llkka Suppanen is one of the world’s best known contemporary Finnish designers. Ilkka Suppanen studied architecture at Helsinki University of Technology, and Interior and Furniture Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. He completed his studies at Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam in 1992 and in 1995 he founded Studio Suppanen. His works have been showcased in prestigious international exhibits, such as the Venice Architecture Biennale and in the MoMA in New York, and his works are part of important museum collections such as the Centre Pompidou, the Stedelijk Museum, the Museum of Andewante Kunst, Cologne and the Helsinki Design Museum. Suppanen has won several domestic and international awards such as the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize, The Finnish Cultural Foundation Award and the Ilmari Tapiolassa Prize.

Education
1988 – Ma-studies at Faculty of Architecture at Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
1989 – Ma-studies at University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland
1992 -Student at Gerrit Rietvelt Academy Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Selected exhibitions
2017: Vanishing Point, solo exhibition at the Maison Louis Carré by Alvar Aalto, France
2017: Evanescent, solo exhibition at Galerie Maria Wettergren Paris, France
2016: Solo exhibition in Design Museum Helsinki, Finland
2015 – Solo exhibition in Röhska Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden
2013 – Èclat, solo exhibition Gallerie Maria Wettergren, Paris
2012 – Broken, Solo Exhibition, Gallerie Forsblom, Finland
2010 – Hirameki Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
2008 – Hardcore exhibition, New York, U.S.A
2008 – SAUMA, Designmuseum, Helsinki, Finland
2006 – Ilkka Suppanen + Harri Koskinen exhibition, Design Museum of Finland
2005-2007 – SAUMA, Washington DC, New York City, Los Angeles, USA
2003 – The Q exhibition – Tokyo Japan
2001 – Work spheres, MoMA, NYC, U.S.A
2000 – Hothouse, Kortrijk, Belgium
1998 – Modern Finnish Design, Bard Graduate ctr. NYC, U.S.A.
1997 – Snowcrash exhibition Milan, Italy
1992 – The Fifth International Exhibition of Architecture, The Venice Biennale, Venezia, Italy
Selected competitions and prizes
2013 – Interior Innovation Award in at IMM Cologne
2012 – Red Dot, Best of the Best award, Germany
2008 – Good design award, Chicago, U.S.A
2008 – fennia Prize, Finland
2006 – Mathsson-Prize, Mathsson Foundation, Sweden
2001-2004 – Art Council of Finland, 3 Year art scholarship, Finland
2001 – Avotakka award, Finland
2001 – Young designer of the Year prize, with Harri Koskinen, Finland
1998 – Nominee of Dedalus Prize, nominated by Ettore Sottsass, Italy 1998 Young Designer of the Year, Germany, Architektur & Wohnen-prize, awarded by Ingo Maurer (together with designers Timo Salli, Teppo Asikainen and Ilkka Terho for the Snowcrash exhibition)
1998 – Finnish National Award for Young Art (together with designers Timo Salli, Teppo Asikainen and Ilkka Terho for the Snowcrash exhibition)
1995 – Winning entry, international “Textile for New Building” competition, with Jarkko Kallio and Paula Junttila, Frankfurt
1995 – Habitare Prize, 1st Price at student competition, Alessandro Mendini as jury
 

Collections
Ilkka Suppanen work has been selected for the permanent collections of several museums worldwide including: Stedjelik Museum Amsterdam, Museum fur Advande Kunst Cologne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Helsinki Design Museum, Chigago Anthem Museum.

Prizes / awards:
The Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize (2015), Söderberg prize, Gothenburg Sweden (2015), Finnish Cultural Foundation prize, for crossing the borders in design, Finland (2015), Ilmari Tapiovaara prize, Helsinki Finland (2015), Interior Innovation Award in at IMM Cologne Germany(2013), Red Dot, Best of the Best award, Essen Germany(2012), Asko Avonius prize, Finland (2009), Good design award, Chicago U.S.A (2008), Fennia Prize, Finland (2008), Mathsson-Prize, Mathsson Foundation, Sweden (2006), Art Council of Finland, 3 Year art scholarship, Finland (200&-2004), Avotakka award, Finland (2001), Young designer of the Year prize, with Harri Koskinen, Finland (2001), Finnish National Award for Young Art (together with designers Timo Salli, Teppo Asikainen and Ilkka Terho for the Snowcrash exhibition) (1998), Habitare Prize, 1st Price at student competition, Alessandro Mendini as jury (1995).