Henrika Ylirisku (Doctor of Arts, DA) is an art pedagogue and an artist-researcher exploring multispecies entanglements, posthuman pedagogies, and ecological thinking through artistic practices. Combining embodied drawing, place-responsiveness, and speculative experimentation, her work challenges anthropocentric habits of perception and opens up learning-with the more-than-human.
Ylirisku’s research is located at the intersection of environmental art education, multispecies research, and feminist posthumanities. She currently works as University Lecturer in Art Education at Aalto University and is part of the Children of the Anthropocene research group, which examines how children and young people engage with multispecies worlds.
Academic background
2021 Doctor of Arts (DA), Visual art education, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Espoo, Finland
2002 Master of Arts (MA), Visual art education, University of Arts and Design Helsinki, Finland
1995-1997 Minor subject in geography, University of Helsinki, Finland
Positions
2024- University Lecturer of Art Education, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Art and Media
2022-2024 Postdoctoral researcher, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Educational Sciences
2019-2022 University Teacher, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Art, Program of Art Education
2016-2019 Hourly paid teacher, project researcher, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Art
2014-2016 Doctoral candidate, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Art
2002-2014 Visual art teacher, several schools: Sibeliuslukio (upper secondary school), Kerava Art School for Children and Young People, Forssa Art School for Children and Young People
Memberships
2023- Mapping Future Imaginaries Network
2021- Bioart Society
2016- SIRENE – Interdisciplinary Network of Environmental and Sustainability Education Research (member of the board)
2014- InSEA – International Society for Education through Art
Other
Finnish Taido Championships 2025, Espoo, Finland. Photo: Pasi Ylirisku 
European Taido Championships 2019, Tampere, Finland. Photo: Tomi Kajasviita 
European Taido Championships 2025, Lagos, Portugal. Photo: Henrika Lavonius Wike 
Member of National Team for World Taido Championships 2013. Photo: Pasi Ylirisku
Henrika has practiced the Japanese martial art taidō since 1994. Currently, she holds a 5th degree black belt and a renshi-degree (teacher degree). In taido competitions, she has gained several Finnish, European, and World Championship medals.
Henrika teaches regularly in Sandokai taido club in Kerava, Finland, and works as an AA-level judge in taido competitions (international qualification).
- 15.11.2023– Member of the board, Taido Finland; person in charge for competition and judge activities.
- 2020– Competition and judge coordinator of Taido Finland (with Olavi Kurttio).
- Silver medal of merit 2017, Taido Finland.
- The sports athlete of the year 2013, Municipality of Sipoo.
Contact: henrika.ylirisku(at)aalto.fi
