Career
He created a total of 127 public sculptures. In 1984, Seppänen had crafted more public sculptures than any other artist in Finland. "Sculptor Ensio Seppänen, is a Finnish record man" headlined Helsingin Sanomat on September 7, 1984.
Seppänen was granted an artist"s pension in 1985.
He belongs to a small group of artists who are able to provide livelihoods for themselves and their families by his art without grants. He made up to the age of 81 public sculptures, most recently in 2005.
Seppänen"s parents were the carpenter Kaarlo Seppänen, and Martta Seppänen, (née Järvinen). They have two children, Timo and Keijo.
Seppänen sculptures are cast in bronze and granite, molded in various ways, and formatted with stainless steel welding.
A characteristic feature of the sculptures is that the accessories and tools have a historically correct look. Most of the production are custom orders. In addition to public works, he made a limited number of tomb sculptures, reliefs, memorial stone plans, portraits, medals, plaques and figurines for individuals, as well as designed sports and non-governmental organization flags and hand programs.
Many of his sculptures are associated with war memories and historical events.
Vadsø Norway Finnmark was unveiled in 1977, the memorial of his sculpted by immigrants, which were to reveal the Norwegian and Swedish kings, as well as the President of the Republic of Finland. Most of the monuments are located north of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
A multi-talented artist, he designed and drew 13 buildings, some of which are located in Sweden, and was involved in the design of the Dunder 2060 snowmobile. He also designed and built his family caravan.
In his spare time, he made a variety of furniture and implements as well as the snow tractor.
He was Kemi City Theatre"s set designer from 1959-1965. Seppänen studied at The Finnish Art Academy School at the Ateneum from 1946-1949 and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in Italy 1956-1957, he also appeared as an assistant in the film "Souvenir d"Italie" (1957), which starred Vittorio de Sica. His debut exhibition was in Rovaniemi in 1950.
Ensio Seppänen does not consider it necessary to participate in exhibitions, with the exception of a career in the early stages, due to the large number of commissioned assignments.
Accolades he received were Ensio Seppänen"s alley, (Ensio Seppäsen Kuja) Kemi in 1995 and the First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland in 1998.