Aïda Alliman Grant Awarded to Inkeri Halme

“The grant allows me to work full-time on painting over the coming months. In addition to supporting my artistic work, I will use the grant to cover expenses for upcoming exhibitions,” says Inkeri Halme. She is currently preparing works for her upcoming solo shows, which will be her first since graduation. Her works will be exhibited in both Berlin and Helsinki this autumn, and will include drawings and paintings.

Halme works primarily with oil paints and oil pastels. “My work is a balancing act between chaos and control. This often appears in the color fields, surfaces, or figures in my paintings. Alongside painting, I draw a lot—and fast. Quick sketching helps me let go of goals and expectations about what my art should look like. This freer approach has also brought humor and playfulness into my work.” Halme and her graduating class finished their studies under exceptional circumstances. “Graduating during the pandemic was a real anticlimax after the intense effort of completing our final projects,” Halme says.

“During my studies I developed a solid painting routine, and it’s been vital to hold on to that amid the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The grant and upcoming exhibitions bring a sense of security and trust in the future. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.”

See more of Inkeri Halme’s work on Instagramissa.

The Vermeeriana Foundation annually awards the Aïda Alliman Grant to an artist aged 30–50 who has graduated from the Free Art School. The grant amounts to 20,000 Swiss francs (approximately €18,400). It may be used to support artistic work, the organization of exhibitions, or to cover personal living expenses.

Previous recipients of the grant include Enoch Bergsten (2020), Pauli Tapola (2019), Verna Joki (2018), Susanna Vuorio (2017), and Aino Salmi (2016).

The 2022 application round for the Aïda Alliman Grant opens in March.