Past Residents
Current Resident: Jan 1, 2025–Jun 30, 2025
Uniarts Helsinki's Academy of Fine Arts and Saastamoinen Foundation
Studio #208
Artist
Kaija Hinkula
Kaija Hinkula is a Finnish contemporary artist whose work delves into themes of utopia, fantasy, and the construction of future narratives. Hinkula’s exploration of malleable geometry as a symbol of hope, potential, and the imagining of new worlds is central to her recent work. Operating within the realm of expanded painting, she is creating minimalistic spatial experiences that merge elements of painting, sculpture, and time-based media. Her playful and versatile body of work includes sculptural paintings, site-specific installations, and video performances. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki 2021, Hinkula holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. She was awarded the Fine Arts Academy of Finland Foundation Prize 2025.
Kaija Hinkula has held solo exhibitions at venues such as Pragovka, Prague; HAM Gallery, Finland; Helsinki Art Museum; Forum Box, and the Oulu Art Museum, all in Finland. Her work has been featured in group exhibitions, including the Pori Biennale, Helsinki; and SIC and Knipsu Fight Cage, Norway.
kaijahinkula.comEvents & Exhibitions
Spring Open Studios 2025
April 25–April 26, 2025
Kaija Hinkula, Gardener, 2024, installation, dimensions variable. Turku Art Hall, Finland.
Kaija Hinkula, Sketching Realities (Shimmer), 2023, alkyd, board, animation, metal pipes, wood, plastic plant and spray, 102 × 125 in. (259.08 × 317.5 cm).
Kaija Hinkula, Gardener (II), 2024, alkyd and board, 31 × 47 in. (78.74 × 119.38 cm).
Kaija Hinkula, Gardener (I), 2024, alkyd, board and watering globe, 19 × 19 in. (48.26 × 48.26 cm).
Kaija Hinkula, Democracy, 2024, site specific painting serie, alkyd, board and thread, dimensions variable.
Past Resident2025: Fire Station - Qatar Museums
Dana Agal
Dana Agal is a multidisciplinary designer and artist with a BA in Fashion Design from LAU, created in collaboration with the University of the Arts London’s LCF and Elie Saab. Her work weaves a conceptual alchemy that blurs the boundaries between the corporeal and the ethereal. Through the delicate interplay of form and space, she dissolves distinctions to uncover the poetry of existence, often drawing on surrealist elements. Exploring the intersections of psychology and philosophy, Agal invites her audience on a journey into consciousness, uncovering the profound layers of the human experience.
Dana Agal has exhibited work at the Lebanese American University, Beirut; and La tennis Bensimon, Paris, among others.
Dana Agal, Heads Will Roll, 2018, silver, 213/16 × 1 × 2 in. (7.11 × 2.54 × 5.08 cm).
Dana Agal, Toska, 2018, fabric, dacron and thread, 69 × 83 × 1 in. (175.26 × 210.82 × 2.54 cm).
Dana Agal, Saudade, 2023, gouache on canvas, 19 × 24 in. (48.26 × 60.96 cm).
Dana Agal, A House Is Not A Home, 2021, canvas paper, 10 × 19 × 9 in. (25.4 × 48.26 × 22.86 cm).
Dana Agal, Even a Worm Will Turn, 2020, wood, fabric, gouache, acrylic, acetate, melted metal, rods, bolts, deconstructed measuring tape, hinges and components of a floppy desk, 40 × 40 in. (101.6 × 101.6 cm).
Residents from United States
Aryel René Jackson
Studio #305
Hanae Utamura
Studio #201
Current Resident: Jan 1, 2025–Jun 30, 2025
La Fondation pour l'Art Contemporain Claudine et Jean-Marc Salomon
Studio #206
Artist
Jean Claracq
Jean Claracq, a painter of miniatures and icons, bridges the gap between art history and contemporary culture. Drawing inspiration from social networks like Instagram and Grindr, his subjects often belong to the gay community. Within his paintings, they interact with numerous references to art history, particularly the traditions of Northern European schools. Rooted in traditional techniques, Claracq skillfully layers multiple levels of interpretation, offering a poignant exploration of our relationship with screens, solitude, and urban life.
Jean Claracq has exhibited work at Louvre-Lens Museum; Fondation Louis Vuitton; and Biennale de Lyon, all in France, among others.
Events & Exhibitions
Spring Open Studios 2025
April 25–April 26, 2025
Jean Claracq, Etudes reflet carosserie carpe-diem, 2023, water color, 63/16 × 93/8 in. (15.75 × 23.88 cm).
Jean Claracq, The enginering of consent, 2022, oil on wood, 271/2 × 195/8 in. (69.85 × 49.78 cm).
Jean Claracq, La tentation de Saint Antoine (détail), 2022, huile sur bois, 105/8 × 713/16 in. (26.92 × 19.81 cm).
Jean Claracq, Narcisse, 2019, oil on wood, 75/8 × 57/8 in. (19.3 × 14.99 cm).
Jean Claracq, Resort, 2019, oil on wood, 63/16 × 55/16 in. (15.75 × 13.46 cm).
