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MARJA-LIISA AALTO-ANNALA

Marja-Liisa Aalto-Annala was born in Lapua, Finland, in the spring of 1939 into a culture-positive family. Her mother was a talented pianist and her father a skilful drawer. Already in the autumn of the same year, however, Finland was drawn into a war with heavy consequences for the family. They lost their home in an aerial bombing attack on the city of Oulu, and her father died towards the end of the war in 1945.

From childhood onward, Marja-Liisa aspired to transmit beauty, believing that beauty healed and nourished the soul.

Marja-Liisa studied at the Institute of Art and Design in Helsinki ((1958-62). In the summer of 1960, she participated in a course taught by Marja-Liisa at the International Summer Academy in Festung Hohensalzburg, Austria, where her work was recognised with the 2nd Place Kokoschka Prize. After graduating, she continued to develop her artistic practice at the Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts as well as at the Académie Julian in Paris.

After the birth of her two daughters, Marja-Liisa worked as an art teacher for 30 years while continuing her artistic expression in her free time.

For Marja-Liisa, the line and its rhythm were essential, as were energy and movement in general. In her work, she conveyed harmony, balance, and peacefulness. Among her most frequently used media were woodcut, charcoal, oil paint, pastels, and collage.

She lived and worked in Loviisa, where she held 18 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous collective exhibitions, 23 of which took place in Finland and nine abroad, including in Italy (Florence, Venice, Milan, Mantua, and Bologna), as well as in Paris, Berlin, New York, and Salzburg. Her works were also featured in eight international art books, in addition to various international art publications.

CURRICULUM VITAE

ART  STUDIES

1958-62 Institute of Art and Design, Degree in Art Education, Helsinki

1960 Internationale Sommerakademie fur bildende Kunst,
Oskar Kokoschka student, Salzburg, Austria

1963-64 Litography and metal graphics course, A. Tuhka studio, Helsinki

1964-66 Academie of Fine Arts, Helsinki

1967 Academie Julian, Art of painting, spring semester, Paris

1973 Art History Studies, University of Helsinki

 

SOLO  EXHIBITIONS

2024 Gallery Theodor: ‘Along the journey’ paintings and graphics

2023 Konstrundan: Open Ateliers, studio exhibition: Four seasons 2

2020 Konstrundan, Four Seasons, studio exhibition, Yritystalo, Loviisa

2018 Konstrundan, studio exhibition, Yritystalo, Loviisa

2016 Gallery Artifact, Letters From Africa, invited, New York, NY, United States

2014 Loviisa  Art  Centre  Alm,  Loviisa

2013 Konstrundan, studio exhibition, Yritystalo, Loviisa

2013 Galleria G12, Helsinki

2012 Art Factory,  Kulma,  Porvoo

2011 Konstrundan, studio exhibition, Yritystalo, Loviisa

2009, -08, -07, -06, -05, Annala, Art Exhibition, Old Houses Fair, Loviisa

2007 Tullisillan Kotigalleria, Loviisa

2004 Childrens’ Very Own Gallery, Gable Factory, Helsinki

1994 Sibelius House, Loviisa

 

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS

2022 ‘Time of gold memories’, Loviisa Art Society’s Jubileum Exhibition, Galleria Theodor, Loviisa, Finland

2022 Musa International Art Space, Palazzo Pisani Revedin, Venetzia, Italy

2021 Loviisa Art Society’s Summer Exhibition, Almintalo, Loviisa, Finland

2020 ‘Woman’s Essence’, Palazzo Velli Expo, Rooma, Italy

2020 Loviisa Art Society’s Annual Exhibition, Galleria Theodor, Loviisa, Finland

2019 ‘Timelessness in time’, Kuvataiteilijaseniorit ry, Kanneltalo, Helsinki, Finland

2018 Loviisa Art Society’sAnnual Exhibition, Galleria Theodor, Loviisa, Finland

2017 International Biennal of Contemporary Art, Museum Conzaga, Mantova, Italy

2017 Woman’s Essence 2, Espasce Commines, Paris, France

2016 Christmas exhibition, Art Factory, Porvoo Society of  Artists, Porvoo, Finland

2016 By invitation 13-31 July 2016: Gallery Artifact, New York, NY.

2016 Woman’s Essence, Hermandez Art Gallery, Milan, Italy

2015 Toistaiseksi, Almintalo, Loviisa

2015 Seniorien Salonki, Gable Factory, Helsinki

2014 Art Week Helsinki, Cable Factory, Helsinki

2014 Summer exhibition, Art Factory, Porvoo Society of Artists, Porvoo

2014 Into the Light, Walloon Artists, Belgian Embassy, Helsinki

2013 By invitation: ‘Ethics as DNE of Art’, Florence New Biennale, Florence

2013 Inaugural exhibition, Loviisa Art Centre Alm, Loviisa

2012 Art Society’s’ 40th Anniversary Exhibition, Galleria Theodor, Loviisa

2012 Towards Art Centre 2., Alexanterin Taidevintti, Loviisa

2012 Seniorien Salonki, Gable Factory, Helsinki

2012 Towards Art Centre, Almintalo, Loviisa

2011 Museum of Fine Arts Manifesto, Loviisa City Museum, Loviisa

2010 Drawing  now, Vanha Kappalaisentalo,  Porvoo

2010 Seniorien Salonki, Cable Factory, Helsinki

2008 Seniorien Salonki, Kouvola Art Museum,  Kouvola

2006 Printmaking Fiest, Galleria G, Helsinki

2005 Seniorien Salonki, Järvenpää House, Järvenpää

2005 The national minimum graphics, Galleria Joella, Turku

1963 Group XXIV graphics, Leibzig, Magdeburg, Berlin, Germany

1960 The final exhibition of Schule Kokoschka, Festung Hohensalzburg, Salzburg, Austria

 

FEATURED IN ART BOOKS

2020 Woman’s Essence, Musa international art space, ARTBOOKS, Palermo, Italia. Page 62, 193.

2019 We Contemporary Vol. 5, International Art Catalog – Edition 2019, Italy. Page 62, 266.

2017 Important world artists, World Wide Art Books, CA, USA. Page 22-23.

2017 Woman’s Essence, Musa International Art Space copyright, Palermo, Italia. Page 10, 117.

2016 Current Masters, USA. Page 26-27.

2016 Woman’s Essence, Italy. Page 57, 99.

2015 We Contemporary, Musa, international art space, Italy. Page 110, 255.

2013 The New Florence Biennale, Ethics DNA of Art, Italy. Page 60.

 

ART TEACHER

1969-99 Professor of Visual Arts, Middle school and high school, Lapinjärvi

1975-80 Art courses, Community College of Valko

 

AWARDS

1960 2nd price Oskar Kokoschka student
Internationale Sommerakademie fur bildende Kunst, Salzburg, Austria

 

MUSEUM  COLLECTIONS

Jyväskylä Art Museum, Finland

 

MEMBERSHIPS

Finnish Painters’ Union*

Porvoo Society of Artists

Porvoo Art Society and Art Gallery Konsta

The Association of Senior Artists

Loviisa Art Association