Arlia-Hamda Elmi

My name is Arlia-Hamda Elmi, and I was born in Somalia. I am an abstract expressionist artist who currently lives and works in Helsinki, Finland. My art is known for its vibrant and colorful abstract paintings of different sizes. I spent part of my youth in Tuscany, Italy. At the age of 16, I emigrated to Finland, where I began my studies and worked in the world of art, fashion, and design. I have been painting since I was four years old and started creating fine art in 1995.

Art has always been a tender place for me, and painting has been my escape from the darkness of the world. My brushstrokes are bold, and my sense of color is magical. I let the creative expression within me reach the canvas like a mysterious language. My vision is to create a world of beauty, light, peace, and vibrant colors. My technique is a mixture of an abstract style and breathtaking colors. By experimenting with texture and drying processes while using acrylics, I have developed a unique technique. I apply several layers of thick paint to the canvases and use different tools and my fingers to shape the paint. Some sections are almost sculptures on their own. The light source is another important element in my work. I am a spiritual person and love nature. The sun and the moon, the sea and the sky, animals, humans, trees, and flowers all inspire me and work with energy and light.

I love working on many pieces at once because the variety keeps me present in the painting process, and I don't feel the anxiety that often occurs when I'm pressured to finish a single painting. I recognized this tendency early in my career and developed a solution that allowed me to be productive and at peace with myself at the same time. My main goal in painting is to create unforgettable, dynamic, and colorful artwork that inspires viewers and has profound meaning and sustainable value.