Biography

Mirka Raito (1975) is a Finnish visual artist based in Hamburg, Germany. She grew up in Helsinki, Finland and spent a lot of time playing in spinneys and backyards between concrete and trees. The atmosphere of transit, waiting and longing for somewhere else that prevailed in her childhood had a strong influence on Raito's artistic work and on her way of being in the world.

Raito studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki and graduated from the department of painting in 2002 (MA). Since 2003, Raito has lived in Hamburg and completed postgraduate studies at the Hamburg University of Arts in 2006-08. More than 20 years Raito has actively presented her works in solo and group exhibitions in Finland and in Germany. Raito is member of artist-run gallery Huuto in Helsinki, where she has held and organized several solo and group exhibitions. One of the most important was Huuto‘s group exhibition at the Subvision Festival in Hamburg in 2009. Raito is one of the founding members of the artist collective JOKAklubi (2009-). The collaboration with long-term colleagues and visual artists Niina Lehtonen Braun and Tellervo Kalleinen is an important part of Raito‘s artist activities. Together the trio makes participatory performances, events, audio- and video works.

Mirka Raito’s work encompasses multiple mediums like painting, drawing, installation, performance and collage. Essential for her artistic work are intuitive and playful working processes as well as emotional and intimate atmosphere. After her exhibition at Galleria Snow Raito presents her work in a group exhibition in June 2023 at Porvoo Art Hall, Finland. At the moment she is working with the support of a 2-year Grant of Kone Foundation.