Maija Bondar (b. 1981) was born in Ukraine. At the age of seven, she moved to Russia with her family, where she lived for 17 years. She currently lives and works in Finland.
In 2023, Maija received her initial education in photography and is now studying at the Art Academy of the Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Her work has been recognized by CPOY
(College Photographers of the Year), Helsinki Photo Festival, and others. Maija
is most interested in people and their reactions to the world around them. In
her projects, she explores themes of identity, human perception of the
environment, and interaction with the world.
Solo exhibition
2024 We and Others Integration2024, Logomo, Turku, Finland
Group exhibitions
2024 Kymmenes kaiku Köysiratagalleria, Turk, Finland
Jokainen ihminen on pieni maailma Galleria Hoppa, Jyväskylä, Finland
Just women Galerie Joseph Le Palais, Paris
2023 Nordic photography Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki Photo Festival Sanoma House, Helsinki, Finland
Selected Awards
2023 College Photographer of the Year finalist
Helsinki Photo Festival winner
Kolga Tbilisi Photo shortlist
Publications
Helsingin Sanomat | See: Zeen Magazine | Float Magazine | F-Stop Magazine | Republic Magasin | Iconic Artist Magazine | “Colors of Orthodoxy” book | “Alue 16” book
Grants
2024 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Finnfot
Education
2024 — Turku University of Applied Science, Fine Arts (Turku, Finland)
2024 Elina Brotherus Masterclass
2022 — 2024 Academy of Documentary and Art Photography Fotografika (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
2022 — 2023 Practical school Gradia, Media and visual expression Faculty (Jyväskylä, Finland)
1998 — 2004 North-Western State Technical University “Economics and Management at the
Enterprise” (Saint Petersburg, Russia)