Panu Syrjämäki: Editor-in-Chief, ART Walkway

Editor-in-Chief | Art Critic | Curator | AI & Art Systems Researcher

“Art isn’t just patterns and pigments—it’s emotion, intent, and connection.”

About

I’m a Helsinki-based art journalist, critic, curator, and the Editor-in-Chief of ART Walkway. My work centers on the structures and narratives that shape the international art world—from market forces to cultural politics and emerging technologies.

With a dual background in the arts and engineering, I approach the field from both analytical and creative angles. I write, curate, research, and develop new ways to engage with art in a world where meaning and systems often clash.

Editorial Focus

I’ve written hundreds of articles, essays, and interviews exploring:

• The fragmentation of the global art field
• The commercialization of contemporary art
• Emerging trends in Asian and U.S. art markets
• Algorithmic influence on curatorial and critical practices
• Underrepresented narratives in global art discourse

At ART Walkway, I oversee editorial strategy and write in-depth features, often tackling the ethical, political, and structural forces behind the scenes of the art world.

Recent features include:

• Can Machine Vision Replace Art Expertise?
  A critical look at AI’s role in art authentication and its cultural blind spots.
• Art Universes: Fragmentation and the Myth of a Single Art World
  An exploration of how contemporary art operates across divided, overlapping ecosystems.
• London’s Art Gamble
  Investigating the risks and ambitions behind the city’s push for AI-driven art markets.

Curatorial Practice

Beyond journalism, I curate exhibitions, events, and spatial encounters that explore how art can create dialogue—across disciplines, geographies, and ideologies.

My curatorial work combines:

• Journalistic precision
• Cultural sensitivity
• Structural and spatial thinking

I produce projects both locally and internationally, often collaborating with artists, researchers, and institutions interested in new models of engagement.

Technology & Research

My engineering and AI background shapes how I approach critique and curation. I’ve studied machine learning, keyword detection, and computer vision at Harvard SEAS, guided by leading AI researchers including Laurence Moroney (Google) and Vijay Janapa Reddi (Harvard).

Key research areas:

• Bias in machine vision used in art analysis
• Algorithmic blindness to non-Western art traditions
• The ethical limitations of AI in artistic judgment

AI can assist—but never replace—human judgment. The soul of art lies in ambiguity, emotion, and cultural memory—things machines cannot fully grasp.

Areas of Expertise

• Global Art Market Dynamics
• Contemporary Art Criticism
• Art & Technology (AI, ML, Machine Vision)
• Cultural Structures & Institutions
• Cross-Cultural and Interdisciplinary Curation
• Field Research & Editorial Strategy

Mission

At the core of my work is a drive to rethink how the art field can evolve—ethically, critically, and inclusively. Whether through writing, curation, or analysis, I aim to expand the conversation around art: who it’s for, how it’s seen, and what it can become.

📍 Based in Helsinki, Finland
📬 Available for collaborations, lectures, critiques, and research projects
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