person behind the iconic artist?

Billie

Billie Holiday reminds me that creativity is a like huge loop where the never touching but lively sparking opposite ends represent "genius" and "lunacy".

Frida

My 2021 take on Frida Kahlo, one of the most inspiring artists I know. She created fabulous art despite her lifelong pain and medical problems.

Vincent

Van Gogh reminds me that we need grit and determination to succeed. He was considered a madman and a failure. According to popular lore, Van Gogh sold only one painting in his entire life.

Robin Williams was a genius actor and comedian. He made us feel uplifted and burst out in laughter - even when he was suffering inside. Tears are always close to laughter, madness always lurks beside genius.

J.K. Rowling

What I really like about J.K. Rowling is her is her own story - the determination and hard work she has put in to realize her dreams and transform her magic to words on paper.

Jorma Uotinen

Jorma Uotinen is a Finnish dancer, singer and choreographer. We shared some experiences with Kirsti Paakkanen and Marimekko during my years as a designer.

YSL

Yves Saint-Laurent was THE fashion designer and a haute couture powerhouse who has had a longstanding career and a successful business empire continuously from the 60´s.

Fertility

Fertility is the essence of life - it symbolizes birth and renewal. Our life is a forever challenge that forces us to re-invent ourselves many times over.