About The Artist
Sirje Okas Ainso is an artist with a multicultural heritage.
Of Estonian - Argentine background, Sirje spent her early and formative years in Buenos Aires, where she graduated from the National University. She studied Art at the NY State University and now lives and works in Miami, while traveling and exhibiting worldwide.
Sirje’s work reflects her international upbringing and her multifarious interests. The focus in her paintings is always the human figure, with a story behind it. Her current work is in the symbolistic vein, narrative and poetical, displaying a deep feeling for the human being in harmony with the natural habitat. Her latest series – Africa on my Mind – was inspired by her memorable 2010 South African adventure.
Sirje has widely exhibited - in Europe, as well as in the US, Canada and in South America. She has shown her work at the United Nations headquarters in NYC and with the UN Artists Group to benefit the work of UNICEF.
In December 2012 she exhibited within the framework of the prestigious Art Basel Miami Beach, during the Miami Art Week. In January 2014 her work was shown at the MIA-ArtFair aboard the megayacht Seafair and at ArtPalmBeach-Modern/Contemporary/Emerging Artists..
Upcoming is her participation at the Art Biennale 2015 at Nina Torres Fine Arts gallery in Miami (May 29-June 3, 2015)
She has obtained several awards at juried shows and her work is represented in numerous private collections in many countries.
Exhibits and Art Shows
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1976 - Pequeña galería - Café latinoamericano, New York City (NYC), USA.
Galería El Portón, NYC
1978 - St. Lawrence National Bank, Potsdam, NY
Center for Estonian Arts - Tartu College
University of Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
1979 - St. Lawrence National Bank,
Traveling exhibit through seven New York State branches
1983/1986/1992 - Estonian Cultural Center, NYC
1991 - Galerie Sanofi, NYC
1994 - "Save the Rainforests!" United Nations Headquarters in NYC
1995 - Strand Hotel, Pärnu, ESTONIA
Galleria Dix, Helsinki, FINLAND
1999 - “La jungla – tropical y urbana”, Galeria Salar, Centro de artes y comunicación, La Paz, BOLIVIA
2003 - “Tango X 2 Naciones”, Academia Nacional del Tango, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
“TANGO X 2”, Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts, NYC
2004 - “TANGO X 2”, Haus Galerii, Tallinn, ESTONIA
2005 - “Portraits”, Bronxville/Westchester, NY
2007 - “Dancing with the Stars”, Lafayette Gallery, NYC
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
1976 - "Womanshow 76" - Brainerd Gallery, State University, Potsdam, NY, USA
1977 - Womanart Galleries, NYC
1978 - First North Country Juried Show
Center for Music, Drama and Art, Lake Placid, NY
1980 - Galerie Internationale, Stockholm, SWEDEN
1981 - Annual North Country Juried Show
Center for Music, Drama and Art, Lake Placid, NY
1984 - O'Keefe Centre, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
1985 - Etobicoc Civic Center, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
Beaux Arts Show, Bronxville, NY - First Prize in Oils
1986 - Beaux Arts Show, Rye, NY - 2nd Prize in Portraits
1989 - Pleiades Gallery, SOHO, NYC
Angel Orensanz Museum, Sabiñánigo, Northern Aragón, SPAIN
1994/1997 - United Nations Artists Group - UNICEF Benefit – United Nations Headquarters, NYC
1995 - International Exhibition "Man and Woman", Chaplin Art Center, Pärnu, ESTONIA
1996 - Rainforest Series - “A Planet in Danger, a World to be Rescued”, Byron’s Café, Greenwich Village, NYC
1997 - “Multicultural Perspective”, Paulina Rieloff Gallery - Center for Global Cultural Expression - New York Design Center
United Nations Artists Group - NY Foreign Press Center, NYC
2004 - “New Art Vision 2004” – Light Show on the Grand Canal, Venezia, ITALY
2010/2011 - “Estonian Art in Exile” – at KUMU Art Museum in Tallinn and at the Tartu Art Museum, Estonia.
PARTICIPATING SINCE 2012 AT INTERNATIONAL ART FAIRS :
Sept. 2012 – San Diego Contemporary Art Fair ART SD12
Dec. 2012 – Art Basel Miami Beach – ArtExpo+SOLO
Jan. 2014 – MIA-ARTFAIR –aboard the megayacht SEAFAIR
Jan. 2014 – ArtPalmBeach – Modern/Contemporary/Emerging Artists
May 29 - June 3, 2015 – Art Biennale 2015 at Nina Torres Gallery in Miami