Creatures of the Nordic Folklore and Other Abominations
Artist: Alysia Mentula
About the Artist
Alysia Mentula is a digital illustrator with a background in concept art, graphic design, and UX/UI. Her artistic path took a transformative turn when she became enchanted by the whimsical and often monstrous worlds created through tabletop gaming. What began as personal commissions and book illustrations soon grew into a deeper creative pursuit—one that brings creatures, characters, and entire worlds vividly to life.
Her work moves effortlessly between tender companions and scenes filled with terror, always rooted in a strong sense of narrative. Drawing inspiration from “stat blocs” and the lore of universes such as Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons, Alysia shapes each character through their abilities, histories, and mythic frameworks. Some of her illustrations grow from rich descriptions—such as the Selkie Sirens of Lake Saimaa (2023)—while others emerge from a single sentence of world-ending context, like The Hunger (2024). Across all genres, from Feywild creatures to ominous monstrosities, her creations are built with intention, research, and storytelling at their core.
To date, Alysia’s artwork has been featured in or on the covers of eight novels and gameplay guides, expanding her ever evolving imaginative world.
About the Exhibition
Creations of the Nordic Folklore and Other Abominations gathers Alysia’s fascination with Nordic myths and the darker corners of fantasy. The exhibition invites viewers into a playful yet unsettling encounter with beings both familiar and fearsome.
Displayed in the GAP Window, these digital creatures hover in a suspended moment—beckoning, challenging, and daring passersby to step closer. The exhibition draws visitors into the tension between curiosity and fear, encouraging them to explore their own relationship with folklore, imagination, and the beautifully strange.
This installation continues GAP’s mission to transform public space into a site of artistic dialogue, offering a window into folklore and fantasy right in the heart of Helsinki.
Visit the Exhibition
📍 GAP Window
Malminkatu 5, 00100 Helsinki
🗓️ Vernissage 11.12.2025, 5pm-7pm
✨ Visible day and night
🎉 Everyone welcome
We invite you to immerse yourself in a world where Nordic legends meet contemporary concept art, where beauty, fear, and imagination collide.
Also check out other Arts events in Helsinki, Exhibitions in Helsinki, Fine Arts events in Helsinki.
