Lokal Team
Lokal’s journey, which began in 2012, continues true to its essence in bringing forth local artwork and craftsmanship. We would like to tell you more about who we are;
Katja Hagelstam
Lokal’s Founder and CEO
Katja founded Lokal as a way to capture her images in 3D. She has been working with arts, culture and antiques all her life in different ways, especially in documenting beauty as a photographer. Her desire is to help artists and makers show and sell their work, but also to connect people from different fields who all share a love for art and an appreciation for craftsmanship.
“Art can help identify feelings; it touches and with it we can be touched. In handwork, a handprint is like a literal touch from one person to another; the craftsman has touched every stitch. Through art we can touch each other.”
Katja always attracts surprising, wonderful and funny encounters, both at home and at Lokal. She relaxes by meditating and cleaning.
katja.hagelstam@lokalhelsinki.com
Kati Ruohomäki
Lokal Gallery Producer and Co-ordinator
Kati is a visual artist and at Lokal, she handles communication with artists and manages the collection of works exhibited and shown on the online gallery.
“For me, art is a way of understanding the world; it is a form of thinking, navigating, and processing experiences. Art communicates in a non-verbal, multi-layered way – which is likely why it manages to speak much more holistically than words ever could.”
Kati is happiest when she is painting in her home studio or taking long walks in the forest. A large part of her life revolves around Lilli; a small, cute, and slightly melodramatic little dog.
kati.ruohomaki@lokalhelsinki.com
Ananya Tanttu
Lokal’s Media Producer & Project Assistant
Ananya is a visual artist working primarily with lens-based practices. Having been a part of Lokal since its founding, she manages all sorts of media in addition to producing original video and editorial content.
“I’m endlessly intrigued by the dichotomy of the material and the immaterial – our human pursuit, through the action of our hands, of making visible the invisible. I’m interested in objects that vibrate at exquisite frequencies and somehow create links between us.”
Ananya takes comfort in being in natural water bodies, wants to learn more about bees, and is always up for road trips and sleepovers.
ananya.tanttu@lokalhelsinki.com
Katja Soila
Lokal’s Operations Director
Katja is an economist, and today, Katja is in charge of the operations and financial management of the gallery, and looking after the technical processes that keep our gallery running smoothly.
“Details are rather important. When you pause, you begin to notice them, and how the delicate signs in fact have deeper meanings and explanations. The details are what create beautiful stories.”
She enjoys gardening, and encountering with signs that make the everyday a little bit more poetic.
katja.soila@lokalhelsinki.com
Meena Kaunisto
Lokal’s Senior Advisor
Meena is a multidisciplinary professional having strong ties to various creative fields in an international context.
“If you ask me for a motto, I will say “Cook and live without fear”. Even in Lokal, I hope I can play a part in making something beautiful, interesting, and delightful possible together with the rest of the team and the artists.”
In her spare time, Meena really enjoys cooking for family and friends.
meena.kaunisto@lokalhelsinki.com
Hanni Koroma
Lokal’s Interior Architect and Exhibition Designer
Hanni is an interior architect, and has her own studio in Kruununhaka. Hanni has designed the premises of Lokal, the colour scheme and does the exhibition architecture.
“I strive for beauty and harmony. We do get used to ugliness, but beauty always excites us.”
Hanni makes dandelion capers, spruce cone marmalade, and potatoes in folded lady’s mantle leaves.
Piëtke Visser
Lokal’s Visual Brand and Communication Designer
Pietke is an awarded creative director and communication designer, and has shaped and contributed to Lokal’s visual identity ever since our foundation year.
“I believe design is visual optimism. It tries to show us better ways and gives us chances to improve. Done alone none of this is much fun, it is the possibility to work in a like-minded community that is valuable and truly rewarding.”
Piëtke loves naming colours, and sees it as a limitless pursuit that delves into memories and engages all the senses. In that same vein, she believes in the restorative power of seasonal fruit, in particular the mangoes and peaches from her grandmother’s garden.
Amos Hagelstam-Tanttu
Exhibition Architecture Assistant & Technician, Artist Q&A Moderator
Being part of the ‘Lokal family’ since the very beginning lead Amos towards his current pursuit in interior architecture.
“Apart from hoping that my mother is doing well, I hope that life’s intangible elusiveness never disappears from the conscious me — or you.”
In his spare time, Amos runs a small window vitrine gallery around the corner from Lokal. You’ll find him swimming or writing before or after school-slash-work hours.
Freia Lindholm
Lokal’s Sales Manager
Freia is a student of visual marketing. She has years of experience in designing and selling fixed furniture. Now Freia is responsible for developing Lokal’s sales and B2B projects.
“I enjoy beautiful things and I try to find beauty in surprising places.”
In her free time, Freia can be found immersed in interior design magazines or visiting art museums. She often has an old film camera hanging around her neck and Italian disco playing in her headphones.
freia.lindholm@lokalhelsinki.com
Malika Saddok
Lokal’s Gallery Intern
Malika is a final-year furniture design student whose work radiates playfulness, bold color, and organic forms. She is fascinated by how everyday objects can be transformed into sculptural, joyful pieces that evoke emotion.
“Design is both instinct and necessity for me. There is always a new idea unfolding, a small experiment in turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.”
In her free time, Malika retreats to nature, enjoys cabin life, and cherishes moments with friends. She loves movement, sports, and everything that brings joy and playfulness to everyday life.
Lokal’s journey, which began in 2012, continues true to its essence in bringing forth local artwork and craftsmanship. We would like to tell you more about who we are;
Katja Hagelstam
Lokal’s Founder and CEO
Katja founded Lokal as a way to capture her images in 3D. She has been working with arts, culture and antiques all her life in different ways, especially in documenting beauty as a photographer. Her desire is to help artists and makers show and sell their work, but also to connect people from different fields who all share a love for art and an appreciation for craftsmanship.
“Art can help identify feelings; it touches and with it we can be touched. In handwork, a handprint is like a literal touch from one person to another; the craftsman has touched every stitch. Through art we can touch each other.”
Katja always attracts surprising, wonderful and funny encounters, both at home and at Lokal. She relaxes by meditating and cleaning.
katja.hagelstam@lokalhelsinki.com
Kati Ruohomäki
Lokal Gallery Producer and Co-ordinator
Kati is a visual artist and at Lokal, she handles communication with artists and manages the collection of works exhibited and shown on the online gallery.
“For me, art is a way of understanding the world; it is a form of thinking, navigating, and processing experiences. Art communicates in a non-verbal, multi-layered way – which is likely why it manages to speak much more holistically than words ever could.”
Kati is happiest when she is painting in her home studio or taking long walks in the forest. A large part of her life revolves around Lilli; a small, cute, and slightly melodramatic little dog.
kati.ruohomaki@lokalhelsinki.com
Ananya Tanttu
Lokal’s Media Producer & Project Assistant
Ananya is a visual artist working primarily with lens-based practices. Having been a part of Lokal since its founding, she manages all sorts of media in addition to producing original video and editorial content.
“I’m endlessly intrigued by the dichotomy of the material and the immaterial – our human pursuit, through the action of our hands, of making visible the invisible. I’m interested in objects that vibrate at exquisite frequencies and somehow create links between us.”
Ananya takes comfort in being in natural water bodies, wants to learn more about bees, and is always up for road trips and sleepovers.
ananya.tanttu@lokalhelsinki.com
Katja Soila
Lokal’s Operations Director
Katja is an economist, and today, Katja is in charge of the operations and financial management of the gallery, and looking after the technical processes that keep our gallery running smoothly.
“Details are rather important. When you pause, you begin to notice them, and how the delicate signs in fact have deeper meanings and explanations. The details are what create beautiful stories.”
She enjoys gardening, and encountering with signs that make the everyday a little bit more poetic.
katja.soila@lokalhelsinki.com
Meena Kaunisto
Lokal’s Senior Advisor
Meena is a multidisciplinary professional having strong ties to various creative fields in an international context.
“If you ask me for a motto, I will say “Cook and live without fear”. Even in Lokal, I hope I can play a part in making something beautiful, interesting, and delightful possible together with the rest of the team and the artists.”
In her spare time, Meena really enjoys cooking for family and friends.
meena.kaunisto@lokalhelsinki.com
Hanni Koroma
Lokal’s Interior Architect and Exhibition Designer
Hanni is an interior architect, and has her own studio in Kruununhaka. Hanni has designed the premises of Lokal, the colour scheme and does the exhibition architecture.
“I strive for beauty and harmony. We do get used to ugliness, but beauty always excites us.”
Hanni makes dandelion capers, spruce cone marmalade, and potatoes in folded lady’s mantle leaves.
Piëtke Visser
Lokal’s Visual Brand and Communication Designer
Pietke is an awarded creative director and communication designer, and has shaped and contributed to Lokal’s visual identity ever since our foundation year.
“I believe design is visual optimism. It tries to show us better ways and gives us chances to improve. Done alone none of this is much fun, it is the possibility to work in a like-minded community that is valuable and truly rewarding.”
Piëtke loves naming colours, and sees it as a limitless pursuit that delves into memories and engages all the senses. In that same vein, she believes in the restorative power of seasonal fruit, in particular the mangoes and peaches from her grandmother’s garden.
Amos Hagelstam-Tanttu
Exhibition Architecture Assistant & Technician, Artist Q&A Moderator
Being part of the ‘Lokal family’ since the very beginning lead Amos towards his current pursuit in interior architecture.
“Apart from hoping that my mother is doing well, I hope that life’s intangible elusiveness never disappears from the conscious me — or you.”
In his spare time, Amos runs a small window vitrine gallery around the corner from Lokal. You’ll find him swimming or writing before or after school-slash-work hours.
Freia Lindholm
Lokal’s Sales Manager
Freia is a student of visual marketing. She has years of experience in designing and selling fixed furniture. Now Freia is responsible for developing Lokal’s sales and B2B projects.
“I enjoy beautiful things and I try to find beauty in surprising places.”
In her free time, Freia can be found immersed in interior design magazines or visiting art museums. She often has an old film camera hanging around her neck and Italian disco playing in her headphones.
freia.lindholm@lokalhelsinki.com
Malika Saddok
Lokal’s Gallery Intern
Malika is a final-year furniture design student whose work radiates playfulness, bold color, and organic forms. She is fascinated by how everyday objects can be transformed into sculptural, joyful pieces that evoke emotion.
“Design is both instinct and necessity for me. There is always a new idea unfolding, a small experiment in turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.”
In her free time, Malika retreats to nature, enjoys cabin life, and cherishes moments with friends. She loves movement, sports, and everything that brings joy and playfulness to everyday life.