Key Figures – Stig Baumgartner

► Key Figures presents works from 2017 to 2021 by the Finnish artist Stig Baumgartner (b. 1969). Baumgartner’s paintings owe a debt to the geometrical legacy of Colour Field painting, which he interweaves with strands of Pop Art and conceptualism. Although his works are ostensibly abstract, a closer look reveals the presence of certain narrative elements. The juxtaposition of organic lines and architectural composition evokes many associations ranging from everyday encounters and corporeal presences to spatial mazes.

In the accompanying self-authored essay, Baumgartner shares insights into his underlying themes and the significance of visual conventions in his work. The other two written contributions are by art historian Juha-Heikki Tihinen and Galerie Forsblom’s Nina Suni.