Annu Vertanen

Introduction

Professor Annu Vertanen (b. 1960) is an internationally renowned printmaking artist, whose work has exhibited around the world. Vertanen has several years of teaching experience, e.g. from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, University of Virginia and University of Wyoming in the USA, Academy of Fine Arts, and Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Through her teaching, Vertanen hopes to highlight the diverse nature of contemporary printmaking and its ability to pass on information and content: printmaking is not just about aesthetic choices, but also about communication and conveying the message to the public. With this in mind, both industrial printing and printing by hand are possible methods for making art, yet very distinct from each other.

In 2014, Vertanen won the international contest Prix de print, arranged by the magazine Art in Print, with her work Breathing Touch. She was awarded the state prize for visual arts the same year.  The decision was made based on her extensive career in developing and expanding the artistic expression in printmaking.