Erno Pennanen is a Helsinki based painter, whose works explore the experience of being human. His most recognizable subject is large, full-body portraits that convey a sense of stillness, which he has been painting for several years. Through painting, Pennanen has said he comes closest to the uneasiness he associates with existence.

Another central theme in Pennanen’s work is color. In recent years, he has developed the foundation of his painting practice by researching color combinations based on simultaneous contrast, and by paying attention to the spatial layering created by the marks he makes in his paintings.

Pennanen earned his Master’s degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in 2023. Since graduating, he has held four solo exhibitions and is currently working with the support of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

His paintings are included in private collections as well as in the collections of the Finnish National Gallery.