Esa Kirkkopelto is a philosopher, artist-researcher, and performance artist. His research focuses on the deconstruction of the performing body both in theory and in practice. In Spoleto, he will be developing new work in conversation with co-resident Michael Newman.

Esa has worked as a professor of artistic research at the University of the Arts Helsinki (2007–2018) and Malmö Theatre Academy (Lund University, 2020–2022). He also holds the title of docent in aesthetics at the University of Helsinki. He is the leader of a collective research project Actor´s Art in Modern Times on psychophysical actor training (2008–2011), the initiator of the International Platform for Performer Training (since 2014), and core-convener of the Performance Philosophy association (2012–2022).

He took his Ph. D. in philosophy at the University of Strasbourg (2003) and is the author of Le théâtre de l´expérience. Contributions à la théorie de la scène (PUF 2008) as well as of numerous articles on the philosophy of performance, aesthetics and politics. He is the founding member of the Other Spaces live art group (2004–) specialized in the embodiment of more-than-human experiences (toisissatiloissa.net/en).