Nina Forsman née Kuoksa
Born 1974 Borås, Sweden
Lives and works in Espoo, Finland
Visual artist, photographer, graphic designer
STUDIES
2012-2014 BFA in Painting, Saimaa University of Applied Sciences
2013 Visual arts, University of West Georgia, USA
2012 Summer course, The St. Petersburg Academy of Arts
2012 Art Entrepreneurship, The Kymenlaakso summer university
2010-2012 Visual arts education of the St. Petersburg I. E. Repin Institute in Kotka
2010-2011 Printmaking course, The Adult Education Centre of Kotka, Finland
2010 Live model drawing course, Mosaic course, The Adult Education Centre of Kotka
2010 Drawing course, Orivesi Institute
1999-2004 Software Engineering, Kyamk, University of Applied Sciences
1991-1992 Ceramics course, Harjula Settlement Association
SOLO EXHIBITION
2016 Kotka Photographic Center, Finland (photography)
2014 Gallery Dada, Tampere, Finland (installations)
2014 Pop up exhibition Gallery Pumppuhuone, Helsinki, Finland (paintings)
2013 ‘White – Valkoinen’, Gallery Kapriisi, Tampere, Finland (paintings)
2012 ‘Noise’, Koskisto Art Center, Kouvola, Finland (installations, paintings)
2012 ‘Polte’, Galleria Hanna Kaarina, Helsinki, Finland (paintings, drawings)
2012 ‘Diversitas’, Galería La Perla, Fuengirola, Spain (paintings)
2004 ‘Stopped Time’, Loviisa Peace Forum, Finland (photographs)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 “Fear of Ordinaryness” – Espoo Artists’ Guild, group exhibition, Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti, Finland
2023 ARTBOX.PROJECT New York 2.0, NYC, NY, USA
2023 The Sales Event of the Finnish Painters´ Union Cable Factory in Helsinki, Finland
2023-2012 6×6 Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Rochester, NY , USA
2022-2023 Winter Art Market at Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Söderkulla, Sipoo, Finland
2022 ARTBOX.PROJECT Venice Biennale, Biennale Artbox Expo, Venice, Italy
2022-2018 Taidemaalariliiton Taidevälitys/The Finnish Painters’ Union – Sales event, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, Finland
2022 “Fear of Ordinaryness” – Espoo Artists’ Guild, Artcenter Ahjo, Joensuu, and Ronga gallery, Tampere Finland
2021 Kiltapaviljonki, Espoon Taiteilijakilta, Galleria Aarni, Espoo, Finland
2021 Artbox.Project World 1.0, ARTBOX.GALLERY, Giessereistrasse 1, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
2021-2017 Group exhibition, The Artists’ Association of Espoo, Gallery Aarni, Espoo, Finland
2020 SWISSARTEXPO/ ARTBOX.PROJECT Zürich 2.0, ARTBOX.GALLERY, Giessereistrasse 1, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
2020 ARTBOX.PROJECT Barcelona 1.0, Valid World Hall, Carrer de Buenaventura Muñoz, 6, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
2019, 2017, 2015 ART FAIR/ Muu Ry, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, Finland
2018 “Finland Now and in future” exhibition at Gallery Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Söderkulla, Finland
2017 He & She exhibition at Gallery Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Söderkulla, Finland
2017 “New members 2015-2016”, Gallery Aarni – Studio, Espoo, Finland
2016 Repin institute 10th anniversary exhibition Krypta Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2016 ArtExpo, Domus Romana, Rooma, Italy
2016 ”Musta tuntuu” The Artists’ Association of Kotka group exhibition, Gallery Uusikuva, Kotka, Finland
2016 “Muunto”-group exhibition Gallery Ars Nova, Savonlinna, Finland
2016 a group exhibition, Gallery Fogga, Helsinki, Finland
2016 “Muunto”- group exhibition Gallery Uusi Kipinä, Lahti, Finland
2016 Project 5000m2- group exhibition, Lappeenranta, Finland
2013 NASAD evaluation exhibition, Univercity of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA, USA
2013 Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Söderkulla, Finland
2012, 2011 Konstrundan | Open Studios @ Studio Nina Mattila, Östringinkatu 2, Kotka, Finland.
2012 Postcard Legacy Campaign Exhibit at Colorado Mesa University Art Gallery, Colorado, USA
2012 The St. Petersburg Academy of Arts Summer course group exhibition, Kotka Maritime Festival, Kotka, Finland
2015 “Muunto”-group exhibition Gallery Nikolai, Kotka, Finland
2014, 2012 a collaborative exhibition Art Gallery Le Logge, Assisi, Italy
2014 Graduation show at Imatra Art museum, Imatra, Finland
2014 a collaborative exhibition with Timo Mähönen at ArtPort Kotka, Finland
2013 Off-the-Wall Pin-Up Show, The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia – MOCA GA, Atlanta, USA
2013 a collaborative exhibition with Maria Liitola at Gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland
2013 “Muunto”-group exhibition at Tietotalo, Imarta, Finland
2012 ‘Maaemon huuto II’ a group exhibition at Gallery Fogga, Helsinki, Finland
2012, 2011 Summer exhibition at Koskisto Art Center, Kouvola, Finland
2012 Kotka Art Association Anniversary exhibition, Gallery Nikolai, Kotka Finland
2012 Photo project: She blocks the highway – a collaborative exhibition at Fontanian Studios, Hong Kong, China
2011 Repin Institute of Fine Arts Education at Galleria Uusikuva, Kotka, Finland
2011 a collaborative exhibition with Niko Lauhkonen at Moisio mansion, Kouvola, Finland
2011 “20×20′′ – a collaborative exhibition with Niko Lauhkonen at Galleria Nikolai, Kotka, Finland
PRIZES AND AWARDS
2020 Semifinalist in ARTBOX.PROJECT Zurich 2.0, Switzerland
2015 Honorable mention winner of PX3 Prix de la photographie Paris, France
2013 Dean’s List, University of West Georgia, USA
2012 Honorable mention winner of PX3 Prix de la photographie Paris – Altered images competition, Paris, France
2011 People’s Choice award – Second Prize & official selection – PX3 Prix de la photographie Paris, France
2010 A Top 10 winner of Women in the Arts Edition No. 2 , ArtRom Gallery, Rome, Italy.
2011 The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition at McNeill Fine Art Gallery, UK
2011 “Women in the Arts Edition 2′′ – a Top Ten Winners’ online exhibition at ARTROM Gallery, Rome, Italy
2010 ‘Another reality’ , Imatra Art Museum, Finland
2010 ‘Immortalis’, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Kymenlaakso Fund’s 50th anniversary and the Repin Institute at Kouvola Art Museum, Finland
2010 Repin Institute of Fine Arts Education exhibition at Kotkan Höyrypanimo, Finland
2010 Provincial exhibition at Kotka Photographic Center, Finland
2009 Kolahtaako? -movie week. Culture Act of the Year in Kotka 2009. Assessor in advertising.
2005 Kotka Goes Document. Culture Act of the Year in Kotka 2005. Assessor in advertising.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023 – Planner in the City group governance (including graphic design) at City of Helsinki, Finland
2022-2023 City group governance assistant (including graphic design) at City of Helsinki, Finland
2020-2022 Executive Assistant at administrative service – Social Services and Health Care Division, City of Helsinki, Finland
2020 Executive Assistant (including graphic design) at administrative service – HKL, City of Helsinki, Finland
2017-2020 Executive Assistant (including graphic design) in the Basic Education and the Curricula and Professional Development Services, Espoo, Finland
2017 Cultural Producer, membership and event coordinator, The Artists’ Association of Espoo
2015 ”How to make your own artist website” course, The Artists’ Association of Kotka, Finland
2014 – 2015 Private Drawing lessons, Kotka, Finland
2011 Gallery Event & discussion panel, Kotka, Finland
2004 – 2014 Website maintenance lessons to lots of different companies
2000 – 2014 Advertising agency, General manager, LANIQAtuotanto Ky (Entrepreneur)
EDUCATIONAL TRAVELS
2022, 2017, 2014 Tallinn, Estonia
2019, 2013, 2011, 2010 New York, NY, USA
2016 Berlin, Germany
2015 Nagoya, Japan
2014 a residency period in Assisi (Perugia), Italy
2013 Atlanta, Carrollton, GA & Chattanooga (TN), USA
2012, 2011 St Petersburg, Russia
2011 Florence, Italy
GRANTS
2022, 2020 Working grant, City of Espoo
2018, 2016 Project grant, City of Espoo
2015 Working grant and 2 project grants, City of Kotka
2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 Project grants, City of Kotka
2013 Grant, William and Ester Otsakorpi foundation
PUBLICATIONS
2021 The Sketchbook Project Memoir Project 3 “Birds”, Brooklyn Art Library, New York, USA
2021 The Sketchbook Project Vol 17 – “Lines and Shapes”, Brooklyn Art Library, New York, USA
2021 The Sketchbook Project Vol 17 – “Me, Myself and I”, Brooklyn Art Library, New York, USA
2020 The Sketchbook Project Vol 16 “Doubt everything…”. Brooklyn Art Library, New York, USA
2014 It’s Not Just About Animals or Humans, Bachelor´s Thesis
POSITION OF TRUST
2016 – 2017 current Board member, The Artists’ Association of Espoo
2011 – 2017 current Board member, Kotka Photographic Center
2015 Chairman of the Board, Kotka Photographic Center
2015 Board member, The Artists’ Association of Kotka
2012 Board member, Kotka Art Association, board member
2010 – 2011 Member of the Development Group, Repin Institute, Kymenlaakso Summer University
2004 – 2013 Member of the Planning Committee of the Kolahtaako? -movie weeks in Kotka
WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
University of West Georgia, USA
Brooklyn Art Library, New York, USA
City of Kotka / Kotkan kaupunki
Ginestrelle, Assisis, Italy
Ville Länsimies Engineering Ltd
Privat collections in Finland, Spain and USA
MEMBERSHIPS
Taidemaalariliitto/The Finnish Painters’ Union
Muu ry Artists’ Association
Register of the Artists’ Association of Finland
Espoo Artists’ Guild
The Association of Espoo Visual Artists
Group Muunto