Installation view of Elli Maanpää's solo exhibition "Taivas Maanpäällä" (Heaven on Earth) at Galleria Ars Pori (2026), showcasing colorful acrylic paintings exploring weightlessness alongside a site-specific installation. Photograph by Iiris Hellsten.
TAIVAS MAANPÄÄLLÄ
Solo show - Art Exhibition in Galleria Ars Pori in Pori, Finland
4.9.-3.10.2026
How can a static medium like acrylic paint capture the sensation of flying? This question was at the heart of "Taivas Maanpäällä" (Heaven on Earth), a solo exhibition hosted at Gallery Ars Pori.
The exhibition filled the gallery space with human and animal figures that leap and dance off the canvas with joyous energy. Alongside large- and small-scale paintings—some of which were developed during the Ars Pori residency in July 2026—the show featured custom installations that played with the vastness of the space. From diving into ancient mythological tales to capturing the weightlessness of a bird flock, the exhibition aimed to leave an impression of lighthearted freedom.
Browse available paintings from the exhibition here. Read the exhibition review of "Taivas Maanpäällä" in Satakunnan Kansa. Read the full review in Finnish at Satakunnan Kansa.
The acrylic painting "Take Off" by Elli Maanpää on display in the lobby of Galleria Ars Pori during her solo exhibition "Taivas Maanpäällä" (Heaven on Earth). Photograph by Iiris Hellsten.
A close-up view of the site-specific installation made from magazines, with Elli Maanpää's vibrant acrylic paintings visible in the background of the light-filled gallery space. Photograph by Iiris Hellsten.
