Johanna ORAS
1970, Finland

How an artist works is an eternal mystery. It is associated with an enormous number of beliefs, tales, mystic and legendary stories.

The moment when an idea breaks through and begins to take form in thoughts and then bursts on to the white canvas is always a miracle. The amount of emotion and energy is dizzying, unbelievable. A divine experience.

There is a passionate dialogue between me and my creation, my painting. The atelier turns into a birthplace of scenes, debates, sparkles, carnivals, drama and ecstasy. In my atelier I have many paintings, many dialogues, on the make, in different phases of work as if waiting for their turn. I feel how blood rushes from head to hand and from hand to head. The stream of energy is immeasurable… And how I rejoice in the trace of the brush moving on the smooth surface of the canvas!

Now I want to take you to the world that only a painting can lead you to. Let this world wrap you in dreams, new miracles where only heaven is the limit. I want my paintings to give you a touch of romance, thoughts of life, dizzying adventures, playful moments with a twinkle in the eye and souls’ symphony.

Curriculum Vitae

Studies
1997 The Florence Academy of Art, Florence
1994-1996 The St. Petersburg Academy of Art. Work shop of A.A. Melnikov
1993 Classes in art history at the Helsinki University of Arts and Design, Hämeenlinna
1992-1993 Private Art School, Tampere
1990-1991 Classes in cultural history, Open University, Turku
1989-1990 Folk High School of Finland Proper, creative work & art
1986-1989 High school for visual arts, Turun Lyseo
1975-1977 Wäinö Aaltonen Drawing School, Turku

Teaching positions
1996-1998 1998 Teacher of visual arts group at Auranlaakso Open College
1996-1997 Art camps

Exhibitions in Finland
2013 Seinäjoki Tango Market, Seinäjoki
2013 Johanna Oras Art Manor, Punkaharju
2013 POP UP Event, Antiikki ja Taide Klaara, Lokalahti
2013 Johanna Oras Gallery, Nice, France
2013 Porvoo Art Factory, Porvoo
2012 POP UP Event, Antiikki ja Taide Klaara, Lokalahti
2012 Tampere Central Gallery, Tampere
2010,2011,2012,2013 Johanna Oras Art Manor, Punkaharju
2010 Moisio Art Manor, Elimäki
2009 Gallery Galilei, Turku
2009 Gallery Hanna Kaarina, Helsinki
2008 Art Museum of Yrjö Liipola, Koski TL
1997, 2000, 2005 Art Museum of Varkaus, Varkaus
1998-2008 Culture Gallery, The Town of Pori
2001-2005 Herttua, Kerimäki
2003 Espoo Cultural Centre
2003 Wanha Pappila (The Old Vicarage), Huittinen
2002, 2004, 2007 Crypt of Helsinki Cathedral
2000 Gallery Hanna Kaarina, Haikko Manor, Porvoo
1999 Culture Center Crusell, Uusikaupunki
1998 Summer Salon, Koski
1997, 2001 Galerie Galilei, Turku
1997, 1998, 2001 Galerie Hörhammer, Helsinki
1996 Art Museum of Yrjö Liipola. Koski TL
1995,1996,1997 Art Summer in Heinävesi
1994, 1995 XL International Exhibition of Art, Turku
1994 Hämeenlinna
1993 Tampere, Helsinki

Abroad
2009 Wilhelm Hack Museum/Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz, Ludwingshafen, Germany
2008-2009 Chateau Musee Grimaldi, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France
2008 Danish Design House, Cannes, France
2007 Chateau de Taulane, France
2003 The Finnish Cultural Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2003 The Finnish Cultural Centre, Antwerp, Belgium
2002 Palagio di Parte Guelfa, Florence, Italy
2002 Château des Tourelles, Plessis Trevise, France
1995-1996 Invitational Exhibition. Hungary Körmend, Battahyány, Várkastely, Tapolca, Vasvár, Castum Galeria, Szentgotthárd
1994 State Art Museum, Tsarskoye Selo/St. Petersburg
1994 Stockholm

Joint exhibitons
2012 Galleria Putka, Savonlinna, Finland
2011,2012, 2013 Salon S:N.B.A. Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
2011, 2012, 2013 Ecole de la Loire, France
2010 Ibsen House, Becescaba, Hungary
2009-2010 Galleria d´Arte Mentana, Firenze, Italia
2009 Galleria d´Arte Mentana, Firenze, Italia
2007 Ecole de la Loire, Blois, France
2006 Maison des Artistes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France
2006 Expo Fleur Haut de Cagnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France
2006 Salon S.N.B.A Carrousel du Louvre
2005 Art Festival, Bocaraton Museum of Art, Florida, USA
2004 Saint Paul Summer Song Festival Art Event. Minnesota, USA
2003 Salon S.N.B.A. 2004 Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
2002 Salon S.N.B.A. 2002 Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
2001-2004 La Famille vue par les peintres, France
2001 Salon 2001, SNBA La Société Nationale des Beaux Arts, "Salle Le Nòtre" Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
1998, 2002, 2006 Moisio Art Manor, Elimäki
1996 Alpo Jaakola´s Sculpture Park, Loimaa
1995 Galerie Hörhammer, Helsinki

Prizes
2011 Turku School of Economics Associations Award of Honor
2009 Grand Prix Val de Loire, Academie International Ecole de la Loire, Blois, Ranska
2009 Revelation 2009, Grand Concours International,Federation Nationale de la Culture Francaise
2009 Medaille d´Argent, Merite Culture Francais, Federation Nationale de la Culture Francaise
2009 Toile d´Or, Federation Nationale de la Culture Francaise
2008 Academie International ,'Ecole de la Loire', Grand Prix du Jury
2008 Federation Nationale de la Culture Francaise, Le Trophée REVELATION 2008 Manifestation Concours International Ville de Frejus
2007 Academie International, 'Ecole de la Loire' Diplôme du Val d'or Mention Special du Jury
2005 Medaille d`Argent, Salon S.N.B.A Carrousel du Louvre
2005 MERIT AWARD, Bocaraton Museum of Art, Florida, USA
2003 MENTION D'HONNEUR, at the inauguration of the Salon S.N.B.A. 2003 in the Louvre Johanna Oras was awarded the Mention of Honour, which entitles her to participate in the Salon S. N.B.A. 2004.
2003 HONORARY DIPLOMA and MEDAL of the town of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France
2003 SILVER MEDAL, the French academic organization Arts, Sciences & Lettres awarded Johanna Oras this medal for the high quality of her paintings in the Salon 2001. The artist received the medal in May 2003.
2002 DIPLOME D'HONNEUR, Arts, Sciences & Lettres has also awarded Johanna Oras the Diplome of Honour for the high artistic standard and quality of her works. The Diploma was given to the artist at Château des Tourelles, the castle of the National Society of the Artists of France, on 3rd May 2002.
2001 MENTION D'HONNEUR Salon 2001 Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
1999 FIRST PRIZE in the competition Look at the bag.

Publications
2008 Taiteilijanallet Rivieralla – Artist Teddy Bears on the Riviera ISBN 978-952-5278-84-2
2005 Johanna Oras - Ikuinen Mysteeri- Eternal Mystery ISBN 952-5278-60-3
2005 Maalataan ruokaa! ISBN 952-468-079-3
2000 elämäkerta "Silmää kauneudelle - Eye for Beauty" ISBN 951-9129-40-5
Kuvitus viiteen Anja Välimäen kirjoittamaan lastenkirjaan:
1998 Prättäkitti – Tepon talon outo emäntä
2000 Riki ja Lotikonkellarin aarre
2002 Riki ja susivaara
2004 Riki ja karitsa
2005 Riki ja Hevonlinnan hiisi

Other things worth mentioning
Portrait of Kyllikki Luoto, headmistress of Turun Lyseo.
Two paintings with flight motif for the VIP rooms of Turku Air Port.
Cover painting for Pirjo Tuominen's novel Katariina Hannu's Daughter.
Illustration of four children's books by Anja Välimäki: Prättäkitti - Tepon talon outo emäntä, Riki ja Lotikonkellarin aarre, Riki ja susivaara and Riki ja karitsa.
The original painting for the decoration of the dining room ceiling of the luxury cruiser Carnival Miracle.
Illustrations for glass, Muurlan Lasi, Finland, and for china, Könitz, Germany.
Member of Board, Yrjö Liipola Museum Foundation.
The artist of the Red Feather Campaign 2006 arranged by the Association of Finnish Lions Clubs.
Johanna Oras's paintings can be seen in several public and private collections both in Finland and abroad.

Source: http://www.johannaoras.com/eng/cv.html