b. 1989 in Vasa, Finland

EDUCATION

2018-2020 Master in Fine Arts, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts

2010-2014 Bachelor in History of Arts, Uppsala University 

2009-2010 Pattern making and Sewing, Gothenburg Academy of Cutting and Tailoring

2006-2009 Upper secondary school, Designprogram, Dragonskolan Umeå

2005-2006 Upper secondary school, Fine Arts, Midgårdsskolan Umeå

SOLO EXHIBITONS
2023 PUSH THROUGH, IntraGalactic arts collective, Östersund, SWE
2022 Besvärligheter och andra entiteter, Handkraft Öland, SWE

2022 Löken blommar, Galleri Alva, Umeå, SWE
2021 MAN på Feministisk vecka,  Duo exhibition with Jessika Bjöhrn, Skellefteå, Museum Anna Nordlander, SWE

2019 If you were your own, RÝMD Gallery, Part of Sequences Real Time Art Festival, artist run biennial, Reykjavík, ICE

2018 [fe]male gaze, Galleri Majkens, Stockholm, SWE

2017 [fe]male gaze, Retramp Gallery, Berlin, GER

PERFORMANCE

2023 She Wears Her Nerves On Her Sleeve, 13 and 14 of October, Bildmuseet Umeå. SWE

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Himmelsberga Konsthalll Öland, SWE

2023 Porträtt, LUX Östersund, SWE

2023 Natural Impressions, Virtrual Exhibition, Museu Têxtil, New Orleans USA

2023 Quick and dirty, CG Gallery Malmö, SWE
2022/2023 Vintersalong, Nacka Konsthall, SWE
2021 WEST PRIDE, Gothenburg city library, SWE

2021 GRUNCH, Misschiefs Takeover Stockholm, SWE

2020/2021 BODY, Zest Hall, Virtual Gallery hosted by Round Lemon, UK
2020 DOMESTIC SYSTEMIC PANDEMIC, Detroit Gallery Stockholm and Galleri Majkens, SWE

2020 HÖSTSALONG, Virtual Autumn Salon, Galleri Silk, SWE

2020 EARTH, Zest Hall, Virtual Gallery hosted by Round Lemon, UK

2020 Tools for The Future, Master exam exhibition, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and Bildmuseet Museum Umeå (online due to Covid-19), SWE
2019 Masters Fall Exhibition 1, with Martin Eltermann and Ella Shipway, Galleriet, Umeå, SWE

2019 It looks good on paper, Galleriet, Umeå, SWE

2019 No New Media, Galleri Alva, Umeå, SWE

2018 Tonight's the night, Galleriet, Umeå, SWE

2017 Evening of Erotica, Malmö, SWE

2014 Fashion show, Finals in Umeå Fashion Week Award, Umeå Fashion Week, SWE

2013 ReTramp Gallery Berlin, GER

2012 48 Stunden Neukölln Art festival, Gallery ReTramp, Berlin, GER

2011 Berlin Fashion Week, SHOW0711 and Edged Showroom, GER

2011 RSP Gallery, Berlin / Berlin Collect, GER

2010 Fashion show, Gallery Marzia Frozen, Berlin, GER

2010 Your mum Gallery, Berlin, GER

GRANTS AND AWARDS
2022 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden)

2021 Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse

2021 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden)

2020 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden)
2020 First Prize Winner of New Emergence Art Unity Award

2020 Grant to examination student at Umeå Academy of Fine Arts

2020 The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Molly och Ragnar Rudemars fond

2020 Estrid Ericsons Stiftelse

2019 Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse

2016 Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse

SELECTION OF PUBLICATIONS/TEXTS

2023 Natural Impressions, Virtrual Exhibition, Museu Têxtil, New Orleans USA

2021 Numrets Konstnär, Tidskriften Provins Nr. 4 2021
2020 BODY, printed publication, Round Lemon ZEST HALL, UK
2020"Biodegradable Body: The work of Irina Laaja", Round Lemon ZEST, Earth interviews Dec 9, UK
2020 EARTH printed publication, Round Lemon ZEST HALL, UK
2020 THE THINGS I COULD DO, THE THINGS I SHOULD DO, THE THINGS I TRY TO DO, THE THINGS I HAVEN’T DONE, Master essay Irina Laaja, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, Examinator Maria Lind, Prof. Christoph Draeger

IN COLLECTIONS
2022 Self-portrait in blue, Region Västerbotten
2022 Untitled, Region Västerbotten
2022 Detalj Ur Schyssta lökar, Region Västerbotten