Juhani Perälä Art
Autodidact Renaissance is less a label than an attitude – a way of being in the world and the philosophical foundation of my creative work. Its roots lie partly in my childhood heroes, figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Jack London, who were largely self‑taught. Their paths were shaped both by circumstance and by an insatiable curiosity, imagination, and creative drive.
I have always had a wide range of interests. Although my artistic practice is currently focused on painting colorful portraits, my educational background and everyday pursuits extend across woodworking, design, sculpture, philosophy, fractal geometry, literature, and poetry. I also write poems, philosophical reflections, and autofictional stories, with the ambition to publish in the future.
Being autodidactic has always been integral to my life. It reflects my commitment to openness, curiosity, and a philosophical engagement with diverse forms of art, music, science, and thought. This way of learning is not incidental to my creativity – it sustains it holistically.
The idea of the Renaissance represents an open‑ended, wide‑ranging approach to creativity, as well as my interest in humanistic development. When I paint a human, a dog, or any other subject, I am not merely painting a portrait – I am attempting to paint a living being. Anatomy, lived experience, emotion, and the mystery of existence converge with color and expression to form a single whole. This is why philosophy and science are not separate from my art, but essential to it.
– Juhani Perälä
Portraits
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Aira, 120×80 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2024
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Jean, 120×100 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2025
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Amelia, 100x 80 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2021
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Gösta, 120×80 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2023
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Jaana, 60 x 40 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2024
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Vesku, 120×80 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
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Citizen Burnout, 120×100 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
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Tove Love, 120×100 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2024
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Hercule 1, 116×89 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2020
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Hercule 2, 80×60 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2023
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Alpo, 80×60 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
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Charlie, 116×89 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
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Seela, 120×100 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2025
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Queen, 100×81 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2021
What people say
Juhani Perälä is a very talented artist. His understanding of the artistic act is particularly profound. He has a fine and sensitive ability to capture the personality of the person being portrayed.
Juhani’s richly colored portraits have layers and depth. The personality of the characters comes through beautifully. I like the strong brushwork and the creative energy that radiates from the pieces.
These works reflect dynamic movement- an expanse of variants committed to canvas. Juhani’s ability to fix that which is fleeting and ever-changing to a static moment is a testament to his skill as a painter and his in depth knowledge and committed study as an artist. To wrangle and rope the relentless chaos of any subject matter and tie it to the posts of vivid colour and bold, present shape is what, to my mind, elevates him to the well-deserved title of maestro. His works bring me continued joy as they shift and move along with me.
I have known Juhani for well over a decade — first as a highly skilled colleague, and later as a supportive friend. Juhani is not only a remarkable artist, but also a truly admirable human being: someone who feels deeply, thinks profoundly, and builds worlds with his brushes — a philosopher at heart.
Juhani’s particular strength lies in portraiture, in which he is a world‑class master. There is no one better in this country, and even elsewhere one would have to search long and hard to find an equal. I offer my warmest recommendation to all lovers of art — Juhani does not disappoint.
After our initial contact, it was wonderful to see Juhani’s growing enthusiasm for the project. Our exchange of ideas was effortless and inspiring. The final result was exactly what we had hoped for—and more: an experience born from an idea, refined together, and brought into concrete form through the artist’s distinctive personal touch.
Anomalia Animalia
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Kana, 55 x 46 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2024
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Animal Leader 2, 80 x 60 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
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Parrot Professor, 55 x 45 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2024
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Unknown-1
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Evolution, 120×100 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2025
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Cattle Genomics, 55 x 45 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2025
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Animal Leader 1, 80 x 60 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
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1000012173
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Jurkku Pappa, 116×89 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2021
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Kingi, 120×100 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2025
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Susi, 150×116 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2024
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Kauriskekkailu, 100×81 cm, acrylics on canvas, 2022
