Portfolio - HODHAYFA SALIH

Hodhayfa Salih

A globally recognized multicultural visual artist with an extensive body of work spanning three continents. Hodhayfa’s art delves into themes of identity, migration, Nature, and cultural heritage through painting, sculpture, and multimedia installations. With a strong academic foundation, numerous accolades, and participation in prestigious international exhibitions, Hodhayfa is committed to fostering cross-cultural dialogue through artistic expression.

EDUCATION

All degrees are recognized by the Ministries of Education in Finland, Ukraine, and Iraq.

Master’s Degree in Fine Arts and Crafts, Ukraine, 2009
Specialist Degree in Fine Arts and Crafts, Ukraine, 2008
Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad, 2003

MEMBERSHIPS

Member, Taidemaalariliitto (Finnish Painters’ Union), 2022
Member, Helsinki Taiteiljaseura (Helsinki Artists’ Association), 2016
Member, Ukrainian Union of Artists, 2015
Member, Union of Iraqi Artists, 2011
Member, Iraqi Plastic Artists Society, 2005
Co-founder, Nusku Contemporary Arts Society, Baghdad, 2005

AWARDS & GRANTS

Awards:

2015 – Vuoden Käpyläläinen (Person of the year), Helsinki, Finland
2015 – Kuindzhi Award, Mariupol Art Museum Arkip Kuindzhi, Mariupol, Ukraine
2011 – Appreciation Award (Ishtar Award), Iraqi Plastic Artists Society, Baghdad, Iraq
2009 – Certificate on the completion of the Shaping The Way We Teach English Seminar, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq

Grants:

2023 – Visek-Kuvasto, Finland
2017 – Saari Residence, Kone Foundation
2017 – Raumars Residence, Rauma, Finland
2011 – Election Awareness Program (Promoting Democratic Participation), US Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq
2010-2011 – Summer Camp for Children in Rural Areas (Teaching Art & Language), US Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Hodhayfa’s works are held in public and private collections, including:

Mariupol Art Museum Arkip Kuindzhi, Mariupol, Ukraine, 2015
Museum of H.S. Skovoroda, Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Kharkiv-Ukraine, 2009
Private collections in Iraq, Ukraine, Syria, Jordan, UAE, Tunisia, France, Spain, Belgium, Finland, USA, and Japan

PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS

2025 – Tree God of Life, Caisa Culture Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2024 – Migration by Sea, Åbo Svenska Teater (Turku Swedish Theatre), Turku, Finland
2019 – Shahrazad’s Stories / Deportation Collection, Helsingborg Kulturhotelle, Sweden
2017 – Urgent Call, Caisa Culture Centre, Helsinki, Finland
2017 – From Urok to Finland, Titanik Gallery, Turku, Finland
2017 – Put Yourself in Their Place 1, Mynämäki Library, Finland
2016 – To Whom It May Concern 2, DIAK, Helsinki, Finland
2016 – Committed, Kallio Kunsthalle Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2017 – Put Yourself in Their Place 2, 3h+k Gallery, Pori, Finland
2015 – To Whom It May Concern, Kuindzhi Contemporary Art Center, Mariupol, Ukraine
2014 – Bets, Kuindzhi Contemporary Art Center, Mariupol, Ukraine

GROUP EXHIBITIONS & PARTICIPATIONS

Selected Exhibitions:

2021 – Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, Finland
2018 – Civil War, WAM Museum, Turku, Finland
2018 – Consequences – Sodan Seuraukset, Porvoo Taidehalli, Finland
2017 – Art-Ground Exhibition, Viljandi, Estonia
2017 – Memory of War, ART-TU Project, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, Finland
2016 – Journey, ART-TU Project, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, Finland
2016 – OBJEKTI 3.0 Live Drawing, Espoonsilta Gallery, Finland
2016 – Participant in Art-ground exhibition, Viljandi, Estonia
2015 – Ukraine-wide Abstract Painting Exhibition, National Union of Artists, Kiev, Ukraine
2015 – Kuindzhi Award Exhibition, Mariupol Art Museum Arkip Kuindzhi, Mariupol, Ukraine
2015 – Still Life, Mariupol Art Museum Arkip Kuindzhi, Mariupol, Ukraine
2014 – Wide Christmas exhibit ”all kinds of visual, applied and
decorative arts”, Center of National union of Artists, Kiev-Ukraine
2014 – Art Kyiv Contemporary IX, Mystetskyi Arsenal, Kiev, Ukraine
2014 – Theatre is an Art to Reflect, Mantel Hall of Kyiv Fortress, Kiev, Ukraine
2014 – Wide exhibit, dedicated to the Artist’s Day (all kinds of visual, applied and decorative arts) in the center of National union of Artists, Kiev, Ukraine
2014 – 7 artists ”Graphic” in Kuindzhi Contemporary art Centre, Mariupol, Ukraine
2014 – Magical colors of Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk center of Artists, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
2014 – 6th Georgiy Yakutovich Ukraine-wide competitive, Center of National union of Artists, Kiev, Ukraine
2014 – Victory Day, Kuindzhi Contemporary art Centre, Mariupol, Ukraine
2014 – Urban exhibit dedicated to the City Day, Kuindzhi Contemporary art Centre, Mariupol, Ukraine
2011 – Participant in Exhibit “Ishtar Award” in Iraqi Plastic Artists Society,
Baghdad-Iraq.
2014 – Ukraine-wide Independence Day Exhibit, National Union of Artists, Kiev, Ukraine

2011, 2007, 2006 – Ishtar Award, Iraqi Plastic Artists Society, Baghdad, Iraq
2006 – Open subject, Iraqi Plastic Artists Society, Baghdad, Iraq
2006 – Spring, Center of Art and Culture, Baghdad, Iraq
2004 – From Ur to Baghdad, Ministry of Culture, Baghdad, Iraq
2004 – Landscape. Gallery Media, Erbil, Iraq
2004 – Mountains, Palms, Love, in Gallery Media, Erbil, Iraq
2004 – Open subject, French cultural Centre, Baghdad, Iraq
2003 – Small Dreams in a Huge World, Gallery Somer, Baghdad, Iraq
2002 – Paintings from Iraq, Faiza Al Haidari Art Gallery, Baghdad-Iraq
2002, 2001 – Annual Graphic Exhibit, Baghdad Art Centre, Iraq
1996 – Drawings Exhibition, Gallery Somer, Baghdad University, Iraq

Languages: Arabic-native, English-fluent, Russian-fluent, Finnish-basic.