Hello!
I’m Saara Salmi, Helsinki based visual artist and photographer. I make key art for marketing purposes for stage and audiovisual productions, and I make art.
I’m passionate about creating fantastical images. Whatever the purpose of the project, my aim is to lure audience into finding more about the production behind the image.
Escapism is the key word in my art. I like to create entities, art projects that are long-lasting and invite the viewer to another world. We all need an espace from our everyday life, don’t we?
I’m also the co-owner and co-founder of the Neo-Victorian photo studio Atelieri O. Haapala and make vintage style portraits with my partner. Our studio is located in Helsinki and is open by appointment.
My main tool is Adobe Photoshop, and I shoot digitally. The hand-painted backdrops that appear in Atelieri O. Haapala photographs, and a lot of the props are made by me - I love getting my hands dirty with real, physical materials to balance out the digitality that dominates my work.
Interested in working together? Get in touch, let’s create something amazing together!
Thanks for working with me!
Member of
Helsinki Artists’ Association
Association of Photographic Artists
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Eskapismia @ Ravintola Sekel, Helsinki
2022 Myrskynkaatamat @ Tripla Urban Art Wall, Helsinki
2020 I See Dead Trees @ Beta Space, Aalto Yliopisto, Espoo
2019 Atelieri O. Haapala @ Studio Bizio, Edinburgh, UK
2018 Kahdessa ajassa @ VB-valokuvakeskus, Kuopio
2018 Like One of Your French Girls @ VB-valokuvakeskus, Kuopio
2016 Marraskuvia @ Kallio Kunsthalle, Helsinki
2014 Aikamatka @ Valokuvakeskus Peri, Turku
2014 Retrospektiivi @ Pohjoinen valokuvakeskus, Oulu
2012 About Alice And The Rabbit @ Galerie Ibis, Vaasa
2012 Alter Ego @ Lönnstömin taidemuseo, Rauma
2011 About Alice And The Rabbit @ Galleria Volga, Helsinki
2010 Atelieri O. Haapala @ Suomen valokuvataiteen museo, Helsinki
2003 Kaikki, mitä et halunnut tietää Liisasta ja Kanista @ Kahvila Valo, Tampere
Group Exhibitions
2023 Tegelikkus ja kujutlus @ Uue Kunsti Muuseum, Pärnu, Estonia
2021 They Were Here @ Anjalan kartano
2021 Concreate Helsinki Urban Art Festival @ Keran Hallit, Espoo
2020 883 sivua @ Valokuvagalleria Hippolyte, Helsinki
2018 Liisa Ihmemaassa @ Keravan taidemuseo Sinkka
2016 I Got You Under My Skin @ Voipaalan taidekeskus
2014 Kutsunäyttely @ PhotoVisa-festivaali, Krasnodar, Russia
2013 Dress Up @ Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA, USA
2013 An Eye For an Ear @ Photography Open Salon, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
2012 An Eye For an Ear @ Photography Open Salon, Gallerie Huit, Arles, France
2012 Alice in Wonderland @ ECCO, Cádiz, Spain
2012 5 Years Of Glitter And Mayhem @ Jukka Male museo, Helsinki
2011 Alice in Wonderland @ Logomo, Turku