Välimäki’s underwater series depicts abstracted underwater scenes where schools of fish swim and swirl in harmony. The impressionist application of a single colour per brush-stroke, each representing a fish, works to create a varied depth of field and an almost three-dimensional appearance. In vibrant blues and greens with pops of red, yellow or magenta, her paintings appear alive with movement, texture and colour. This series of works talks about Välimäki’s connection and love towards nature, especially the ocean. The work depicts abstracted underwater scenes and is full of movement, texture and an array of ocean colours. The titles of the paintings reveal the inspiration behind the paintings, schools of fish swirling around. Recently, Välimäki realised that she is using the same colours in her paintings as the Finnish traditional textile artists weaving the landscape of Finland. Välimäki loves exploring and experimenting with the mediums she chooses to achieve a visual feast in the viewer’s eye.
Finnish born Australian based impressionist artist. Practicing since the mid-1990s, Arja has completed her BFA and MFA at the University of NSW, Sydney. She has exhibited widely in both Australia and Finland, including twenty-two solo exhibitions. She has been a finalist in the prestigious Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW; Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney; Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre and the Sydney Living Museums Meroogal Women’s Art Prize. Arja has won numerous awards and grants, including a scholarship to study her MFA. Arja was also named 2004 Young Kalevala Artist of the Year, Finland. Arja Välimäki’s works are held in public and private collections in Australia, USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Turkey and Finland.
CV
Arja Välimäki
Education
2000-03 Masters of Fine Arts, The University of NSW, COFA, Sydney
1997-98 Bachelor of Fine Arts, The University of NSW, COFA, Sydney
1996 Bachelor of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong
1989-93 Bachelor of Textile Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
1983-85 Artisan’s Diploma, Hollola Arts and Crafts School, Finland
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2020 Woven Ocean, Art2Muse Gallery, Sydney
2019 Ocean Vista, Art2Muse Gallery, Sydney
2018 Ocean Forest, Art2Muse Gallery, Sydney
2018 Majestic Ocean, The Art Bar, Kiama
2017 Nordic Taiga, Art2Muse Gallery, Sydney
2016 Asia Contemporary Art Show, Hong Kong
2015 Natural Vibrations, Embassy of Finland, Canberra
2014 Natural Rhythms, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2013 Kuurankukka, Alibi, Wollongong
2013 Esillä, Ekho, Wollongong
2012 Joyful Moment, Project Centre for Contemporary Art, Wollongong
2012 Inka, Alibi, Wollongong
2012 Kesä Joulu, The Hanging Space Art Gallery, Wollongong
2007 The View, Ekho, Wollongong
2005 Planting Feet, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2004 Sampo – matka – Kalevala – installaatio, Juminkeko, Kuhmo, Finland
2003 Sampo: Kalevala and my journey, Kudos Gallery, Sydney
2002 Paljastus, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2000 Arja Välimäki: 1999 Resident Artist, Wollongong Art Gallery
1998 Friends Regardless the Words, Project Centre for Contemporary Art, Wollongong
The Old Fire Station Gallery, Kiama
1998 Expressions, The Old Fire Station Gallery, Kiama
1996-99 Out of a Suitcase, Long Gallery, University of Wollongong
Bonegilla 50th Anniversary, Reunion Festival, Wodonga Plaza
The Old Fire Station Gallery, Kiama
50th Cowra Migration Camp Reunion Festival, Cultural Centre of Japanese Gardens
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020 On the Edge, The University of Wollongong
2019 The Other Art Fair, Sydney
2019 OOTI, NSW Parliament House, Sydney
2019 Näyttely, Galleria G12, Helsinki, Finland
2019 Scarbough Art Show
2019 For the Wild, Kiama
2018-19 Summer Love, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2018-19 Locals on Board, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2018 Now, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2018 Scarbough Art Show
2018 Kiama Bats, The Pavilion Kiama
2018 International Women’s Day Exhibition, Art Bar Kiama
2017-18 Making Landfall, Waverley Library Galleries, Sydney
2017 OOTI, NSW Parliament House, Sydney
2017 Feast, Belconnen Arts Centre, ACT
2017 Thirroul Art Festival
2017 Scarbough Art Show
2016 Belonging, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2016 Scarbough Art Show
2016 Illuminate, Vera Hatton Gallery, Jervis Bay
2016 Sojourn Summer, Beach Art Gallery, Wollongong
2016 Pledge for Parity, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2015 OOTI, NSW Parliament House, Sydney
2015 Affordable Art Fair, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
2015 The Moods of Summer, Manyung Gallery Group, Melbourne
2015 Shoreline, Clifton School of Arts
2015 Scarbough Art Show
2014 Finalist: Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, Sydney Living Museums
2014 Art Arena Gallery 30th Birthday Exhibition, Wollongong
2014 Feeling the Heat, Clifton School of Arts
2014 Postcodes from the Edge, Wollongong Art Gallery
2014 International Women’s Day Exhibition, Centre for Contemporary Art, Wollongong
2014 IAVA on paper, The Hanging Space Art Gallery, Wollongong
2013 Me, the Road and I, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2013 Photographic Portrait Prize, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2013 being in the moment, Nan Tien Temple, Wollongong
2013 Thirroul Art Show, Wollongong
2013 International Women’s Day Exhibition, Project Centre for Contemporary Art, Wollongong
2013 IAVAtography, The Hanging Space Art Gallery, Wollongong
2012 WCG Resident Artist Program 20th Anniversary, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2012 unfolding, Nan Tien Temple, Wollongong
2012 Habitat Artefact, Project Centre for Contemporary Art, Wollongong
2012 Post codes from the Edge, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2012 A New View, The Hanging Space Art Gallery, Wollongong
2011 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Cambelltown Arts Centre
2011 Reflections, Shellharbour Village Exhibition Space
2011 Spring into Action, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2011-12 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize, Shoalhaven City Arts Centre
Historic Houses Trust, The Mint, Sydney
Spiral Gallery, Bega
Bega Sturt: Australian Contemporary Craft and Design
Mittagong Lady Denman Museum, Huskisson
2011 Fire & Light, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2011 Nautilus, Art Arena Gallery, Wollongong
2010 Stories from Sea and Land, Art Arena Gallery, Wollongong
2010 Women’s Work, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2009-10 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize, Shoalhaven City Arts Centre
Historic Houses Trust, The Mint, Sydney
Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra
Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
Spiral Gallery, Bega
2009 Mapping, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2008-09 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize, Shoalhaven City Arts Centre
Historic Houses Trust, The Mint, Sydney
Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra
Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
Spiral Gallery, Bega
2008 Lingua Loca, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2008 Just Imagine, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2007-08 Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize, Shoalhaven City Arts Centre
Spiral Gallery, Bega
Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra
Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
Sturt Gallery, Mittagong
2007 Contribution, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2007 (collected) Women, Wollongong Art Gallery
2006 Just Imagine, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
2006 Afresh, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
TAP Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney
2005 Lingua Loca, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2004 Masters of COFA 2004, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney
2004 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Sydney
2003 17th Liverpool City Arts Prize
2003 Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2002 The Wynne Prize Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2000-02 frisson, Tamworth City Gallery, 14th Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennial
Ararat Gallery, Victoria
Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
Jam Factory, Adelaide, South Australia
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery Noosa Regional Gallery
Tewantin, Queensland
Grafton Regional Gallery
Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Queensland
Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sutherland
Canberra Museum & Gallery, ACT
2001 20th National Craft Acquisition Award, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
2001 Kuusi (Six), Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong
2001 Refurnished, Wollongong Regional Art Gallery
1998 Contours,TAP Gallery, Sydney
1998 Freedom, TAP Gallery, Sydney
1997 From the Coast to the Highlands, Foyer Gallery, Moss Vale
1997 Redundant, Karoona Gallery, West Wollongong TAFE
Grants, Awards and Prizes
2017 Packers Prize, Thirroul Art Show
2014 Highly Commended: Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize
2011 Second Prize: Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize
2010 First Prize: Lingua Loca: Stories from Sea and Land
2009 Second Prize: Meroogal Women’s Arts Prize
2007 The Bundanon Trust Regional Artist in Residence Scholarship (Arthur Boyd)
2004 Juminkeko’s Young Kalevala – Artist of the Year, Kuhmo, Finland
2001 Scholarship to study Masters of Fine Arts, The University of NSW, COFA, Sydney
2001 National Association for the Visual Arts, Marketing Grant Scheme
2000 Research Grant, The University of NSW, COFA, Sydney
1999 Artist in Residence of Wollongong Regional Art Gallery, Connelly Temple Ltd.
1998 National Association for the Visual Arts, Marketing Grant Scheme
1998 Carnivale Illawarra
1998 Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council (IECC)
1998 The University of NSW, COFA, Student’s Association
1996 NSW Ministry of the Art Multicultural Activities Program
1996 Carnevale Illawarra
1996 Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council (IECC)
Collections
Consulate General of Finland, Hong Kong
Embassy of Finland, Canberra, ACT
Juminkeko, (Kalevala and Karealisim Information and Exhibition Centre), Kuhmo, Finland
Wollongong Art Gallery (Three works 1998, 1999 and 2013)
From 1997 Private collections in Australia, England, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and USA
Residency
1999 Wollongong Regional Art Gallery, One year residency
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