Nora Sayyad is a Finnish-Palestinian photographer and visual artist born in Sweden and based in Helsinki. Her work moves between documentary observation and conceptual narrative, blending experimental and cinematic approaches to storytelling. Working across narrative forms, she explores connection, memory, displacement, and lived experience. Her work has been presented internationally through exhibitions, publications, and collaborations with Finnish and international clients and institutions. Sayyad holds a Master’s degree from Aalto University.
Selected clients and collaborators
The Washington Post, The Times and The Sunday Times, Helsingin Sanomat, University of Helsinki, City of Helsinki, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland (TEM), Kone Foundation, Plan International Finland, Hufvudstadsbladet, Lännen Media, Migration Institute of Finland, Nordic Migration Research, University of Helsinki Alumni Association, ELY Centres (Finland), Central Union for Child Welfare of Finland, Nordic Culture Point, Startup Refugees, Refugee Film Festival Helsinki, New Theatre Helsinki, Concurrences, Finnish Museum of Photography, Kamera-lehti, Tulva-lehti, Helsinki-lehti, Sons of Lumière Film Production, I-Mediat Oy, Brown Girls Finland (Ruskeat Tytöt), Kamua Helsinki, Selkomedia, Psykologilehti, and various photography commissions
Selected press and publications
LensCulture, Yle, MTV News, STT, Akimbo, Mustekala, Voima, Finnish Museum of Photography, Tulva-lehti, Kultti ry, UrbanApa, HIAP, Brookline Arts Center, Yhteiset Lapsemme ry, Women From The East (Australia), Vuoden Huiput
Solo Exhibitions
2025-2026 ongoing: Startup Refugees, From Arrival to Belonging? A Decade in Portraits, (multiple exhibitions: Helsinki, Vantaa, Oulu, Lapland), Finland
2025 Pop-up HIAP, Visible Palestine (working title), Helsinki, Finland
2024 Migration Institute of Finland, (multiple exhibitions: Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Vaasa, Seinäjoki, Joensuu, Lapland), Finland
2022 STOA Cultural Center, Wired This Way, Helsinki, Finland
2021 PLAN International Finland, Vuotalo & Maunula House, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Logomo, Finding Forgiveness, Turku, Finland
2017 The Finnish Association for Abducted Children, Finding Forgiveness, Helsinki, Finland
2015 Book Café, Hour Of Your Reality, Turku, Finland
Selected group exhibitions
2025-2026 upcoming & ongoing:The Lost Paintings, Motreal, Boston, Belfast & London
2023 Helsinki City Museum, Being Black – poimintoja afrosuomalaisuudesta, Finland
2020 The Finnish Museum of Photography, Unfold, Helsinki, Finland
2019 Frauen Museum, Finding Forgiveness, Wiesbaden, Germany
2018 Migration Institute of Finland, Islam and I, Turku, Finland
2017 Kaapelitehdas / Valssaamo, Movement, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Art Gallery, Matkalla / På Väg, Vaasa, Finland
Selected public speaking / Teaching / Art Jury
2017 - PLAN international Finland, STOA Cultural Center, Espoo School of Art Finland, Yle Kultur, Migration Institute of Finland, Nordic Migration Research, FemF Art, Tutkijaliitto, Titanik, UrbanApa,ANTI Festival, Suomen Kuvajournalistit
Public collections
Migration Institute of Finland
The Finnish Heritage Agency
The National Library of Finland
Memberships / Professional Affiliations
Women Photograph community and archive, US
The Washington Post Talent Network
Suomen Kuvajournalistit ry
GAP Creatives Database
Kuvasto ry
Artist Residencies
2025 The Lost Paintings Residency, Boston, US
2025 UrbanApa Miniresidencies / HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme, Finland
2025 Summer Well: Art and Activism, Saari Residence, Kone Foundation, Finland
2019 Jouko Lehtola Foundation & The Finnish Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
Seletected Press
The Lost Paintings: A Prelude to Return, Brookline Arts Center
The Lost Paintings at articule and MAI, Montreal, Akimbo
Podcast: Parfyymin tuulahdus, Ruskeat tytöt
Parfyymin tuulahdus, jakso 3: Arabinaiseus Suomen diasporassa, Aicha Manai ja Nora Sayyad, Ruskeat Tytöt
#BLACKLIVESMATTERFINLAND: Documented, Ruskeat tytöt
#FREEPALESTINE: Documented, Ruskeat tytöt
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE: Documents of the Black Lives Matter Demonstrations Finland 2020, Vuoden huiput
Tervetuloa, tervemenoa - Suomi muuttoliikkeessä, Adlibris
Äitien ja tyttärien vahva side, Plan International
The coronavirus pandemic through the lenses of young people, Stoa
Art & Artists: Conference Art and Artists, University of Helsinki