Sari Soininen (b. 1991, Raisio, Finland) is a Finnish fine art photographer known for her vibrant, dreamlike imagery and richly atmospheric visual worlds. Working with color gels, flash, and long exposure techniques, she constructs alternative realities within the moment, exploring the boundaries between perception, symbolism, and the unseen. Her practice is rooted in philosophical inquiry and esoteric thought, informed by personal mystical experiences that challenge and expand the understanding of reality.

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Sari holds an MA in photography from UWE Bristol (2021), BA from Lahti Institute of Design (2014), and she carried out exchange studies in Edinburgh College of Art (2013).​

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Sari has limited edition works in public collections including The Finnish State Art Deposit Collection, Finnish Art Society, Heino collection, Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva and Wihuri Foundation as well as in private collections in Finland, the United States, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom. 

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Publications
2025 Shallow Waters, Misty Waves (self-published)

2024 Drawing Down the Moon (group publication with Jake Benzinger)

2023 The Black Cat Kingdom (Besides Press)

2022 Transcendent Country of the Mind (The Eriskay Connection)

2022 Circles Photo Book - Booooooom
2021 Cohort Group Publication
2021 Smartview zine - Cover Image

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Solo exhibitions

2026 Photographic Centre Nykyaika (upcoming)

2025 Ostrobothnia Photo Center POVA

2025 The Trees Are Not What They Seem - Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

2025 Transcendent Country of the Mind - Galleria Heino 

2024 Terra Incognita - Galleria Koivulinna
2024 Mindscapes - Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva 

2021 Spinster - Boomsatsuma Gallery

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Group exhibitions

2025 Korttelit, FI

2025 Reflex - European Meetings of Photography Festivals and Venues Screening, FR

2025 Galleria Heino - group exhibition, FI

2024 In the Woods, at the Dead of Night - Blue Raven Gallery, US

2024 Conk - Pitted Dates, FI

2024 Visible/Invisible - Gallery Lakeus, FI

2024 Psykedeelit ja luovuus kotimaisessa kuvataiteessa - Vallilan Konepaja, FI

2022 Images at Paris metro stations - RATP Group (Circulation(s)), FR

2022 Circulation(s) Festival, Paris, FR

2021 Nexus - Photo Open Up Italy, IT

2021 Youth Rising in the UK: 1981-2021 - Amber Side Gallery, UK

2021 The Makeable Mind - Noorderlicht International Photo Festival

2021 Nordic Village - Helsinki Photo Festival, FI

2021 Censored Exhibition - Copenhagen Photo Festival, DK

2021 Chania International Photo Festival, GR

2021 Finding a Way Home - Artizan Gallery, UK

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Articles

2025 Turun Sanomat - Exhibition review

2025 Kulttuuritoimitus - Exhibition review

2025 Turun Sanomat - Lsd-psykoosi muutti todellisuuden..

2024 HS - Demonit löytyvät arjesta, kun sitä valottaa hieman toisin

2024 Taidelehti - Moniulotteista ja mystistä valokuvaa Malvassa

2023 Fisheye Magazine - "L’extraordinaire de l’ordinaire"

2023 The Guardian - "God told me I should take more LSD"

2023 British Journal of Photography - Article​

2022 Lensculture - Transcendent Country of the Mind article

2022 Lensculture - Favourite Photobooks 2022

2022 Photographer's Companion Magazine China - Feature

2022 Blind Magazine - Young European Photographers documentary

2022 Vostok Magazine South-Korea - Feature

2022 Nowhere Diary - Feature

2022 Fisheye Magazine - Paradis Percus

2021 Helsingin Sanomat - Taitelija ammentaa psykoosistaan

2021 FT Weekend Magazine - "I confronted demons and saw wonders"​

2021 Libération Magazine - Chat va Mieux

2020 Loupe Magazine - Doors of Perception

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Grants

2025 Finnish Cultural Foundation

2025 Arts Promotion Centre Finland

2024 FinnFoto

2023 Arts Promotion Centre Finland

2022 Arts Promotion Centre Finland

2022 FinnFoto

2021 Frame Finland

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Competitions
2025 Life Framer - Finalist

2021 BJP Edition 365 - Winner
2021 PhMuseum’s Top 14 Graduates to Watch
2021 BJP Fast Track - Winner​

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Lectures & Teaching

2025 Keuruu High School - Workshop

2024 Malva - Workshop

2024 Lahden Steiner koulu - Workshop & lecture

2023 Arts University Bournemouth - Lecture

2023 Kuvajournalistien syyspäivät -Lecture

2023 Lahden Vtry - Lecture

2022 Arts University Bournemouth - Lecture

2021 Boomsatsuma - Workshop
2021 Kameraseura - Lecture
2021 University of Bristol PhotoSoc - Lecture
2021 University of Gloucestershire - Lecture

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Artist Residencies
2025 Santun talo

2022 AIRFrosterus 

2021 Boomsatsuma