biography
Antti Kalevi (b.1987) is a Finnish artist, illustrator and surface designer based in Helsinki. Renowned for his bold use of color, playful compositions, and abstract forms, his work reflects a whimsical yet minimalist aesthetic, blending childlike drawings with sophisticated shapes, surfaces and design elements.
Antti's creative process usually starts from daily sketching which allows him to explore various drawing styles. He employs diverse techniques, including drawing with his fingers, creating collages from quick pencil sketches, and experimenting with ink, tape, various markers, and an iPad, which he takes along while traveling to create drawings on the go. Lately he has also been exploring new materials such as sculpted wood. He believes in working diligently but avoids overworking his pieces, embracing small imperfections. To balance his careful work with colors, he appreciates quirky, free, and humorous quick drawings, which add a playful touch to his work. After all, Antti thinks having fun while working is important part of the process: "If I have fun when I create images, I believe and hope that it will be conveyed on some level and that others will also enjoy looking at them," he shared with Kuvittaja Magazine.
In 2023, Antti was honored as the Illustrator of the Year by the Finnish Illustration Association. He has also received recognition in the Best of the Year design competition organized by Grafia, an Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland.
Since graduating from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture in 2014, Antti has worked as a commercial illustrator alongside his personal artistic projects. His portfolio includes posters, book covers, textile designs, editorial illustrations, images for digital services, and branding and packaging for clients such as Apple, Google, Marimekko, and The New York Times. His work has been featured in magazines, books, advertisements, and fashion and homeware collections. Antti Kalevi's art has been exhibited both internationally and in Finland. Balancing in the borderlines of personal artistic projects and commercial illustration work, Antti’s curious mind is always interested in expanding his style into new materials, techniques and projects.
studio & inspiration
1. Color planning
2. Color inspiration in Cortina.
3. Antti photographed in Helsinki during summer 24.
4. Moodboard with sketches and inspiration
5. Shadows...
PHOTOS
1, 2 & 5 from Antti's personal archive
3 & 4 by AAPO HUHTA
contact
ANTTI KALEVI
antti@anttikalevi.com
ig @anttikalevi
agent
AGENT PEKKA
pekka@agentpekka.com
AMSTERDAM
caroline@agentpekka.com
+31 6 4629 0589
HELSINKI
petra@agentpekka.com
+358 50 363 5252
LOS ANGELES
lauren@agentpekka.com
+1 323 533 9985
clients & projects
airbnb (us)
Apple (US)
ARTEK (FI)
boggi milano (it)
Elle Italy (IT)
Facebook (US)
Filmfest München (DE)
Finlandia Vodka (FI)
Google (US)
Grafia Ry (FI)
HIUT DENIM Co. (uk)
HäAgen-Dazs (US)
It's Nice That (UK)
Jeans & Towels (FI)
Kirsikka (FI)
Kuvittajat Ry (FI)
Marimekko (FI)
Penquin random house (uk)
Post Bar (FI)
Samuji (FI)
The New York Times (US)
Théâtre de l'Athnénée (FR)
Universal Music (US)
awards & REGOCNITIES
ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR 2023
selected by the Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat Ry
VUODEN HUIPUT 2023
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
silver in image category
VUODEN HUIPUT 2017
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
shortlisted in young creatives category
VUODEN HUIPUT 2015
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
shortlisted in young creatives category
VUODEN HUIPUT 2012
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
silver in campaigns category
INTERVIEWS & featurES
ÅBEN JOURNAL
A NEW TYPE OF IMPRINT MAGAZINE
DEKO MAGAZINE
DPI MAGAZINE
CREATIVE BOOM
HELSINKI DESIGN WEEKLY
HELSINGIN SANOMAT
IT'S NICE THAT
JUXTAPOX
KOPIOSTO
KUVITTAJA LEHTI
PRINTED PAGES MAGAZINE
SPUR JAPAN MAGAZINE
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
SUN, SHAPES, SHADOWS
Case Gallery, Tokyo (JP)
2018
NEON CIRCUS
Helsinki (FI)
2013
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
AIKA OK, GRAFIA 90V
Luonnos, Helsinki (FI)
2023
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2023
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2019
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2018
WDC TAIPEI
Visual Taipei, Taipei (TW)
2016
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2016
IMPRESSIONS D'HELSINKI
Insitut Finlandais, Paris (FR)
2015
SHOW & TELL
Studio 1.1, London (UK)
2014
SECRET 7" EXHIBITION
London (UK)
2014
BLOOM
Lokal, Helsinki (FI)
2013
CREDITS
WEBSITE DESIGN
Antti Kalevi
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
Tom Engström
PORTRAIT PHOTO
in collaboration with Aapo Huhta
biography
Antti Kalevi (b.1987) is a Finnish artist, illustrator and surface designer based in Helsinki. Renowned for his bold use of color, playful compositions, and abstract forms, his work reflects a whimsical yet minimalist aesthetic, blending childlike drawings with sophisticated shapes, surfaces and design elements.
Antti's creative process usually starts from daily sketching which allows him to explore various drawing styles. He employs diverse techniques, including drawing with his fingers, creating collages from quick pencil sketches, and experimenting with ink, tape, various markers, and an iPad, which he takes along while traveling to create drawings on the go. Lately he has also been exploring new materials such as sculpted wood. He believes in working diligently but avoids overworking his pieces, embracing small imperfections. To balance his careful work with colors, he appreciates quirky, free, and humorous quick drawings, which add a playful touch to his work. After all, Antti thinks having fun while working is important part of the process: "If I have fun when I create images, I believe and hope that it will be conveyed on some level and that others will also enjoy looking at them," he shared with Kuvittaja Magazine.
In 2023, Antti was honored as the Illustrator of the Year by the Finnish Illustration Association. He has also received recognition in the Best of the Year design competition organized by Grafia, an Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland.
Since graduating from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture in 2014, Antti has worked as a commercial illustrator alongside his personal artistic projects. His portfolio includes posters, book covers, textile designs, editorial illustrations, images for digital services, and branding and packaging for clients such as Apple, Google, Marimekko, and The New York Times. His work has been featured in magazines, books, advertisements, and fashion and homeware collections. Antti Kalevi's art has been exhibited both internationally and in Finland. Balancing in the borderlines of personal artistic projects and commercial illustration work, Antti’s curious mind is always interested in expanding his style into new materials, techniques and projects.
studio & inspiration
1. Color planning
2. Color inspiration in Cortina.
3. Antti photographed in Helsinki during summer 24.
4. Moodboard with sketches and inspiration
5. Shadows...
PHOTOS
1, 2 & 5 from Antti's personal archive
3 & 4 by AAPO HUHTA
contact
ANTTI KALEVI
antti@anttikalevi.com
ig @anttikalevi
agent
AGENT PEKKA
pekka@agentpekka.com
AMSTERDAM
caroline@agentpekka.com
+31 6 4629 0589
HELSINKI
petra@agentpekka.com
+358 50 363 5252
LOS ANGELES
lauren@agentpekka.com
+1 323 533 9985
clients & projects
airbnb (us)
Apple (US)
ARTEK (FI)
boggi milano (it)
Elle Italy (IT)
Facebook (US)
Filmfest München (DE)
Finlandia Vodka (FI)
Google (US)
Grafia Ry (FI)
HIUT DENIM Co. (uk)
HäAgen-Dazs (US)
It's Nice That (UK)
Jeans & Towels (FI)
Kirsikka (FI)
Kuvittajat Ry (FI)
Marimekko (FI)
Penquin random house (uk)
Post Bar (FI)
Samuji (FI)
The New York Times (US)
Théâtre de l'Athnénée (FR)
Universal Music (US)
awards & REGOCNITIES
ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR 2023
selected by the Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat Ry
VUODEN HUIPUT 2023
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
silver in image category
VUODEN HUIPUT 2017
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
shortlisted in young creatives category
VUODEN HUIPUT 2015
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
shortlisted in young creatives category
VUODEN HUIPUT 2012
The Best of Finnish Advertising & Design
silver in campaigns category
INTERVIEWS & featurES
ÅBEN JOURNAL
A NEW TYPE OF IMPRINT MAGAZINE
DEKO MAGAZINE
DPI MAGAZINE
CREATIVE BOOM
HELSINKI DESIGN WEEKLY
HELSINGIN SANOMAT
IT'S NICE THAT
JUXTAPOX
KOPIOSTO
KUVITTAJA LEHTI
PRINTED PAGES MAGAZINE
SPUR JAPAN MAGAZINE
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
SUN, SHAPES, SHADOWS
Case Gallery, Tokyo (JP)
2018
NEON CIRCUS
Helsinki (FI)
2013
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
AIKA OK, GRAFIA 90V
Luonnos, Helsinki (FI)
2023
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2023
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2019
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2018
WDC TAIPEI
Visual Taipei, Taipei (TW)
2016
SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Seoul (KR)
2016
IMPRESSIONS D'HELSINKI
Insitut Finlandais, Paris (FR)
2015
SHOW & TELL
Studio 1.1, London (UK)
2014
SECRET 7" EXHIBITION
London (UK)
2014
BLOOM
Lokal, Helsinki (FI)
2013
CREDITS
WEBSITE DESIGN
Antti Kalevi
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
Tom Engström
PORTRAIT PHOTO
in collaboration with Aapo Huhta