Pinja Valja
pinja@pinjavalja.com
+358 45 6773609

CV

Pinja Valja 
Born 1984 in Espoo, Finland.
Lives and works in Helsinki.            

EDUCATION                              

2021- Doctoral candidate, Aalto University School of Art, Contempomporary Art
2016    Master of Arts, Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture, Photography
2011     Bachelor of Arts, Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture, Photography 
2008   Bachelor of Fine Arts, Tampere Polytechnic, Fine Arts
2010-11 Exchange studies, Seika University, Video and Media Art, Kyoto       

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 To Make A Film Just To Meet Vera, Turku Art Museum, Pimiö
2020    To Make A Film Just To Meet Vera, Gallery Huuto, Helsinki
2018     Half Full, Gallery Katariina, Helsinki
2017     <3 / x = ∞, MUU Gallery, Helsinki
2016     Meri/Havet, Gallery Rantakasarmi, Helsinki
2015    The Image of You, FISH Gallery, Helsinki
2014     The Bystander, Gallery Huuto, Helsinki
2013     The Bystander, Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti

WORKS IN COLLECTIONS

Finnish State Art Collection
Helsinki Art Museum       

PUBLIC WORKS

2022 Like There´s Nothing To It, Nokia arena, commissioned by the City of Tampere
2022 Half Full, Helsinki City Hall

SOME GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND SCREENINGS

2021 Nordisk Salong, Helsingborg
2021 VIDS2021, Lappeenranta Art Museum
2021     Pinta, Purnu
2018     MUU Gaala
2018     Video Art Festival Turku
2017     Silmänjuhla, Salo
2015     The Young 2015, The Art Hall, Helsinki
2015     Helsinki-sur-mer, Finnish Embassy, Paris
2013     Summer School, Gallery OyOy, Lahti
2013     Summer School, The Finnish Museum Of Photography, Helsinki
2011     Chiral, Kara-S, Kyoto
2010     I Remember Paris, The Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki
2009   The Young 2009, The Art Hall, Helsinki      

FILM WORKS

2020    To Make a Film Just To Meet Vera
2017     A Poly Love Story
2017     The Image of You
2013     The Bystander   

FILM AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

2022 To Make a Film Just to Meet Vera, Sphinx award for Best Video, 26.Videmedeja, Serbia
2021 To Make a Film Just to Meet Vera, Nordisk Panorama, nominated for Best Nordic Short, Malmö
2019     A Poly Love Story, Best Art Dance Film, Fresh Stream Experimental Film Festival, Los Angeles
2018     The Image of You, Best LGBT+, Paris Play
2017     A Poly Love Story, Award of Excellence, Scandinavian International Film Festival, Helsinki
2017     The Image of You, Honorable mention, Experimental Forum, Los Angeles
2015     The Bystander, Best film, Cinevana Amsterdam

SOME OTHER FESTIVAL SCREENINGS    

2019     The Image of You and A Poly Love Story, Shanghai Pride Film Festival
2018     The Image of You, Omovies, Napoli
2018     The Image of You, MIX Copenhagen
2018     The Image of You, Merlinka Film Festival, Merlinka
2018     The Image of You, 20minmax, Ingolstadt
2018     The Image of You, Prospectiva Brio, Benevento
2018     A Poly Love Story, Loikka Dance Film Festival, Helsinki
2017     The Image of You, nominated for best short fiction, Kettupäivät, Helsinki
2017     A Poly Love Story, Scandinavian International Film Festival, Helsinki
2017     A Poly Love Story, MIX Copenhagen
2017     The Image of You, Paris Play
2015     The Bystander, Cinevana Amsterdam
2015     The Bystander, Turtle Filmfest Hólmavik
2015     The Bystander, Media Film Festival, Media, USA
2015     The Bystander, Berlin Independent Film Festival
2014     The Bystander, Okseo Film Festival, Hamburg   
2014     The Bystander, nominated for best short documentary, Cinefest, Miskolc  

MEMBERSHIPS & OTHER ACTIVITY                     

2023– Association of Photographic Artists, member
2020-2022 member of MUU exhibition planning board
2018–   Av-arkki, member
2018–   Artist's Association of Helsinki, member
2013–   Artist's Association MUU ry, member
2015     Photographer for project Monokini 2.0 by the Nutty Tarts (Katriina Haikala and Vilma Metteri)
2009-10 Kettu 2000 collective with photographers Emma Suominen and Vanessa Virmajoki
2009–   Freelance photographer

MONOKINI 2.0 EXHIBITIONS          

2015     Finlandshuset, Stockholm
2015     Kunstplasse 10, Oslo
2014     Finnish Museum Of Photography, Helsinki
2014     Anna Nordlander Museum, Skellefteå           

KETTU 2000 EXHIBITIONS          

2010     Other Shoes, Gallery Jangva, Helsinki
2010     Other Shoes, Kamera Gallery, Helsinki
2009    I Will Not Walk Away, Gallery Alkovi, Helsinki