Kirsti Karvonen was born in Helsinki in 1950. In her own words she was "born into the field". Her mother, Annikki Toikka-Karvonen worked as the curator of the Akseli Gallen-Kallela museum in Helsinki.
Karvonen served as secretary-general of the Helsinki Art Society in 1976-1980. She was the executive director of the Sculptors' Union in 1983-1990.
She was a producer and head of finances of Kino Finlandia Oy in 1991-1997, and press secretary of the ARS 95 exhibition.
Karvonen worked as agent and press spokesperson of the Henna and Pertti Niemistö Ars Fennica Art Foundation in 1990-1997, and has served in the same capacity from 2001 to the present day.
She has arranged numerous exhibitions of Finnish art, and has produced publications linked with them for domestic and international consumption. In some she has also served as curator. Karvonen was responsible for the implementation of Ars Fennica exhibitions in 1991-1996 and 2002-2004.
She arranged exhibitions by the Dimensio group in Riga and St. Petersburg in 1996-1999. The first Töölönlahti Sculpture exhibition was held in Helsinki in 2000, and the Kaamos - Noite Polar exhibition presenting Finnish modern art in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in 2003-2004.
Karvonen's company Ex-Professo has dozens of artists as clients, as well as filmmakers and other professionals in the art world. Also working for the company is Karvonen's daughter Aino Hynynen.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 23.2.2006
