Reka Kiraly

Reka Kiraly is a visual storyteller. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1977, she currently lives and works in Helsinki, Finland. Kiraly’s works capture the delicate individualism and uniqueness of people in the form of plants. These portraits are dialogues showing the emerging repetitive elements in nature. As an artist, Kiraly is fascinated with modularity. Kiraly has had solo and group exhibitions in Finland as well as in various European countries and Japan. She holds an MA from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts as well as from the Aalto University (former University of Art and Design Helsinki). In 2020, Kiraly received a three-year artist grant from the Arts Promotion Center Finland.

Reka Kiraly

”I am a visual storyteller. Let it be a picture book, pattern design, illustration, unique piece or everyday life. Drawing is a way of thinking for me. I make sense of this world by exploring connections through colours. Driven by a constant fascination with modularity, my work embraces diversity and curiosity. It blends curious shapes with the colours affected by the Nordic light conditions. All taken with a spoonful of humour. I believe that illustrations and objects made with care and playfulness will light up our curiosity. Inspired by colour combinations and patterns found in my surroundings, I always start with hand-drawn and ink painted elements. The final illustrations and pattern designs are completed digitally.

When it comes to developing unique pieces, my method of working is meditative. The works evoke the fragility of the present moment. Using ink on paper without planning in advance creates a process where you can’t hide anything. What I find beautiful in this, is that nothing gets erased, all small stains become part of the final piece.

I come from a creative family – interior designer mother, furniture designer father – where curiosity has been treasured and coincidences embraced. I’m an alumnus of both the Hungarian University of Fine Arts as well as the Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland.

For the the past 10 years, I’ve worked for the likes of Hakola Furniture Company, WSOY, Fisher-Price Ltd., Thames & Hudson, Design Museum Helsinki, Etana Editions, Helsinki Design Week, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Tammi, Paperchase.

In addition to working as an independent designer, I am part of Etana Editions, a curious mix of an independent picture book publisher and a design studio.”