Salonen Di Giorgio, Merja | Artist Register – Artists’ Association of Finland

Works available

Helsingin taiteilijaseuran taidelainaamo, Rikhardinkatu 13, Helsinki Galleria 12, Annankatu 16, Helsinki työhuone Helsingin Pitäjänmäessä, avoinna sopimuksen mukaan Alppigalleria, Viipurinkatu 31, Helsinki

Basic information

b. 1973, Tampere

Visual Artist, Painter

Residence: Helsinki

Contact information

Email: mail@merjasdg.net

Artist's Statement

The most important thing to do is to work with the painting until the magic happens. It is no longer just paint on canvas, the sum of its parts, but able to open universes to the viewer.

Traces of human life in cultural environment, atmosphere of place, ´genius loci´, and layers of history are my fuel. Also the idea of Grand Tour is fascinating. -Where was the point at which the exotic became homely and homely became exotic?

Half of my life I have been living between the Finnish and the Italian culture. That influences my approach greatly. I am in both of them simultaneously and I if I wish, I can observe their phenomena as an outsider, too.

During the painting process, I open and give space for the ´speechless´ so that the invisible can come visible in the work. As main techniques I use oil on canvas and mixed media on paper. I use the historical materials and techniques with a new twist. The material becomes an issue ´per se´ and gives another conceptual layer to the body of work.

I have had tens of solo exhibitions since 1996, out of which more than ten in Helsinki: Gallery Katariina, Gallery Uusitalo, Gallery G12, Taidesalonki / Konstsalongen, Lapinlahti art museum.

Three books have been published about my art: Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki (2003), Grand Tour (2014) and Roihupelto-Pompeii -between two worlds (2023).

I have also made commissioned environmental pieces in Helsinki: the Garden and the Piers. In Finnish Painters´Union I have ordinary membership.

My work is found in the collections of the City of Helsinki, the Lahti Art Museum and Kuntsi Modern Art Museum, Vaasa. In private collections my paintings can be found in many European countries and in the U.S.A. and in Australia.

For more, see: www.merjasdg.net

Show biography

See also:

www.merjasdg.net

IG @merjasalonendigiorgio

ONGOING

Between two worlds in Alppigalleria with Petra Giacomelli

Sept. 3rd - 27th 2026

Meet the artists at the end of the exhibition Sunday

Sept.27th 2 -4 p.m.

Warmly welcome!

Meet the artists at Konstrundan Sept. 5th -6 th 2026

at 11 am to 5 pm.

Opening party Sept. 3rd at 5-7 pm

Free entrance, Welcome!

open Thu - Fri at 1 - 6 pm, Sat 12 am - 4 pm

Alppigalleria, Viipurinkatu 31, Helsinki

https://www.alppigalleria.fi/

https://konstrundan.fi/fi/alku/

PAST

World in chaos and in order

Aula Galleria with Juha Okko

August 20th - Sept. 20th 2026

Runeberginkatu 22-24, 2nd floor, Helsinki

Open during the opening hours of Helsingin aikuisopisto

Helao.fi

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Luonnosta / about nature

Group exhibition with plant ink paintings

Galleria Akvart

August 17th - 30 rd 2026

opening party Mon 17th at 5-7 pm.

Welcome!

open

Humalistonkatu 1,

00250 Helsinki

+358 45 3200870

https://akvart.fi/

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Virtual gallery lands in Vallila

May 8th - June 6th 2026

artworks of the gallery´s artists

open Thu - Fri at 1 - 6 pm, Sat 12 am - 4 pm

Welcome!

Alppigalleria, Viipurinkatu 31, Helsinki

https://www.alppigalleria.fi/

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Kerrostumia / Layers

June 6th - July 19th 2026 at Masuuni Galleria of Teijo

- summer exhibition by Taidekortteli ry / Art Quarter association

opening party on Sat June 6th 2026 at 2 -4 pm

Welcome!

open

June 6th - 21st Thu - Sun 11 am - 4 pm

June 22nd - July 19th Mon - Sun 11 am - 5 pm

Teijon Masuuni Oy, Telakkatie 17, 25570 TEIJO

Puh. 0404 822 224

https://www.teijonmasuuni.fi/nayttelyt/

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Minun metsäni / My forest

in Malmitalo cultural center June 5th - July 26th 2026

Plant ink pieces made by artists of Helsinki and Tampere Artist Associations

Opening party on Thu 4th at 5 - 7 pm

Welcome!

Malmitalo, Ala-Malmintori 1, Helsinki, Finland

https://www.malmitalo.fi/fi/tapahtumat/?st=2026-05-19&et=2027-02-19&etype=50&el=42&show=20

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Between two worlds, with Petra Giacomelli

Alppigalleria

Sept. 3rd - 27th 2026

Meet the artists on Konstrundan!

Sat - Sun Sept. 5 - 6 at 11 am - 5 pm

Gallery open

Thu - Fri 1 pm - 6 pm

Sat 12 am - 4pm

Welcome!

Alppigalleria, Viipurinkatu 31, Helsinki, Finland

https://www.alppigalleria.fi/

https://konstrundan.fi/en/start/

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PAST

Tuoksuvia Puita / Scented trees

Jan 3rd - March 31st 2026

Home Hotel Jugend,

Lönnrotinkatu 29, 00180 Helsinki

Open during the opening hours of the hotel.

Curated by the Helsinki Artists´Association

Warmly welcome!

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Runsaudensarvi / Cornucopia

a collective exhibition in ALPPIGALLERIA

November 14th - December 14th 2025

Viipurinkatu 31, Helsinki, Finland

www.alppigalleria.fi

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Four Ways

Alppigalleria

August 1 st -31 rd 2025

Viipurinkatu 31, Helsinki

Anne- Mari Alrsumi

Merja Salonen Di Giorgio

Joonas Sirvio

Heli Tuhkanen

Fri-Sat-Sun 11 am-4 pm

Opening July 31 rd at 6 pm

www.alppigalleria.fi

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Jubileum Feast

August 2nd - 31 st 2025

Group exhibition by Taidekortteli ry / Art Block Association at

Strömfors ironworks, Loviisa, Finland

The exhibition is open every day 10 am - 6 pm

Opening August 1 st at 6 pm

Welcome!

The Art Block Association was founded in Roihupelto, Helsinki, in October 2015. In the exhibition the re are 35 artists.

https://stromforsinruukki.com/en/

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Paintings at restaurant Rytmi, Helsinki

March 3rd - April 26th 2025

https://rytmi.net/

Toinen linja 2, Helsinki

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Taidemaalariliitto x Skanno

Painters´Union goes Skanno interior design shop in Helsinki.

Ongoing until June 2025.

Erottajankatu 2, Helsinki, Fnland

Free entrance during the opening hours of Skanno.

Mon.-Fri. 10 am - 6 pm

Sat. 10 am - 5 pm

https://skanno.fi/

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Paintings available at eko beauty salon Terra Te Amo

Albertinkatu 17, Helsinki Feb 9 th - July 13 rd 2025

Open on request.

book to see it: 044 9766833

https://www.terrateamo.fi/

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The Sales Event of Finnish Painters´Union

March 8th - 16th 2025

Mon - Fri 12 am - 8 pm

Sat - Sun 11 am -5 pm

Kaapelitehdas, Merikaapelihalli, Helsinki

You can take the purchased artworks with you right away.

Free entrance, welcome!

https://teosvalitys.painters.fi/tapahtuma/

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Oct. 4 - 24, 2024

Autumn Salon at TM Gallery and online

https://teosvalitys.painters.fi/taiteilija/merja-salonen-di-giorgio/

Finnish Painters´Union, TM Gallery, Erottajankatu 9, 00130 Helsinki

Free entrance. -Welcome!

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Sept. 7th - 8th

Open Doors´ exhibition at Taidekortteli / Art Block

Levytie 4A, Roihupelto Helsinki

Meet the artist Sat. 14 -17 & Sun 13 - 17.

The event is part of Konstrundan event and there is a lot to see in the Taidekortteli / Art Block area during the weekend.

See www.konstrundan.fi for more info.

Free entrance, warmly welcome!

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Luovuus ITÄä

June 13 rd - August 18th 2024.

Taidekortteli ry / Art Block Group Exhibition at

Stoa Culture Center, Turunlinnantie 1, Itäkeskus, Helsinki.

Opening: June 12 nd at 5-8 pm.

-Welcome!

Meet the artists on August 15th 2024.

open: Mon-Thu 8 am - 8 pm, Fri 8 am - 6 pm, Sat 10 am - Sun 12 am - 6 pm.

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Helsinki Artists´Association has in the Art Lending space next to the Rikhardinkatu Library, Rikhardinkatu 3, Helsinki a summer ehibition

Summer Blues - from June 13rd 2024

I partecipate with Forma dell´acqua VII, oil on linen.

https://taidelainaamo.fi/public/go.php?action=artist&artist_id=105717&sel=26

Welcome!

opening hours:

https://taidelainaamo.fi/public/go.php?

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URBANA HORTUS,

May 8th. - 26th, 2024,

Helsinki Artists´Association collective exhibition in Gallery Ahjo, Joensuu.

Opening on May 7th 2024.

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The book Roihupelto - Pompeii (PARVS)

was published in May 2023

https://parvs.fi/kirjat/roihupelto-pompeji/

Merja Salonen Di Giorgio is a painter who explores the layeredness of history and the traces left by humans in our cultural heritage. Roihupelto–Pompeii is a series of paintings featuring two places that hold personal significance for the artist: a 1970s semi-industrial precinct in east Helsinki and the ancient city of Pompeii on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius. The paintings were inspired by the dialogue emerging between these two places which, upon closer examination, have surprisingly much in common. Salonen Di Giorgio examines her theme through the lens of loss, from a future perspective – looking back after irreversible change and destruction have already occurred. The text is authored by architect and visual artist Anu Kaisa Koponen, who reflects on the connections between the paintings and architecture. Her essay is accompanied by art historian Synnöve Malmström's interview with the artist, which takes an in-depth look at how the paintings came into being.

article about the exhibition and the book Roihupelto-Pompei by Hannele Salminen (in Finnish):

http://kirjasta-kirjaan.blogspot.com/2023/05/merja-salonen-di-giorgio-roihupelto.html

Bio

Merja Susanna Salonen Di Giorgio was born 1973 in Tampere. She lives and works in Helsinki. From 1998 on she has been working regularly in Italy, too. The most important techniques are oil on canvas and mixed media on paper as well as the environmental art. Salonen Di Giorgio graduated with the Master of Arts degree at the Fine Arts Department, Pallas Program at the University of Art and Design, UIAH, Helsinki in 1999 (nowadays Aalto Univeristy). She has the ordinary membership of the Finnish Painters´ Union. Her paintings were exhibited for the first time in a juryed exhibition in 1995. It was the 48th Young Artists´Exhibition at Helsinki Taidehalli. Since then, Salonen Di Giorgio has exhibited regularly in Finland and abroad. To name some one man shows of paintings: Gallery Saskia, Tampere, 2017 Gallery G12, Helsinki, 2014 Lapinlahti Art Museum, 2010 Taidesalonki / Konstsalongen, Helsinki 2010 Galleria Uusitalo, Helsinki, 2005 Galleria Katariina, Helsinki, 2000, 2014 Public works in Helsinki: Piers, 2008, (concrete) Memory Tracks, 2005 (concrete) and Garden, 2000 (copper, alluminium, paint) Radisson Plaza, at Mikonkatu 23. In 1998-2000 Salonen Di Giorgio realised a photo exhibition Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki: Painterly details of walls shown directly in the streets, exchanging places of the subjects to study "genius loci". In 2003 she published a book ´Helsinki in Florence, Florence in Helsinki ´about the project. The introduction was written by Yrjö Larmola, the cultural director of the City of Helsinki. In 2014 she published a book ´Grand Tour´ of her paintings with the introduction of Minerva Keltanen, the acting director of Sinebrychoff Art Museum, National Gallery of Finland. Salonen Di Giorgio´s work can be found among the following collections: City of Helsinki, Lahti Museum of Art Tampere-Maja Association, Estonia, SOK Aalto University Okopankki Bank. Salonen Di Giorgio enjoys listening to baroque music and joining it by dancing.