Maarit Mäkelä works as an artist in the junction of ceramics and fine art. She has had several solo exhibitions in Finland and has taken part in frequent joint exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Mäkelä’s works deals with femininity. She has discussed this theme broader in her doctoral dissertation “Saveen piirtyviä muistoja. Subjektiivisen luomisprosessin ja sukuopuolen representaatioita” [Memories on clay: representations of subjective creation process and gender] (University of Art and Design Helsinki 2003). The study is a practice-led research, where visual representations of femininity are produced during the research process by artist-researcher herself. The works were shown in the series of three exhibitions (Mirrorplay I-III), and this series forms a central part of her doctoral study.

During years 2004-2006 she worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. At the moment she works as a coordinator in the Design Connections Doctoral Programme. Her research interests lie in practice-led research and Women’s Studies, especially the visual representations of female body. She is co-editor of the Anthology “The Art of Research. Research Practices in Art and Design” (University of Art and Design Helsinki 2006) and the Working papers edition “Artist as Researcher. In Between Art and Research” (University of Art and Design Helsinki 2007). In 2010 she was nominated as docent of Artistic research and Material-based art for Aalto University School of Art and Design.