Vesa Ranta, born 1973, is a freelance photographer and film maker based in Oulu, Finland.
He has over fifteen years of experience in editorial photography for many of Finland’s most renowned magazines and newspapers. His customers also include companies and private individuals. He mainly works in Northern and Central Europe.
In addition to still photography he also works with other audiovisual media. He has directed music videos and is looking to broaden his scope to documentaries.
Mr. Ranta is also an art photographer. He has held numerous exhibitions both in Finland and abroad. His art is mainly focused on people and humanity in its various forms.
Vesa Ranta graduated as a photographer from Turku Academy of Arts in 2001.
In the music world, Mr. Ranta is known as a founding member of the band Sentenced, with which he played for the band’s whole lifespan (1989 to 2005).
Feel free to contact me whenever you require a diverse photographer or film maker.
E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +358 40 179 7990.
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CV
Date of birth 20.7.1973
Education
Turku Art Academy, photographer (1997-2001)
Solo exhibitions
2018 ”Reunalla", Creat Space, Helsinki, FINLAND
2017 ”Reunalla", Valvegalleria, Oulu, FINLAND
2013 ”Tutkimusmatka uuteen Ouluun”, Valvegalleria, Oulu, FINLAND
2008 ”Olla minä – Being Me”, Taidepanimo, Lahti, FINLAND
2007 Gallery Ibis, Vaasa, FINLAND
2007 ”Under the Ground- A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu, FINLAND
2007 ”Olla minä – Being Me”, VB centre, Kuopio, FINLAND
2007 ”Olla minä – Being Me”, Vuotalo Gallery, Helsinki, FINLAND
2007 ”Olla minä – Being Me”, Hippolyte Gallery, Helsinki, FINLAND
2006 ”Olla minä – Being Me”, Northern photographic centre Oulu, FINLAND
2006 “Under the Ground – A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Culture house Rekord, Niznij Novgorod, RUSSIA
2006 “Under the Ground – A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Korjaamo Gallery, Helsinki, FINLAND2003 “Elämä raiteilla, Gallery Peri, Turku, FINLAND
2003 ”Elämä raiteilla”, Gallery Valo, Univ.of Lapland/Northern Photographic Centre, Rovaniemi, FINLAND
2003 “Rantagalleria stipendiats”, Rantagalleria/Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu, FINLAND
2002 “Elämä raiteilla”, Kummigalleria/Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu, FINLAND
Coming exhibitions
2018 "Reunalla" Gallery Myötätuuli, Raahe, FINLAND
2018 "Reunalla" Gallery Ibis, Vaasa, FINLAND
Group exhibitions
2014 Bangbang. Kemi art Museum, FINLAND
2012 Toinen Luontomme, Oulu Art Museum, FINLAND
2012 Lapin taika, Rovaniemi Art museum Korundi, FINLAND
2012 Lapin taika, Ateneum, Finnish national gallery, FINLAND
2009 Todellisuuden taju, group exhibition, Hyvinkaa art museum, FINLAND
2008 Group exhibition "GD4ART", Bologna, ITALIA
2008 Liaf08 Svolvaer, NORWAY.
2008 Mantan Kuvataideviikot, Mantta, FINLAND
2008 Group exhibition "Border lives", Stadgalerie Kiel, GERMANY
2008 Group exhibition "Border lives", Aachen Art Museum, GERMANY
2008 DARK, Korjaamo gallery, Helsinki, FINLAND
2007 “Under the Ground – A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities, Northern Photographic Centre and Arts Council of Oulu Province, Landesgalerie Eisenstadt, Eisenstadt, AUSTRIA
2007 “Under the Ground – A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities, Northern Photographic Centre and Arts Council of Oulu Province, "St. Peter an der Sperr ”Wiener Neustadt, AUSTRIA
2007 "Under the Ground – A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities, Northern Photographic Centre and Arts Council of Oulu Province, Voralberger Landesmuseum Bregenz, AUSTRIA
2006 What's Up North, World of Worms DVD, Northern Photographic Centre / Rantagalleria, Oulu, FINLAND
2006 Backlight - Suomi 05, Photographic centre Nykyaika TR 1, Tampere, FINLAND
2006 “Under the Ground - A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities, Northern Photographic Centre/ Arts Council of Oulu Province, Felleshuset, Berlin, GERMANY
2006 The Faraway NeGroup earby, WORLD OF WORMS DVD, Whitebox Gallery, New York, USA
2005 “Under the Ground - A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities, Northern Photographic Centre/ Arts Council of Oulu Province, Tromso Kunstförening, NORWAY
2005 “ Under the Ground - A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities, Northern Photographic Centre/ Arts Council of Oulu Province, Kerava Art Museum, Kerava, FINLAND
2005 “Under the Ground - A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities Project, Northern Photographic Centre, Arts Council of Oulu Province, Oulu Art Museum, Oulu, FINLAND
2005 “Under the Ground – A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, Northern Cities Project, Northern Photographic Centre, Arts Council of Oulu Province, Aine Art Museum, Tornio, FINLAND
2003 “Pysäkki”, regional art exhibition, Kajaani Art Museum, Kajaani, FINLAND
2002 “Pysäkki”, regional art exhibition, Oulu Art Museum, Oulu, FINLAND
Grants
2018-2020 Art council of Finland(Taike), tree-year grant for artistic work
2017 Art council of Finland(Taike), one-year grant for artistic work
2015 Pohjois-Pohjanmaan kulttuurirahasto one-year grant for artistic work
2015 Otava kirjasaatio
2013 Wsoy kirjallisuussaatio
2012 Oulu365 (Production grant from Oulu city)
2008 Finnish cultural foundation, one-year grant for artistic work
2008 Art council of Finland, Production grant
2008 City of Oulu, Production grant
2007 Art council of Finland, Production grant
2006 City of Oulu, Production grant
2004 Niilo Helander foundation, residence in Berlin, Germany
2004 Arts Council of Oulu, one-year grant for artistic work
2004 Nifca, Sleipnir travel grant/ Northern Cities production meetings
2003 Nifca, Sleipnir travel grant/Northern Cities workshops
2003 Arts Council of Oulu, production grant
Work experience
Freelancer photographer since 2001
Freelance photographer in Helsingin Sanomat
Assistant of photographer Esko Mannikkö
Photographic courses at Liminka Art School and Northern Photographic Centre
Membership
Northern photographic centre, president 2005-2007
Union of photographic artists
The Finnish Association of Photojournalists
Works in Collections
Aine Art Museum, Tornio
Northern Photographic Centre
Private collections
Oulu art museum
Oulu city