About the Artist – Oksana Salminen
Nordic Contemporary Artist | Original Oil Paintings Inspired by Nature, Light, and Travel
Oksana Salminen is an award-winning contemporary artist who lives and works between Finland and Estonia. Known for her luminous landscapes, seascapes, and nature-inspired oil paintings, her art blends Nordic serenity with emotional depth.
Her works have been exhibited across Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and the USA, and collected worldwide.
She is also represented by several galleries, allowing her artworks to reach a growing audience of international collectors and art admirers.
Oksana’s artistic journey began in childhood. At age ten she won a school art contest, which led to her studies at Tallinn Art School, where her early works were featured in numerous exhibitions. Although she later pursued a successful career in finance and earned master’s degrees in law and psychology, her passion for art remained constant. Eventually, she continued her artistic education at the University of Arts, returning fully to painting with renewed dedication.
Travel plays a central role in Oksana’s inspiration. Historical cities, world cultures, art museums, and natural landscapes ignite her creativity and influence many of her pieces. Being the daughter of a sea captain, she grew up connected to the ocean, and this depth of experience shows in her seascapes, coastal views, and romantic marine scenes. Her paintings also reflect the beauty of Estonian medieval cities and the spectacular Finnish landscapes, including forests, lakes, and the soft glow of Nordic light.
Oksana describes her artistic mission in her own words:
“There are wars, famines, droughts, injustice everywhere. I paint not to ignore the world, but because when I enter my home—my safe and beautiful place—I want to surround myself with enjoyment, positivity, and brightness. Through my art, I hope to make the world a little kinder and more beautiful. I fill my paintings with positive energy, life, and light, and I hope viewers can feel that inspiring energy too.”
With my art, I try to make our world a little bit more beautiful, kinder, and brighter, and to bring more joy and elegance to our lives.
I create my paintings with positive energy and try to transfer it to the canvas, making them full of life, light, and inspiring energy."
Working primarily with oil, acrylic, soft pastels, and mixed media, Oksana’s style combines realism with a touch of abstraction. Her compositions focus on atmosphere, emotion, and natural harmony, inviting viewers to pause and reconnect with peace and beauty.
Family is also a source of great joy and inspiration. Married to Harri Salminen and a mother of three daughters, Oksana often captures family warmth and feminine elegance in her work.
Today, Oksana’s paintings are held in private collections across the USA, the UK, Europe, Asia, Japan, and Australia, and continue to bring light, elegance, and serenity to homes around the world.
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