OUR MEMBERS
Search alphabetically by surname or browse and get to know our talented community of members
LADY SANCHEZ MACIAS
TEXTILE ARTIST AND SEAMSTRESS
"My passion lies in crafting one-of-a-kind designs that infuse your style with a fashionable vibe. Each creation is meticulously tailored to ensure that your individuality shines through, making a statement that is uniquely yours"
"As a dedicated designer, my passion lies in curating stylish and trendy hair accessories and corset tops, meticulously crafted from vintage or upcycled fabrics. I find immense joy in the creative process, where precision and attention to detail are paramount. Collaborating with my clients to tailor designs to their unique tastes is a dream come true, as I believe in bringing their visions to life.
Furthermore, I thrive on collaboration and enjoy connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, exchanging ideas, and fostering new partnerships. Sharing information and insights with others who are pursuing their dreams is something I deeply cherish, as I believe in supporting and uplifting one another on our journeys to success."
*Photographer of my pictures: @suosikki.kuvat
KATHARINA SCHMIDT
CONTEMPORARY ARTIST.
I am Katharina Schmidt, a Finnish-German contemporary artist from Helsinki, Finland. Art has always been the way for me to observe the world and work through experiences - whether it was as a kid late at night under candle light at my summer house or preparing my next exhibition in my studio in Helsinki. Each art work has a story, a purpose, a personality.
I have grown up in a melting pot of different cultures and languages and in my art I want to explore fundamental questions about existence. I have never truly felt like belonging in one place, yet somehow I belong everywhere, and I seek to understand very different kinds of world views. To me art is the mirror of humanity - it shows what we as humans experience beneath the surface in ways that other methods cannot.
ANNA SIUKOLA
PRODUCT DESIGNER, MAKER, ARTIST
I am a Russian-born Finland-based artist, a multinational person, which I believe, is my asset. I am an artist who has absorbed different cultural heritage. I find it important for an artist to bring their personality to their works. My artistic style highlights my diverse cultural background.”
I believe that art is important for a human. Someone needs to make, others – to observe, but in any case, while art is not a necessity that humans need to survive, yet, I believe, it is important for the psychological health of people. There are many art forms available these days, but what combines them all – is their effect on a human: it is therapeutic, healing, thought-evoking, and imagination-stimulating.
I am a visualist. I see beauty in everything that surrounds me: every little object, color, form, texture. I get inspired easily. Also, I am extremely curious, I love to learn new techniques and work with very different materials, for example, glass, ceramics, paint, metal, resin, concrete… you name it!
To connect to nature, I am fond of the minimum waste concept, which is why I often use recycled materials in my works. “Giving objects a second life” is my designer motto.
ANNA STANKEVICH
MIXED MEDIA ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR
HIAA SUPPORTING BOARDMEMBERS
Anna Stankevich is an international illustrator and fine artist, previously working in London and now living in Helsinki. She works predominantly with pens, ink and water-based media to create nature-inspired works of intricate detail and delicate style. A lot of her work is black and white but she also enjoys experimenting with minimal colours. Her illustrative drawings are often a mix of surreal and emotive themes; full of birds, wildlife and botanical motifs. Anna's illustrations have been used in commercial projects and her original artwork is part of several private collections.
She has been in the board since 2021.
DACE STRAUSA
PAINTER, OIL
A Latvian born artist, STRAUSA is an oil and multi-disciplinary artist living now in Finland. Her love for animals in childhood grew to a horse breeding studies (with limited study options behind the iron curtain). During which time, the artist was able to master equine anatomy, behavior, character and visual diversity in her paintings.
"For as long as I can remember myself, I have always been drawing and have taken particular pleasure in this activity.
Later on, I studied at the Art Academy of Latvia preparatory courses, but I've learned more by doing and learning from artists. For a year, I studied at a photography school with an internationally renowned photography artist. This way, layer by layer, I've built my professional skills."
STRAUSA showcases her work in exhibitions. these have taken place in global museum spaces, occasionally taking
From time to time, I showcase my work in exhibitions. Her paintings have taken place in several countries' galleries, museums and shows.
YULIIA SYDORENKO
PAINTER
Hej! Mitt smeknamn är Juliana Belladonna. Jag är 37 år gammal. Jag är ukrainare och kom till Finland när kriget började. Jag är en självlärd konstnär och skapar tavlor i mytologisk stil. Jag har studerat skandinavisk mytologi och runologi i ca 10 år. Jag älskar den här traditionen och vill visa folket i Skandinavien att deras kultur också respekteras i andra länder i världen.
KIRSI SYRLIN
ARTIST
Kirsi Syrlin is a professional Finnish artist who has just returned back to Espoo after three years of living in Belgium. She has held several exhibitions in Europe, latest ones in Finland, Italy and Belgium. Her art works are also seen at the Atkinson Collection Gallery, Chicago, USA. Her art can be seen in many private collections in Europe and City of Helsinki has her paintings at Kivelä hospital walls. She has also had a solo exhibition at the Embassy of Finland in Brussels. She has now representation contracts with galleries in Italy and USA. Last year her art pieces were published in an Italian Artinside Magazine by curator Maddalena Grazzini and she was invited to participate to the Florence Biennale in October 2019.
