Harry Salmi (born 1980) is professional painter from Lahti, Finland and his work has been exhibited in both personal and group exhibitions both in Finland and abroad. Fine art and painting have always been Harry's best work and in 2011 he graduated as a visual artist from Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Design and Fine Arts. He felt strongly that he had found his own place. "I present my high-energy collection of colorful abstract works created with innovative techniques. I paint layers, rhythms and visual stories. I feel that painting is like playing the piano. Both require joint coordination of the mind, eyes and hands, as well as the heart. "Making art is an exciting adventure to me and becoming alive with my emotions. The right 'mind-set', way of thinking is the key to my artistic activities. I really feel alive when I paint."
Harry is a pioneer, experimenter and master of new acrylic techniques. He paints with acrylic markers, -spray, -inks, -heavy-body gel and -tube paints. He combines the tools of acrylic technique and look for new ways of visual expression and contrasts.
Together we create synergy and possible future development paths. Harry feels his inspiration and artistic expression come from varied international abstract art, contemporary art, jazz music and hip- hop culture. Harry has been painting for 35 years and hopes to paint at least another 35 years. Harry spends his free time, especially in the summer, at his familys summer cottage on the shore of lake Isojärvi, Central Finland. He feels that the time spent there relaxes and strengthens his creativity and brings contrast to hectic city life. Harry has also been teaching visual arts part-time for eight years.
Harry loves painting and winter- ice swimming as they free his mind from stress and help him focus. In this way, he process his cultural identity as a Lahti-based visual artist (BA Fine Arts) and painter. Harry lives peacefully with his wife and two years old daughter and works in Lahti, Finland. Harry is grateful for what he has. Many solo and group exhibitions in Finland and also abroad in Malaga, Venice and in Tokyo Japan and in the California USA. "My artist's journey is making art and being nordic artist.
"Act and believe it, and never give up. That is sheer power.”
