BIO
Nora Sayyad (b. 1991) is a Finnish-Palestinian photographer, artist, and visual storyteller born in Sweden who takes an experimental and empathic approach to storytelling. Blending documentary, artistic, and conceptual practices, she immerses in borders between reality and fiction, culture, identities, and intersectionality. Her work condenses also themes of human rights and wellbeing. Sayyad holds a Master of Arts degree from Aalto University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture.
Sayyad is residing in Helsinki, Finland.
Available for projects and commissions.
ellinorasayyad@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2022 Master of Arts (MA) in Photography & Film, Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture, Helsinki, FI
2017 Bachelor of Culture and Arts (BA) in Photography, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Jakobstad, FI
2016 Cultural Studies (exchange), University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, DE
2015 Photography (exchange), University of Art & Design BTK, Berlin, DE
PUBLICATIONS AND CLIENTS
PLAN international Finland, Kone Foundation, The Finnish Museum of Photography, Girls Finland, Sons of Lumière Film Production, Refugee Film Festival Helsinki, Nordic Culture Point Finland, Hufvudstadsbladet, Helsingin Sanomat, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE: Documents of the Black Lives Matter Demonstrations Finland 2020, Tulva-lehti, Kamera-lehti, Helsinki-lehti, I-Mediat Oy, Lännen Media, Nordic Migration Research organisation, Migration Institute of Finland, The University of Helsinki, City of Helsinki, Central Union for Child Welfare of Finland NGO, The magazine for the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters, The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, Laitilan Sanomat, The Finnish Nature League, Finn-Guild Links magazine (UK), Koltuor (SWE), Yle Kultur, Tiistai Productions, STOA Helsinki, Freestyle-Lehti, Marcatodes Brazil, New Theatre Helsinki, Private collections and photography work (e.g. portraits & weddings)
EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2024 Migration Institute of Finland (upcoming several exhibitions)
2022 STOA Cultural Center Helsinki, Finland
2021 PLAN international Finland, Vuotalo & Maunula-talo, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Logomo, Turku, Finland
2017 The Finnish Association For Abducted Children, Helsinki, Finland
2015 Book Café, Turku, Finland
Group
2023 Helsinki City Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2020 The Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland
2019 Frauen Museum, Wiesbaden, Germany
2018 Migration Institute of Finland, Turku, Finland
2017 Kaapelitehdas/Valssaaamo, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Art Gallery, Vaasa, Finland
2017 Tupakkamakasiini, Jakobstad, Finland
GRANTS / AWARDS / MENTORSHIP
2023 Palestinian Voices in Finland, Societal ETMU award 2023
2021 No Justice, No Peace book, The most beautiful books, Special Books category, Finland
2021 No Justice, No Peace book, Vuoden Huiput, Gold in Jokerit category, Finland
2021 Shortlisted for the No Justice, No Peace book, Vuoden Huiput, Grafia, Finland
2020 Grafia (non-profit production grant for the No Justice, No Peace book)
2020 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2020 Aalto ARTS Production Grant
2020 JOKES - The Foundation to Promote Journalistic Culture thesis Grant
2018-2019 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland Mentorship Program working grant
2018 Ocean in a Drop – Developing Together organisation NGO
2017 Novia University of Applied Sciences thesis Grant
2016 The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
2010 Third place in creative writing Award - Vetskari-project
ARTIST RESIDENCY
2024 Donnerska residenset, Föreningen Konstsamfundet, Helsinki, Finland (upcoming)
2019 Jouko Lehtola Foundation and The Finnish Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia
LECTURES / REPRESENTATION ACTIVITIES
2017 - Art teaching, curator, social media creator, human rights, and workshops e.g. PLAN international Finland, Stoa culture centre Finland, Espoo School of Art Finland, Sumud, and Palestinian Voices in Finland.
2017 - Artist talks, public talking, podcasts, panelist, and interviews e.g. Tulva, Brown Girls Finland, Yle Kultur, RARE Media, Migration Institute of Finland, Nordic Migration Research (NMR), The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Finland, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, PLAN international Finland, FemF Art: Movement – Feminist Forum, Cable Factory Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland, and Women From The East Australia, Students of Tatiane Rodrigues do Prado, translator and English tutor based in São Paulo, Brazil
WORK IN COLLECTIONS
Migration Institute of Finland
The Finnish Heritage Agency, Finland
The National Library, Finland
Private collections, Finland
Women Photograph database and community, US
MEMBERSHIP
Kuvasto
Women Photograph
Sumud – The Finnish Palestine Network, board member