Tiitu Takalo
Hi there!
I am Tiitu Takalo, she/her, a comic artist, illustrator, visual artist and feminist. I love drawing and painting, and luckily I'm also really good at making art with my hands. I often use watercolors, colored pencils, gouache, and colored paper. My works often deal with some of the following topics that interest me greatly: equality, people and relationships between people, nature, sustainable development, cycling, LGBTQ+ topics, countercultures, activism, and history. You can probably guess from this list that it is important to me that my illustrations are inclusive, accessible, and sometimes even norm-breaking, and that they embody diversity on many levels.
Invoicing is possible also to abroad and in most currencies.
You can find some of my graphic novels on my website and you can purchase my works, many of my graphic novels, postcards, posters and hand-printed art prints, from my online store. (Outside Finland, send an email).
Hand-drawn illustrations are my trademark, and I feel much more comfortable at the drawing table than at the computer. Nevertheless, I know the basics of Photoshop. I am precise in details if it is essential for my work. I am a skilled artist and I know human anatomy. I enjoy doing lettering by hand. My working languages are Finnish and English.
Amnesty International, Helsinki International Film Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival (UK), We Live Here project (UK), Annikki Poetry Festival, Helsinki University Hospital, Otava, Art House, Ajatus Kirjat, Vastapaino, Helsinki Comics festival, Tampere Kuplii Comics festival, Association for Gender Studies in Finland, The Finnish Women’s Association Unioni, Ladyfest Finland, Finnish Peace Committee, Finnish Social Forum, The Finnish Nature Association, Tampere University, Tampere City Library, Finnish Historical Society, the Society of the Friends of History, Helsingin Sanomat, Aamulehti.
“We worked with Tiitu on a community project in 2024 and decided to select one of her pieces to adorn that year’s Festival brochure. It perfectly captures the spirit of fun, diversity and celebration we would like to think the festival brings to Norwich. Tiitu was a delight to work with – quick, efficient and accommodating at a time when organisation of the festival is particularly hectic.”
–Darren Cross | Head of Communications & Development - Norfolk & Norwich Festival, UK
“It has been my privilege to work with Tiitu twice now. I love the way her work combines a great sensitivity to atmosphere and place, with a profound insight into the people she represents and their relationships. She finds the emotional heart of each moment, invoking conversation and silence through her sparce text and evocative palette. She is a fantastic visual artist and a wonderful, thoughtful storyteller.“
–Tim Harrison, Artistic Director, We Live Here, UK
Poster illustration / Helsinki International Film Festival
Also Norfolk & Norwich Festival, UK, festival brochure.
Poster illustration / Helsinki International Film Festival
Click to see more about the project.
Poster illustration / Helsinki International Film Festival
Also Norfolk & Norwich Festival, UK, festival brochure.
Poster illustration / Helsinki International Film Festival
Also Norfolk & Norwich Festival, UK, festival brochure.
Poster illustration / Helsinki Comics Festival
Poster and other illustrations as well as hand-made letters and numbers for font. The festival themes were tattoos and graphic medicine.
Poster illustration / Helsinki Comics Festival
Click to see more about the project.
Poster illustration / Helsinki Comics Festival
Poster and other illustrations as well as hand-made letters and numbers for font. The festival themes were tattoos and graphic medicine.
Poster illustration / Helsinki Comics Festival
Poster and other illustrations as well as hand-made letters and numbers for font. The festival themes were tattoos and graphic medicine.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Wall illustrations for the adult ward of the new building of Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital in Espoo. Inspired by the residents of Jorvi Manor, which was located on the hospital grounds and has already been demolished.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Click to see more about the project.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Wall illustrations for the adult ward of the new building of Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital in Espoo. Inspired by the residents of Jorvi Manor, which was located on the hospital grounds and has already been demolished.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Wall illustrations for the adult ward of the new building of Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital in Espoo. Inspired by the residents of Jorvi Manor, which was located on the hospital grounds and has already been demolished.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Wall illustrations for the adult ward of the new building of Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital in Espoo. Inspired by the residents of Jorvi Manor, which was located on the hospital grounds and has already been demolished.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Wall illustrations for the adult ward of the new building of Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital in Espoo. Inspired by the residents of Jorvi Manor, which was located on the hospital grounds and has already been demolished.
Illustrations for the walls / Helsinki University Hospital
Wall illustrations for the adult ward of the new building of Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital in Espoo. Inspired by the residents of Jorvi Manor, which was located on the hospital grounds and has already been demolished.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Click to see more about the project.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Kuvituksia ja sarjakuvia / Tampere Filharmonia
Four different comics for Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra about acoustics, how to behave at a concert, the concert experience, and composing. For music education use, for children and young people, mainly digitally on various screens.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
Click to see more about the project.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Wall calendar illustrations / Own project
The Kissing behind the Barricades wall calendar has been published for several years. Posters and postcards of some of the illustrations are available in my online store.
Cover illustration and article illustrations / Gender Studies magazine
The theme of the magazine was Language and Gender. Illustrations for the articles: Genderless Expertise, Gendered Competence (Mari Kupiainen), Finnish Body Positivity Activists’ Responses to Criticism of Body Positivity (Anna Puhakka) and Gendered Food Labeling (Hanna Hietikko).
Cover illustration and article illustrations / Gender Studies magazine
Click to see more about the project.
Cover illustration and article illustrations / Gender Studies magazine
The theme of the magazine was Language and Gender. Illustrations for the articles: Genderless Expertise, Gendered Competence (Mari Kupiainen), Finnish Body Positivity Activists’ Responses to Criticism of Body Positivity (Anna Puhakka) and Gendered Food Labeling (Hanna Hietikko).
Cover illustration and article illustrations / Gender Studies magazine
The theme of the magazine was Language and Gender. Illustrations for the articles: Genderless Expertise, Gendered Competence (Mari Kupiainen), Finnish Body Positivity Activists’ Responses to Criticism of Body Positivity (Anna Puhakka) and Gendered Food Labeling (Hanna Hietikko).
Cover illustration and article illustrations / Gender Studies magazine
The theme of the magazine was Language and Gender. Illustrations for the articles: Genderless Expertise, Gendered Competence (Mari Kupiainen), Finnish Body Positivity Activists’ Responses to Criticism of Body Positivity (Anna Puhakka) and Gendered Food Labeling (Hanna Hietikko).
Memento Mori / Graphic novel / WSOY
An autobiographical story about a serious illness. Available in my online store in Finnish and English. Also published in French and Polish. Nominated for the Eisner Award in the United States.
Hand-lettered, including texts on the cover.
Memento Mori / Graphic novel / WSOY
Click to see more about the project.
Memento Mori / Graphic novel / WSOY
An autobiographical story about a serious illness. Available in my online store in Finnish and English. Also published in French and Polish. Nominated for the Eisner Award in the United States.
Hand-lettered, including texts on the cover.
Memento Mori / Graphic novel / WSOY
An autobiographical story about a serious illness. Available in my online store in Finnish and English. Also published in French and Polish. Nominated for the Eisner Award in the United States.
Hand-lettered, including texts on the cover.
Memento Mori / Graphic novel / WSOY
An autobiographical story about a serious illness. Available in my online store in Finnish and English. Also published in French and Polish. Nominated for the Eisner Award in the United States.
Hand-lettered, including texts on the cover.
Memento Mori / Graphic novel / WSOY
An autobiographical story about a serious illness. Available in my online store in Finnish and English. Also published in French and Polish. Nominated for the Eisner Award in the United States.
Hand-lettered, including texts on the cover.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
Click to see more about the project.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On Pedals - now, before and in the future / Graphic novel
A graphic novel about the history of cycling, written in collaboration with historian Tiina Männistö-Funk. Selected for the Most Beautiful Books 2023 collection. Available in my online store in Finnish.
Partially hand-lettered, including title and cover texts.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
The book contains drawings of fellow travelers from long train journeys in Europe. Bilingual: Finnish, English. Available from the online store.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
Click to see more about the project.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
The book contains drawings of fellow travelers from long train journeys in Europe. Bilingual: Finnish, English. Available from the online store.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
The book contains drawings of fellow travelers from long train journeys in Europe. Bilingual: Finnish, English. Available from the online store.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
The book contains drawings of fellow travelers from long train journeys in Europe. Bilingual: Finnish, English. Available from the online store.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
The book contains drawings of fellow travelers from long train journeys in Europe. Bilingual: Finnish, English. Available from the online store.
On a Train, Picture Book / Own project
The book contains drawings of fellow travelers from long train journeys in Europe. Bilingual: Finnish, English. Available from the online store.
Me, Mikko and Annikki / Graphic novel
A graphic novel featuring history and autobiographical experiences. Sarjakuva-Finlandia award winner in Finland and Grand Prix Artemisia award winner in France. Available in my online store in Finnish. Also published in English and French.
Finnish version hand-lettered. Also the title and cover texts.
Me, Mikko and Annikki / Graphic novel
Click to see more about the project.
Me, Mikko and Annikki / Graphic novel
A graphic novel featuring history and autobiographical experiences. Sarjakuva-Finlandia award winner in Finland and Grand Prix Artemisia award winner in France. Available in my online store in Finnish. Also published in English and French.
Finnish version hand-lettered. Also the title and cover texts.
Me, Mikko and Annikki / Graphic novel
A graphic novel featuring history and autobiographical experiences. Sarjakuva-Finlandia award winner in Finland and Grand Prix Artemisia award winner in France. Available in my online store in Finnish. Also published in English and French.
Finnish version hand-lettered. Also the title and cover texts.
Me, Mikko and Annikki / Graphic novel
A graphic novel featuring history and autobiographical experiences. Sarjakuva-Finlandia award winner in Finland and Grand Prix Artemisia award winner in France. Available in my online store in Finnish. Also published in English and French.
Finnish version hand-lettered. Also the title and cover texts.