Elisa Kärjä

Kalajoki (1959)

Elisa Kärjä from Kalajoki creates three-dimensional figures through needle felting, drawing her inspiration from art history, politics, entertainment and popular culture. Rather than seeking photographic likeness, each piece is her own interpretation of familiar features. Elisa Kärjä has been felting human figures for over a decade.

Kärjä’s works are characterised by the warmth brought by the soft material and the mark of craftsmanship, which brings iconic figures closer to the viewer – sometimes in surprising ways. Her felted characters invite you to recognise, reminisce and encounter “old acquaintances” in a new form, making her art highly approachable.

A playful touch and a bold desire to interpret public figures and cultural icons in her own recognisable way are evident throughout Kärjä’s body of work.

Photographs from Elisa Kärjä’s exhibition Ollaanko tuttuja? (Shall We Get Acquainted?), Galleria Arx, Hämeenlinna, 30.1.–13.5.2026. Photos: Raija Kallioinen.