Finnish artist Iiu Susiraja, known for her deadpan self-portraits that blend vulnerability and absurdity, is opening her first New York solo exhibition since her 2023 MoMA PS1 show, titled “A style called a dead fish,” at the gallery Gratin on December 11. The article, an interview by a critic, explores Susiraja’s practice of embracing her “inner clown” through photographs that feature nudity, balloons, and domestic props, often staged in her own home or her parents’ home in Turku. New works include images like “Lift up, Breasts” (2025), where helium balloons are taped to her nipples, and a sculpture involving photocopying machines that will distribute keepsakes during the show.
This matters because Susiraja’s work represents a distinctive voice in contemporary photography, connecting to art-historical precedents like Ana Mendieta and Francesca Woodman while forging a unique, unsettling intimacy. Her ability to balance forthrightness with ambiguity has made her a critical favorite, and this exhibition marks a key moment in her career as she continues to explore aging, the body, and domestic space. The article also highlights how her practice resonates with younger artists like Sasha Gordon, underscoring her influence on current trends in self-portraiture and conceptual photography.