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“Costume can be any material with any relationship to a body.”

Ella Aurora Snellman (b. 1995) is a Helsinki-based costume designer and scenographer specializing in the performing arts and film. She holds an MA in costume design from Aalto University, with a minor in scenography from Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy.

At the heart of Snellman’s artistic practice is a commitment to bringing diverse forms of beauty to the fore and nurturing them. Her approach to costume design draws inspiration from alternative realities, everyday magic, popular culture, and striking materiality. Snellman’s work is distinguished by its holistic vision, dramaturgical ambition, and richness of colour and detail.

As a member of a creative team, Snellman values audiovisually driven storytelling that is emotionally resonant, empathetic, and deeply interconnected. Through their work, they seek to nourish and protect our collective zest for life, creating works that remind audiences of the fragility and uniqueness of all things.

She is currently working as a costume designer for two upcoming theatre productions.

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Ella Aurora Snellman

Helsinki, Finland

ellaaurorasnellman(at)gmail.com

+358445255450

www.ellaaurorasnellman.com

@ella00610

EDUCATION

2020-2025 Master of Arts, Aalto University, The School of Arts, Design & Architecture, Costume Design: Performing Arts and Film

2014-2018 Bachelor of Fashion and Clothing, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

SELECTED WORKS

Film

Caeneus (Kaineus, based on Aarni Pieskis play Metsästys), short film, Aamu Film Company, costume and production design, 2026

The Lightning Rod (Matalapaine), short film, Aalto University, costume design, 2025.
Premiere in Festival de Cannes: La Cinef selection, Cannes, France, 20.5.2025. Additional screenings in Helsinki International Film Festival (Audience Award Winner), The Norwegian International Film Festival (Honourable Mention), International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala, Uppsala Short Film Festival, Camerimage and Lapinlahti Film Festival

Burning underwater (Liekkinä vedessä), shortfilm, Aalto University, costume design, 2022

How to take care of your parakeet? (Kuinka huolehtia undulaateista?), short film, Aalto University, costume design with Tuuni Jacobs, 2022
Additional screenings in Helsinki International Film festival, Helsinki, Finland, 17.-19.9.2023, Poitiers Film Festival, Poitiers, France, 3.-6.12.2023 and Tampere Film Festival, Tampere, Finland, 7.-9.3.2024

2000, music video, Karina, costume design, 2020

Performing Arts

Äitisi, Klytaimestra, theatre performance, Ryhmäteatteri, costume design, 2026

STAY HYDRATED, theatre performance, Blaue Frau, costume design, 2026

Kuinka tulla Tapio Rautavaaraksi, theatre performance, KOM-theatre, scenography, 2025

Metsänpeitto, theatre performance, independent group/Kajaanin runoviikot, scenography, 2025
Additional performance in Teatteri Avoimet Ovet 4.11.2025

Ada Aik: 5 Hours of Light, concert, Dance House Helsinki & Flow Festival Helsinki, scenography, 2025

Agora - kaksi merenneitoa tyhjässä altaassa, theatre performance, Helsinki City Theatre, costume design, 2025

Mannerheim Sisters, theatre performance, Q-Theatre/PuoliQ-stage, costume design, 2025

Kanijanikani, theatre performance, Teatteri Vanha Juko, costume designer, 2024

Julius- kaukaisella tähdellä oman päänsä sisällä, theatre performance, Rovaniemi Theatre, scenographer, 2024
Winner of Thalia-award for Performance of the Year

HOPP, dance performance, ZODIAK Centre for New Dance/independent group, costume design, 2024

ITKUJUHLA, theatre performance, The Crypt of Helsinki Cathedral/independent group, scenographer, 2023
Additional performances in Kajaani Poetry Week, Kajaani City Theatre, Sissilinna, 6.7.2024 and Pakko Sanoa! -theatre festival, Alavuokin työväentalo, 28.9.2024

this is an invitation, performance, Amos Rex/Generation 2023 exhibition/Nsambu&Pieski-collective, costume design, 2023

a Finale Song/Finaalilaulu, performance, Helsinki Kunsthalle/Young Artists 2023 exhibition/Elsa Tölli, costume design, 2023

Vastalahjat, theatre performance, Theatre Academy, costume design & scenography, 2023

aikuisten esitys, theatre performance, Q-theatre, costume design, 2022

95% (ploop), theatre performance, Theatre Academy, costume design, 2022

PLEASER, theatre performance, Blaue Frau, scenographer, 2021
Additional performance in Festival Normal, Umeå, Sweden, 9.-10.12.2022

The Mysterious life of Ada Aik, album release concert, Korjaamo Culture Factory/Karin Mäkiranta, costume design, 2021

The Birth of Metafloora, theatre performance, Mad House Helsinki, costume design & performing, 2021

Hunden bakom mannen, dance performance, Losti Collective, costume design, 2021
Additional performances in National Theatre of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland, 13.-14.10.2023, World Stage Design Exhibition, Calgary, Canada, 10.8.2022 and Tjarnarbió & Ungl Festival, Reykjavík,
Iceland, 4.-9-4.2022

Pinokkio, theatre performance, HIT Helsinki, costume design, 2020

Ruusu on minun lempikukkani, performance, Ilves-Theatre & Käpylä 100-jubilee, concept, directing & costume design, 2020

Other work experience

Pirkka: Save Money, Save the Day, advertisement, Breakfast Helsinki Oy, costume designer Kirsi Gums assistant during shooting, 2024

neljän päivän läheisyys (sky every day), theatre performance, WAUHAUS arts collective & Espoo Theatre, scenographer Laura Haapakangas' assistant, 2023

Kissani Jugoslavia, theatre performance, The Finnish National Theatre, dresser, 2018

Musta Saara, theatre performance, The Finnish National Theatre, costume design assistant (costume designer Tarja Simone), 2018

SPECIAL SKILLS

Time and budget management

Devising- and process working practises

Problem solving

Sewing and pattern making

Microsoft Excel

Procreate

Party planning

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Finnish native

English excellent

Swedish intermediate

GRANTS

Arts and Culture Agency Finland (Kuvi, formerly Taike), 6-month state artist grant, €12,000, July–December 2027, awarded to an individual

Albert Saloranta Foundation, travel grant for a residency at CAMPO in Ghent, Belgium, May 2026, €1,000, awarded to a working group

Vivicas Vänner, artistic work on a performance, June 2025, €1,700, awarded to a working group

Samuel Huber Foundation, preparation of a performance, January 2025, €2,500, awarded to a working group

Svenska Kulturfonden, preparation of a performance, 2023, €10,000, awarded to a working group

Kone Foundation, preparation of a performance, October 2023, €20,000, awarded to a working group

Finnish Cultural Foundation, preparation of a performance, October 2023, €10,000, awarded to a working group

REFERENCES

Laura Haapakangas

Scenographer

https://www.laurahaapakangas.com/

Contact information upon request

Last Updated 13.10.2026