Heli Penttinen has studied at the Turku Drawing School and the Academy of Fine Arts and at Pratt Institute in New York as a Fulbright scholar in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2011, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts.

Penttinen uses a wide range of techniques from drawing and watercolor to oil painting, lead glass and paper making. Over the years, the themes of her works have varied from being a woman to exercising power and exploring darkness. In her latest works, she combines pencil drawing with oil painting. Her works explore sensory experiences and the effects of darkness and the grey time of the year on people.

Penttinen has had dozens of solo exhibitions since 1986. The most recent ones were held in 2021 at Galleria Mältinranta in Tampere and Galleria Joella in Turku, in 2020 at TM-Galleria in Helsinki and in 2017 at Porvoo Art Hall. Penttinen has also participated in several group exhibitions, including the fourth Finnish art triennial in Kyoto in 2003, Suvi-Pinx in 2004, Splätsh! at the Amos Anderson Art Museum in 2008 and Nektar in Hungary in 2012.

Penttinen’s works are included in the most significant Finnish collections, including the collections of the Finnish State, the Jenny ja Antti Wihuri Foundation, Kiasma, HAM and Eläke-Fennia.

Penttinen has made the lead glass windows of the ecumenical hospital chapel at Peijas Hospital in Vantaa. Together with artist Päivi Eskelinen, she has created a painting, mosaic and lead glass installation for the Southern Finland C4 Centre of the Finnish Defence Forces.