The Finnish Cultural Institute in New York is proud to highlight the work of Iria Leino (Dec 22, 1932 – Mar 8, 2022), a Finnish-born artist whose dynamic career bridged the artistic landscapes of Finland and the United States. For decades, Iria Leino’s art remained hidden within the walls of her SoHo loft, quietly preserving the essence of an artist deeply committed to her craft.

Since 2022 the Finnish Cultural Institute has been an active partner in bringing Iria´s work to the audience it deserves. Her innovative approach to painting and sculpture, rooted in both European modernism and American contemporary movements, continues to captivate audiences and push artistic boundaries today.

A Homecoming Exhibition

In 2025, Galerie Forsblom in Helsinki will present an exhibition of Leino’s work, bringing her paintings back to Finland for the first time in decades. The show will align with the 35th anniversary of the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, embodying the impact of cross-cultural artistic exchange that rests at the heart of the FCINY’s mission.

Featuring rarely seen large-scale works from her SoHo studio, the exhibition will provide a deeper look into her artistic evolution. As archival projects and exhibitions like this continue, Leino’s paintings will reach new audiences—securing her place among the defining voices of postwar abstraction.

The story of Iria Leino

Born Irja Leino in Finland, Iria studied art and fashion design before moving to Paris, where she found early success modeling for Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior. A misspelling of her name as “IRIA” during her modeling career inspired her to adopt it as her professional name. In 1964, Leino relocated to New York, where she fully dedicated herself to painting, embracing abstract and experimental techniques.

For over five decades, Leino lived and worked in a 2,000/4,000-square foot loft in SoHo, New York, a raw industrial space she transformed into a sanctuary for creation. Despite her proximity to the booming New York art scene, she largely avoided commercial success, choosing instead to dedicate herself fully to her aft. Leino's apartment, filled with towering canvases, paint-streaked floors, and handwritten notes, remained a living time capsule of a bygone artistic era.

Leino’s artistic process was deeply influenced by her spiritual beliefs. She was a dedicated Buddhist and integrated meditation and ritualistic elements into her practice. Her series Buddhist Rain embodies this philosophy, with rhythmic brushstrokes evoking the passage of time and the impermanence of existence.

Leino’s work, often described as a fusion of meditative abstraction and visceral texture, invites viewers into a deeply personal exploration of form, emotion, and spirituality. Her methods were distinct: She often painted with her hands, sometimes embedding materials such as rocks, fabric, and found objects into thick acrylic surfaces. This approach emphasized Leino’s focus on texture and materiality, creating works that were both physically and emotionally immersive.

Preserving Iria Leino’s Artistic Legacy

Following Iria Leino’s passing in 2022, efforts began to document, preserve, and exhibit her work. Leaving behind over 1,000 artworks, many of which had never been exhibited, her legacy is now receiving long-overdue recognition. In 2023, Harper’s Gallery in New York hosted a landmark exhibition, marking a significant step in acknowledging Leino’s place in art history. Under the guidance of art historian Peter Hastings Falk, the Iria Leino Trust has begun cataloging her extensive collection, ensuring that her paintings, once confined to her loft, can reach new audiences.

A documentary project titled IRIA, from creative producer Kati Aho and director Janna Kyllästinen, is in development, exploring Leino’s life and artistic contributions. The Finnish Cultural Institute in New York (FCINY) serves as the film’s fiscal sponsor, supporting its production and outreach.

New Perspectives on Leino’s Work

The Finnish Cultural Institute in New York is proud to support initiatives that honor Leino’s contributions to both Finnish and American art. As plans for future traveling exhibitions and archival projects take shape, her paintings will continue to inspire new generations of artists and scholars.

Through these efforts, Leino’s legacy will not only be preserved but reintroduced to the world—just as she would have wanted, through her art itself.

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2025, we celebrated the incredible life and artistry of Iria Leino with the Finnposium webinar, featuring Creative Producer Kati Aho, IRIA documentary director Janna Kyllästinen, acclaimed Finnish actor Laura Birn, and moderator Kati Laakso from the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York.

Watch here: Iria Leino: An Extraordinary Life Webinar

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IRIA Leino