Emma Ainala

Emma Ainala (b. 1989) lives and works in Savonlinna.

Ainala’s figurative paintings are rich in detail and layered with cultural references. Her works often depict young women, animals, and mythical creatures fused into hybrids – femme fatale figures that merge ancient myth with contemporary imagery.

Ainala’s paintings are distinguished by their surreal storytelling and atmospheres of contradiction. Her ambiguous figures often blend with the interiors they inhabit, sometimes draped in fabrics or wallpaper, while detached body parts are imaginatively repurposed for everyday functions.

The intricate details and carefully posed figures evoke the sensation of being watched. Drawing on personal experience yet resonating broadly, Ainala’s paintings capture shared emotions and human experiences – a universality reinforced by the simultaneous presence of multiple female figures.

Exhibition Freshly Painted 14.5.–30.8.2026

The painting creates the impression of an interior space resembling a room, framed by light turquoise curtains that fall to the floor. In the center of the space, around a curved red sofa, there are seven different, imaginary young female figures.

Nesting Lounge, 2026. Oil on canvas, 180 x 180 cm. Image: Johannes Ekholm. Courtesy Helsinki Contemporary.