Teemu Lehmusruusu (born 1981, Helsinki) is a transdisciplinary artist based in Helsinki and Kemiönsaari, Finland, and a doctoral researcher at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. His practice is based on long-term dialogue and field engagement with regenerative farmers, as well as with soil, climate, and marine researchers. Through artistic research, he fosters a more multimodal and sensorial relationship with soil phenomena, especially in agriculture and forestry, and their fluvial presence in bodies of water. By rattling the concepts of landscape and the framings of our perception, his research explores ways of belonging in the multispecies environment.
Lehmusruusu’s doctoral dissertation (expected 2027) in artistic research explores the confluences of regenerative thinking and contemporary field-based artistic practices. It frames anthropogenic environmental crises as a crisis of perception and artistic practices as ways of cultivating the sensibilities to counter it. Teemu is part of the HELSUS – Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science’s research group Past Present Sustainability and the Puistokatu 4 research community.
In addition to his practice as artist-researcher, Teemu has worked as a lecturer and MA/MFA advisor and evaluator in Aalto University and Uniarts Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts, and in board positions in art associations such as Bioart Society (chairperson of the board, 2020–2025), AV-arkki – the Centre for Finnish Media Art, ÖRES – Örö Island Residency Programme, and Artists’ Association Muu. He holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki and a BA and MA in Photographic Arts from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Teemu completed the Foundations for Scientific Diving certificate with the Finnish Scientific Diving Academy at the Tvärminne Zoological Station in 2026. His current practice includes following the soil from fields and forests to the Baltic Sea’s benthic zone.
For any inquiries please contact: teemu@teemulehmusruusu.com
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©2026 Teemu Lehmusruusu