Jaakko Stick
Loviisa
Surrealist paintings and sculptures
Jaakko Stick is a self‑taught artist from Loviisa, whose expression is rooted in surrealism, playfulness, and keen observation. His art often emerges from everyday starting points and unconventional materials. Industrial environments, chance, and found objects transform in his hands into distinctive characters and visual narratives.
When plastic gets out of hand – and turns into art
In his day job, Stick works in industry among machines and materials, where molten plastic is shaped under controlled conditions into utilitarian objects. Sometimes, however, the process slips out of control. The mass stretches, drips, and solidifies into unexpected forms. In these imperfections, Stick sees possibilities. He collects failed plastic shapes and uses them as the starting point for sculptures in which chance and material play a significant role.
Solidified plastic retains a sense of movement and moment, as if the form were left unfinished. Stick embraces the material’s inherent shape, which largely guides the final outcome. From these beginnings arise unique creatures and objects that naturally inhabit Stick’s surreal world. His approach is light‑hearted and often humorous. An industrial by‑product becomes art, where everyday routine meets imagination.
Surrealist paintings
Stick’s paintings are full of imagination, surreal characters, and details that capture the viewer’s attention. Many works feature expressive eyes, tongues, and teeth that give the characters personality and a touch of strangeness. According to Stick, the teeth bring wisdom to the works because they are all “wisdom teeth.” The paintings invite viewers to discover small details and reflect on the stories they tell. Stick’s paintings are at once playful, surprising, and thought‑provoking, giving everyday life a surreal dimension.
As an artist, Stick emphasizes freedom and independence in the presentation of art as well. His self‑founded Galleria Jokin serves as an open space for works created outside the mainstream and on their own terms. In Stick’s philosophy, the value of art does not arise from name or status, but from content and impact.