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From 20 February to 6 September 2026, the Gallery of the Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki presents Craft Punk, the first major solo exhibition by Finnish knitting artist Juha Vehmaanperä, placing slow fashion, participatory artistic practice and DIY culture at the centre of its exploration.

Vehmaanperä is a knitting artist whose work is grounded in the philosophy of slow fashion, queer theory and craft-based knowledge. Their projects combine traditional handcraft techniques with contemporary approaches and new technologies. In contrast, participatory working methods, the promotion of DIY culture and a contemporary rethinking of craft traditions characterise their artistic practice.

Craft Punk brings together the artist’s most significant works from recent years, material experiments, insights into their creative process, and participatory artworks developed in collaboration with communities. Through these works, Vehmaanperä demonstrates that knitting and handcraft can become powerful tools for artistic expression, social critique and collective creativity.

Juha Vehmaanperä graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design from Aalto University. They have taught at several art and design institutions, including Aalto University, Teho-Opisto and the Helsinki Adult Education Centre.

In November 2025, Vehmaanperä received the prestigious Taito Finlandia Prize, one of Finland’s highest honours in the field of contemporary crafts.

Their work has gained international recognition and has been presented at major design and art events, including the Hyères International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories in France, Dutch Design Week, Pitti Filati in Italy, New York Textile Month, as well as numerous exhibitions across Europe. Vehmaanperä also gained professional experience as a member of the knitwear design team at Acne Studios in Stockholm.

The exhibition has been realised in collaboration with the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux, the Finnish Heritage Agency and Novita. The exhibition photograph is by Diana Luganski.