Merja Salonen Di Giorgio

born 1973, works in Helsinki

MA in Fine Arts, painter

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION

2016-17 Material studies, Academy of Fine Arts, Finland
1997-1999 Master of Art in Pallas Fine Arts program, Aalto University of Art and Design, Helsinki
1998 SACI, Florence, Italy
1993-1997 Visual Artist, Imatra School of Fine Arts
1995 Tartu School of Fine Arts, Sculpture Department, Estonia

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Painters´ Union, Finland, ordinary membership
Association of the Artists in Helsinki
Kuvasto ry

SOLO EXHIBITIONS (collection)

2017 Capriccio, paintings, Gallery Saskia, Tampere, Finland
2014 Bizzarro, paintings, Gallery G12, Helsinki
2014 Gattopardo, paintings, Gallery Katariina, Studio, Helsinki
2010 Strange paradise, paintings, Taidesalonki / Konstsalongen, Helsinki
2010 Strange paradise, paintings Lapinlahti Art Museum with Heli Tuhkanen
2007 ´Till we meet again, paintings, Malmitalo Gallery Culture Center, Helsinki
2007 Kitchen philosophy, installation, Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki
2005 Scent of Atmosphere, paintings, Gallery Uusitalo, Helsinki
2005 Carpe diem, paintings and photographs, Gallery Kapriisi, Kuopio
2004 Ideas of Rome, paintings, Gallery of Malmitalo Culture Center, Helsinki
2004 Theme and variations of mother, installation, Gallery Kipinä, Lahti
2002 Tea Ceremony for two. Paintings, Gallery Avanti, Joensuu
2001 Paintings, Gallery Saskia with Vesa Hjort, Tampere
2000 Paintings, Gallery Katariina, Helsinki
2000 Florence in Helsinki, photo installation in street space of Helsinki
1999 The walls -the experiences of here and now, installation, Gallery Atski, Helsinki
1999 Helsinki in Florence, photo installation in street space of Florence, Italy
1999 Helsinki In Florence, Il Bisonte, Florence, Italy
1999 Small poems of Florence, paintings, Tampere Maja, Tartu, Estonia
1997 The holy in everyday, painting istallation, Gallery Kunstikum, Imatra
1996 Paintings, Emil-hall, Tampere
1995 Tuuve is asleep, paintings, Culture Center, Imatra

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (collection)

2020/6 Gallery Aarni, Espoo
2017 Class Photo, Imatra Art Museum
2017 Burn! Stoa Helsinki
2002 Sampo, Poleeni, Pieksämäki Cultural Center
2001 Direction, Art Hall in Seinäjoki
1999 Pallas, Gallery Otso, Espoo
1999 The Park of The Future, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1999 The City, SACI Gallery, Florence, Italy

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS (collection)

2018 Bela, Biennale of European and Latin-American art, cable Factory, Helsinki
2018 Garden of Humankind, Gallery rantakasarmi, Helsinki
2018 Home called Krimi, installation in a culture center to be torn apart, Imatra
2010 HTS Rantakasarmi, Helsinki
2008 Extrema Thule, Soriano nel Cimino, Italy
2008-2009 Miniature Biennale in Poland
2006 Elderly dignity, touring exhibition in Finland by SECCO
2005-2006 The Holy Trinity, touring exhibition in Finland by SECCO
2003 Duuni, Gallery Katariina, Helsinki
2003 The Best of Analyste, Helsinki
2001 Artminor 2001, Naantali Taidehuone, Naantali
2001 The XIII International Poster Biennale in Lahti, Lahti Art Museum
2000 University of Arts, Bucharest, Romania
1998 Miti, leggende e storia nella nascita di una città, Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milano, Italy
1998 Salon Mladith / 25th Salon of Young Artists, Zagreb, Croatia
1998 Life and Esthetics, Gallery Valssaamo, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki
1995 48. National Young Astists’ Exhibition, Art Hall of Helsinki
1995, 1996 Imatra Association of Art, Imatra Art Museum

PUBLIC ART

2000 Garden / The court yard of The Hotel Radisson Plaza, Helsinki. Mikonkatu 23, Helsinki
2004 Morning / Restaurant Vege, Helsinki

PUBLIC ART IN GROUP

2008 Piers, Arba-group, concrete, Helsinki
2005 Memory Tracks, graphic concrete, Arba-group, Helsinki
1997 Extension, Tunnel Painting in Konnnunsuo Prison, Joutseno
1996 Imatra, Underpass Painting with Jouni ViIjakainen, Imatra
1995 Three Seasons, Wall Painting at Sienimäki Primary School, Imatra

PUBLICATIONS

2018 Bela, Biennal of European and Latin American Contemporary Art
2014 Grand Tour, ISBN 978-952-93-3561-9
2003 Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki, ISBN 952-91-6165-4
2008 Extrema Thule, Italia
1998 Life and esthetics, UIAH
1998 Miti, Leggende e Storia nella nascità di una città, Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milano, Italia

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

2018-19 Board member of Finnish Painters´ Union
2018-20 Board member in Nordic Art Union
2017 Chairman of Taidekortteli / the Art Block association
2015-16 Board Member and secretary of Taidekortteli / Art Block association
2005-06 Vice Member of the Finnish Painters´Union in the board of STS, Finnish Artists´society

GRANTS

2019 Arts Promotion Center Finland, grant for mobility
2011 Arts Promotion Center Finland, grant for mobility
2008 Frame, grant for cataloque Extrema Thule
2004 Väinö Tanner Foundation, grant for residence in Mazzano Romano, 4 months
2003 Grafia ry, grant for cataloque Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki
2003 Frame, grant for cataloque Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki
2003 Finnish Cultural Foundation, Uudenmaa foundation, grant for exhibition
2002 Öflund Foundation, grant for exhibition
2000 Finnish Cultural Foundation, grant for artistic work, 6 months
1999 City of Florence, grant for Helsinki in Florence -exhibition
1999 City of Helsinki, grant for Florence in Helsinki – exhibition
1999 UIAH, now Aalto University for Design, architecture and Art, grant for MA studies
1998, UIAH, now Aalto University for Design, architecture and Art, grant for MA studies
1998 Idman Foundation, grant for MA studies
1997 Idman Foundation, grant for MA studies

AWARDS

2000 Award of the Optio Gala for ´Florence in Helsinki´
1998 Award in Milano 2500 Years Anniversary Exhibition

COLLECTIONS

Aalto University
City of Helsinki
Lahti Art Museum
Okopankki bank
Saimia University of applied sciences
Royal Hotels Oy / SOKOTEL Helsinki
Central Museum of Labour in Finland, Tampere
Tampere Maja -The Culture and Information Center of The City of Tampere in Dorpat, Estonia
Private Collections

RESIDENCES

2019 Grassina, Italy
2016 Circolo Scandinavo, Rome, Italy
2010 Grassina, Italy
2004 Mazzano Romano, Italy

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

2018-20 Deputy of Finnish Painters´Union in Nordic Art Union
2018-19 Board member in Finnish Painters´ Union
2017-18 Chairman in Taidekortteli / Konstkvarter / Art Block association
2016 Secretary in Taidekortteli / Konstkvarter / Art Block association
2005-06 Vice Member of the Finnish Painters´Union in the board of STS, Finnish Artists´society
1995 Vice Chairman of the Students´ Council of the Imatra School of Art (now Saimia)
1994-95 Deputy of the Students in the Board of the School of Imatra

OTHER

2002- Free-lance art teaching especially in Institution of Adult Education of Helsinki and painting courses abroad.
Visiting lecturer at Saimia University for Applied Sciences, Art Department.
2011 Assistant producer, U.S.E. Art Event, Helsinki
2006 Speaker Future of Culture, seminar by the Ministry Education