Nora Sayyad (b. 1991) is a Finnish-Palestinian photographer, artist, and visual reporter whose experimental lens pushes the boundaries of documentary and fictional storytelling. Born in Sweden and based in Helsinki, she weaves culture, identity, and intersectionality into bold narratives that challenge perception and center empathy. Holding a Master’s degree from Aalto University, Sayyad’s work spans human rights, wellbeing, and the complex liminal spaces of lived experience.
Selected clients and collaborators include The Washington Post, Helsingin Sanomat, Yle Kultur, The Finnish Museum of Photography, The University of Helsinki, City of Helsinki, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland (TEM), The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres), Kone Foundation, PLAN International Finland, Nordic Culture Point, Migration Institute of Finland, Brown Girls Finland (Ruskeat Tytöt), Central Union for Child Welfare of Finland, Refugee Film Festival Helsinki, Startup Refugees, Hufvudstadsbladet, Concurrences, Kamera-lehti, Tulva-lehti, New Theatre Helsinki, Sons of Lumière Film Production, Nordic Migration Research, Helsinki-lehti, Lännen Media, I-Mediat Oy, and various photography commissions.
Solo Exhibitions
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
2023 Helsinki City Museum, BLM, Helsinki, 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
2017 - PLAN international Finland, STOA Cultural Center, Espoo School of Art Finland, Yle Kultur, Migration Institute of Finland, Nordic Migration Research, FemF Art, Tutkijaliitto
Public collections
Migration Institute of Finland
The Finnish Heritage Agency
The National Library of Finland
Memberships
Women Photograph community and archive, US
Kuvasto ry
Artist Residencies
2025 Summer Well: Art and Activism, Saari Residence, Kone Foundation, Finland
2019 Jouko Lehtola Foundation & The Finnish Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia