_ BIO_
Renja Leino
Visual Artist
Founder and director of AARK residency.
Senior Lecturer Photography / Fine Arts in Turku Arts Academy since 1998 -.
Based on the island of Korpo over 30 years.
Born 1958 in Kaarina, Finland.
Renja Leino born in Finland, Kaarina 1958, student exam in 1978 in Turku. She moved to Sweden 1979 to study in Uppsala University and was living there and later in Stockholm, about 10 years between 1979-1990.
Studies at Uppsala University 1980-84 (psychology, sociology, dramatics, aesthetics). Leino worked 2 intensive years 1984-86 as a photography studio assistant for Lars Nyström/ Köhler in Uppsala. She graduated from Konstfack, University College of Arts Crafts and Design, Photography, Stockholm 1986-90. Leino studied in Helsinki 1989-90, exchange studies in Dep. of Photography at TAIK ( AALTO University) and later studies in art pedagogy around 1995-96.
Renja Leino was honoured with Art Prize 2021 by TAIKE Varsinais-Suomi https://www.taike.fi/fi/uutinen/-/news/1401256
Over the years her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Her first exhibitions were in Sweden. Besides photography and video Leino has done experimental installations and site specific works in public spaces. Archipelago nature and wild animals are present in her latest works. Currently Leino is simultaneously focusing on several projects and using several medias, all connected by the overall theme human and nature.
Renja Leino has been herself working in several international residencies and finally founded a residency herself with her husband in late 2014. AARK has been hosting so far more than 150 international artists on the island of Korpo. Also TUAS Arts Academy Fine Arts students spend a few weeks a year to have an intensive thesis workshop.
“Renja Leino is well respected in the field of Finnish photography, both as an artist and a teacher. Leino has been one of the central figures in the development of the photography course in Turku University of Applied Sciences, Art Academy, which has produced a number of internationally recognized young artists in the recent years. She has also been, amongst others, paving the way in Finland with her innovative use of mobile phone cameras in her practice ” text cur. Taru Elfving – www.contemporaryartarchipelago.fi
Work in collections: The State Art Collection of Finland, The Finnish Museum of Photography, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Helsinki City Art Museum, Gallery Harmonia, Turku University Hospital, IPRN Changing Faces, Sunderland University, Turku City WAM, Oulu Art Museum, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, TUAS Turku University of Applied Sciences ICT, Private.
Art teacher: Between 1998-2023 Renja Leino works as a senior lecturer in photography at Fine Arts Degree Program, Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences, TUAS. We are a good team: Huge number of finnish well known artist photographers has been studying their BA in Turku.
AARK Residency Founder: Leino is director and coordinator of the international Archipelago Art Residency in Korpo, AARK. It was founded in late 2014 by Leino and her husband Bengt Andersson. Around 200 artists has been working at AARK, 1-3 months.
RENJA LEINO
Address: Korpoströmintie 113, 21710 Korpo, Finland
Mobile +358 44 3631 503
Email: renja (at) renjaleino.com
Co-Founder & Artistic Director since 2015 of AARK. info (at) aark.fi
https://aark.fi/www.aark.fi
#aarkfi
AARK Archipelago Art Residency in Korpo Finland.
Turku University of Applied Sciences, Arts Academy
Email TUAS Arts Academy: renja.leino at turkuamk.fi
Since 1998 – senior lecturer in photography, Fine Arts
1998-2004, 2010 head of photography
Education
University of Industrial Arts and Design (AALTO), Helsinki, Art Pedagogical studies 1995-97
Konstfack, University College of Arts Crafts and Design, Photography, Stockholm 1986-90
Exchange 1989-90 Dep. of Photography at University of Industrial Arts and Design (AALTO), Helsinki.
Studio Fotografen AB, photography assistant for Lars Köhler in Uppsala, Sweden 1984-86
Uppsala University (psychology, sociology, dramatics, aesthetics) 1980-84
Publications
2018 Darling Sea, cat ISBN 978-952-94-0885-6
2008 Photography book BEING – Olio. Essey Just One Shot by Harri Laakso. Publisher TAIDE OY. www.taidelehti.fi text in English/Finnish ISBN 978-951-608-080-5
2009 Just Anybody. Winchester Gallery. ISBN
2005 Absent Minds, J. E. Purkyne University. Czech Republic EU Changing Faces
Residencies
2015 – AARK Archipelago Art Residency in Korpo Finland. co founder & director. www.aark.fi
2013-12 Nida Art Colony, Lithuania, 2 months
2007 Fotonet, UK, International Research fellowship, Photography. Fotonet, Winchester School of Art and Northern Photographic Centre, 2 months.
2005 IPRN Changing Faces EU Project: J.E. Purkyne University, Czech Republic, 2 months
City installations, public space presentations, Site Specific works
2021 TAIKE Art Price Varsinais-Suomi, Screening Darling Sea and (swimmer) Turku Theatre big screen
ARTE Jubileum Screening Darling Sea cur Mirjami Schuppert
2017 Some Island Trees and Silver Sails with Benkku. AARK, Korpo. Lux Archipelago
2012 – 16 Greenery on Loan, mirror installation. Barefoot Path environmental art event in the forest in Korpo. www.barfotastigen.com
2012 Relativity of Time. Site Specific Forest installation at Barefoot Path.
2011 Wind, sound work in Finnish/Swedish 7h55min stories of Wind. CAA radio channel 95,9 and Utö Lighthouse. CAA Contemporary Art Archipelago, Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture.
2011 Sea Frills, light installation by thousands of reflectors under the Cathedral Bridge. FLUX AURA, Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture.
2010 Absent Minds at Nordic House and university walls. Part of NUNA – The Present is Now. Reykjavik
2007 Helsinki Festivals, Night of the Arts, Finland Absent Minds.
2006 City installation Absent Minds, IPRN Changing Faces/Shifts, Jyväskylä
2005 Billboarte Gallery Europe, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
2003 End of Euphoria, Crashed car installation on a parking lot. City Art –project, Virasto, ARTE ry, Turku
Videos:
2023 Playground 8:30min sound by Postdoom Mykel Boyd and Seah; 2018 Darling Sea 1:10min loop; Archiving Ice 3 channel 1:10h each, loop. edit together w Jussi Virkkumaa; Generations of Joy 17:38min, 2015: Mr Amber King, please! 22min, edit Viliina Koivisto ; Love Story 4min ; Materia 16min30s ; (Swimmer); Yesterday is Present 2-channel wall projection (together w Ville Kumpulainen for Finnish Museum of Photography); Absent Minds, women. 2-channel wall projection.2014: Birds Night. loop. 2013: Happy Hour 2:2, Flower Lover, 02:36; 2011: 20th June ; 2006: Sent via Multimedia (cooproduktion Leino&Hiltunen&Aaltonen) ; 2005: Yellow Being 04:20 2002: Being, 12min.
Solo show, selected
2023 Köysiratagalleria Turku Arts Academy. Hiostamo 5.
2018 Photographic Centre PERI, Turku Finland Darling Sea. Publication
2015 Northern Photographic Centre Birds Pub Vol.3. Night Club
2015 Korpoström Archipelago Centre, Main exhibition hall. July-August: Paradox of the Sea
2015 Gallery Zebra, Karjaa. mobile motives Just Anybody & Absent Minds
2013 Gallery Å, Turku Finland Birds Pub Vol.2. Nature Is.
2009 Northern Photographic Centre, “mobile motives (195-2655)”, Oulu
2009 Winchester Gallery “Just Anybody” UK, cat.
2005 Rantagalleria, Nothern Photographic Centre, Oulu
2005 Archipelago Centre Korpoström, opening show
2004 NYKYAIKA, Tampere
2003 The Finnish Museum of Photography, Project.
2002 Gallery TITANIK, Turku
2000 Puskinskaja 10, Photoimage gallery, St Petersburg, Russia
1997 Wäinö Aaltonen Art Museum, Studio,Turku Peli / Game
1997 Zone –gallery, Helsinki
1995 Lietuvas Aidas Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
1995 Rantagallery, Turku
1995 Poriginal –gallery, Pori
1993 Laterna Magica, Helsinki Straight 3 (135/72)
1992 Hippolyte, Photographic Gallery, Helsinki Pimeä valo
1988 Upplands Museet, Uppsala, Sweden Kaipuu
Group Shows
2023 Overflow 2/ Yllin kyllin 2. Turku Arts House
2022 Turku Art Hall, TTS exhibition
2021 Barefoot Path, Greenery on Loan. Mirror installation.
2021 UNCERTAIN HORIZON cur Terhi Tuomi. WAM, Turku
2019 RCC Quad Art Gallery, California, US. Video Transmition cur Matthew Luther.
2019 Plastic Garbage Project, Archipelago Centre Korpoström. Between Islands.
2017 Finnish Museum of Photography: Installation The Abstract! cur. Laura Nissinen.
2015 Finnish Museum of Photography DARKROOM. Video 2-ch wall projection with Ville Kumpulainen:
Yesterday is Present
2015 Frau+Werk Gemeentemuseum Helmond, Netherlands. Absent Minds 2005-2015, 2-channel wall projection.
2014 LOGOMO The black Box.
2013 Mänttä Art Festival cur. Jyrki Siukonen. cat
2012 Psychosis2 I is Someone else. Färgfabriken Contemporary Art Hall. Stockholm. Cur Jocke Granit. cat.
2012 The Mutual Factor of Exremes, Wäinö Aaltonen Art Museum, Turku Birds Pub– installation OnLine.
2011 Water, Wäinö Aaltonen Museum. Turku. Video: 20th June
2010 Art Anglais Contemporary Art Fair, Stockholm. Represented by Gallery Maaret Finnberg.
2010 Supermarket, Stockholm Contemporary Art Fair, Hippolyte Gallery
2010 Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art “The Big Picture”. Arte 50th anniversary.
2009 Emil Filla Gallery, Czech Republic “Rebus sic Stantibus”, cat.
2008 Espace Croix-Baragnon, Toulous, France “From Finland”
2008 Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, Turku. Rebus sic Stantibus.
2007 Museo Fotografia Contemporanea, Milano. IPRN “Work”,IPRN Changing Faces, cat.
2006 Athens 13th international Month of Photography, ACG Art. Work/IPRN Changing Faces cat
2006 Museum Folkwang in Essen, Germany, Work in Progress 2/IPRN, catalog
2006 Fotofinlandia finalist show
2005 Salo Art Museum, MOBIILIMEKKO
2004 Turku Art Museum Concerning the Commonplace, catalog. cur Harri Pälviranta
2004 Helsinki City Art Museum, Garden of Eden, Publication. Poster image A man among lovely roses.
2003 Galerie Waidspecher im Kulturhof Krönbacken, Erfurt. Germany Landnahme cur Walter Bergmoser
2001 Gallery Titanik, Turku, Romulux
2000 Puskinskaja 10, St Petersburg, Russia Memento Mori. cur Dimitry Pilikin catalog
1999 Åland ARTFARM cur Mervi Appel
1997 Center of Photography, PERI Finland 80v jubileum
1995 Gallery Titanik Sex, Snackn Pop
1995 Gallery Harmonia, Jyväskylä, Floating forks, cat
1995 Ars Nova Museum, Turku, Arteologiset löydökset
1992 Fotografiska Museet i Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden 5+1 , cur, Leif Wigh catalog.
1991-92 Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, (Swedish Institut) Figuras Femeninas
1990-91 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Some Swedish Strategies, catalog/ cur Jan-Erik Lundström
1988 Kulturhuset Stockholm, Konstfack Futurum. catalog
1987 Gallery Stranna, Trollhättan, Sweden Erotiska bilder
Cross Over Project
2011 CAA Contemporary Art Archipelago Sound work Tuuli – Wind 7:55h Radio Channel & Utö Light House
2009- 2007 Korpo Sea Jazz Festival: DVD Image/Sound large screen video projection + concert of Free Jazz Improvisation.
2011 Hej Hylje. cat. A Fish Lovers Home. Forum Marinum, Turku. Placed at Archipelago Centre Korpostrom
2001 Time. A group work TAIK, multichannel video projection. HEUREKA, The Finnish Science Centre, Vantaa
Publication
2008 Photography book BEING – Olio. Essey Just One Shot by Harri Laakso. Publisher TAIDE OY. www.taidelehti.fi English/Finnish
Collections
EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art
The State Art Collection of Finland
The Finnish Museum of Photography
Helsinki City Art Museum
Gallery Harmonia
T-hospital, Turku University Hospital
IPRN, Changing Faces, Sunderland University,
Turku City Art Collection
Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
Oulu Art Museum
TUAS Turku University of Applied Sciences. ICT.
Private
Grants/ Commissions / Awards
2021 Varsinais-Suomen taidepalkinto TAIKE, Art Award V-S Suomi https://www.taike.fi/fi/uutinen/-/news/1401256
2019- 20, 1 year working grant Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland (Svenska kulturfonden); 2018 Arts Promotion Centre Finland; Swedish Cultural Foundation; Konstsamfundet; 2015 Korpo Culture Raven of the year; 2015 Konstsamfundet; 2014 Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland; 2012 Finnish- Swedish Art Foundation; 2011 Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, 1 year working grant; 2012 and 2011 The Arts Council of Finland; 2011 Löfgrens Fond; 2009 The Arts Council of Finland; 2009 Art Council of South-West Finland; 2008 Frame, Finnish Fund for Art Exchainge; 2008 Löfgrens Fond; 2007 The Arts Council of Finland, Photographic Art, 2007 Art Council of South-West Finland, 2007 Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, 2007 Frame, Finnish Fund for Art Exchange; 2006 Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland; 2007 Frame, Finnish Fund for Art Exchange; 2006 Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland; 2006 The Arts Council of Finland; 2006 Fotofinlandia, finalist; 2005 Culture 2000, IPRN Changing Faces Artist Fellow Residency in Czech Republic 2 months; 2005 Finnish Cultural Foundation in Finland (group), 2004 / 2002 Art Council of South – West Finland; 2003 The Arts Council of Finland; 2003 The Arts Council of Finland, Photographic Art; 1997, 1995, 1991 Art Council of Turku and Pori; 1995 Konstsamfundet; 1993 Finnish- Swedish Art Council; 1994 Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland; 1988 and 1990 The Arts Grants Comittee, Sweden; 1987 Uppsala Arts Council, Sweden.
Memberships
Finnish Union of Art Photographers, AV-Arkki, ARTE ry, PERI, ARKADIA, Turku Artists Association, MUU ry