Cart …
EN FI
Unique artwork & handcrafted homeware & jewellery by local artists and artisans.
Search site...
Search site...
…
Loading cart contents...

Lokal Creators / Saija Halko

Saija Halko is a Helsinki-based ceramicist and designer. She works in her studio on small scale production of ceramics. Her way of working is based on a deep knowledge of material and hands-on methods. Lokal has carried a selection of her work ever since her days as a student, and we are honoured to continue on a mutual journey. This year marks Lokal’s 10th anniversary year, and we asked Saija to create a new vase for Lokal Kollektion to mark the occasion.

Lokal Creators / Saija Halko

Saija Halko is a Helsinki-based ceramicist and designer. She works in her studio on small scale production of ceramics. Her way of working is based on a deep knowledge of material and hands-on methods. Lokal has carried a selection of her work ever since her days as a student, and we are honoured to continue on a mutual journey. This year marks Lokal’s 10th anniversary year, and we asked Saija to create a new vase for Lokal Kollektion to mark the occasion.

Lokal: “What are some important principles in how you approach your work?”

Saija Halko: “I like to make my products personally, in this way I can give attention to small details and focus on the feeling of the object. This also means that I am not that interested in large volumes, but instead small scale production. Handmaking the objects brings a freedom to the design process and gives more versatility for the material choices, which I like to take advantage of. I hope my products will not remain decorative objects, but will be used in everyday life, because the use and touch of the objects brings out the holistic beauty.”

Lokal: “What are some of the things that inspire your designs?”

Saija Halko: “I find old, handmade, museum objects inspiring because of their humane and sympathetic looks. I would like to express a similar feeling in my works. I am also constantly inspired by moods, colours, lights and shadows around me, in nature and in urban environments.”

Lokal: “What brought you to working with ceramics? How has that relationship changed over the years?”

Saija Halko: “The reason I got excited about ceramics was largely based on the ability to work by hand. As a material, clay is very mundane, it is easily approachable and it can be used for everything from everyday tableware to art. Making ceramics gives the possibility to combine my interests in different fields; design, art and crafts. During the past years, I have started to appreciate the versatility of ceramics even more and would like to focus in the future on making one-of-a-kind pieces in addition to my small scale production.”

Lokal: “Can you tell us a little bit about your pieces in the Lokal Kollektion? ”

Saija Halko: “The Lokki jug was inspired by Helsinki and its summer. It was part of Lokal’s exhibition Helsinki Tones. I love the first sound of birds during the spring, and the sound of a seagull (lokki, in Finnish) has a strong association to summer. The design became quite playful due to the size and shape of the handle combined with the bird-shaped jug.

The Silmu vase was made for Lokal during the spring of 2022. Together with Lokal, we wanted to make a functional flower vase that can hold various flower bouquets, has a quiet design, and a reference to spring. “

Shop: Saija Halko’s Work

Explore: Lokal Creators

Benjamin Murphy, born in West Yorkshire, is a globally exhibiting visual artist. His current work explores themes of polarity, time, memory, and contrast – often rendered in charcoal on raw canvas. We visited his studio in Helsinki just before he set up his Lokal White Wall exhibition, Éanáir. 

Lokal Creators / Benjamin Murphy

Benjamin Murphy, born in West Yorkshire, is a globally exhibiting visual artist. His current work explores themes of polarity, time, memory, and contrast – often rendered in charcoal on raw canvas. We visited his studio in Helsinki just before he set up his Lokal White Wall exhibition, Éanáir. 

Read more
Sini Villi is a textile artist living and working in Helsinki, Finland. In her work Villi uses handmade ribbon to create three-dimensional textile reliefs and sculptures. We visited her Helsinki studio on a summer afternoon just after she'd set up her White Wall exhibition, Ammonites.

Lokal Creators / Sini Villi

Sini Villi is a textile artist living and working in Helsinki, Finland. In her work Villi uses handmade ribbon to create three-dimensional textile reliefs and sculptures. We visited her Helsinki studio on a summer afternoon just after she’d set up her White Wall exhibition, Ammonites.

Read more
Fanny Tavastila is a painter who lives and works in Helsinki. We visited her studio at the Cable Factory one dark November afternoon to get a closer look at her works, which posess an innate and lyrical sense of colour, rhythm, texture and composition.

Lokal Creators / Fanny Tavastila

Fanny Tavastila is a painter who lives and works in Helsinki. We visited her studio at the Cable Factory one dark November afternoon to get a closer look at her works, which posess an innate and lyrical sense of colour, rhythm, texture and composition.

Read more
Hanni Koroma is an award-winning Finnish interior architect and furniture designer. In her work, Koroma combines functionality and aesthetics into timeless entities where her philosophic values in sustainable and playful design meet. Koroma says that space is like a poem that evolves constantly. Her new Lohkoja cabinets are centrepieces of our summer exhibition Butterflies & Seeds. 

Lokal Creators / Hanni Koroma

Hanni Koroma is an award-winning Finnish interior architect and furniture designer. In her work, Koroma combines functionality and aesthetics into timeless entities where her philosophic values in sustainable and playful design meet. Koroma says that space is like a poem that evolves constantly. Her new Lohkoja cabinets are centrepieces of our summer exhibition Butterflies & Seeds. 

Read more