Kustaa Saksi (b. 1975, Kouvola, Finland) is a Finnish multidisciplinary artist based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Working at the intersection of contemporary art and design, Saksi explores themes of abstraction, nature, and altered perception. His practice is characterised by a fusion of organic forms, intricate textures, vibrant colour palettes, and innovative materials, resulting in immersive visual environments that blur the boundaries between image, object, and atmosphere.

Central to Saksi’s work is a fascination with the abstract edges of consciousness and perception. Drawing inspiration from surreal, illusory states—particularly the visual phenomena associated with his own migraine auras—his compositions feature recurring motifs such as geometric structures, hypnotic patterns, and kaleidoscopic distortions. This is vividly exemplified in his acclaimed Hypnopompic series, which evokes the liminal state between dreaming and waking. Similarly, First Symptoms investigates the neurological and experiential dimensions of migraines, translating perceptual disturbances into visual language through motifs like checkerboards, spirals, and concentric forms.

For several years, Saksi has worked extensively at the TextielLab of the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, the Netherlands, where he has developed a distinctive approach to Jacquard weaving. Integrating traditional techniques with cutting-edge experimentation, he combines natural fibres—such as mohair, alpaca, wool, and paper—with unconventional materials including rubber, metal, and phosphorescent yarns. The resulting works are richly tactile and visually dynamic, which the artist describes as “action painting with warp and weft.”

Saksi’s work has garnered international acclaim and has been exhibited at leading institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum (New York), Design Museum Helsinki, and Museo Poldi Pezzoli (Milan). He has held solo exhibitions in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam, and his work is held in both major public collections and private holdings worldwide. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland in recognition of his artistic achievements.

Beyond his institutional and gallery practice, Saksi has collaborated with renowned brands such as Hermès, Nike, Issey Miyake, and Marimekko, and produced commissioned editions for the Royal Academy of Arts and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Through his pioneering material experimentation and mastery of the Jacquard loom, Kustaa Saksi continues to expand the possibilities of textile-based art, redefining the relationship between contemporary art, design, and craft.

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