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Dora Dalila Cheffi
b. 1990, Tunisia/Finland

Dora Dalila Cheffi (b. 1990, Helsinki) lives and works in Tunis. Her work encompasses painting and sculpture, and more recently, video and installation.

Initially trained in art education, in which she obtained a BA from Aalto University School of Art, Design, and Architecture, where she also studied studied sculpture and painting, her practice developed to encompass a practice that centres on a highly personal approach to painting. Much of Cheffi’s work centres around personal observations and immediate experience, which are translated into works characterised by vivid colours and forms.

Her first solo exhibition, ‘Bitter Oranges,’ occurred in Tunis in February 2020. Her artwork has been part of group shows with Selma Feriani Gallery and The Other Space by Andersen’s Contemporary, and shown online with Taymour Grahne Projects.

Her second solo exhibition, ‘Prestige’ took place at B7L9 Art Station Tunis in 2022, which followed a year-long research residency that focused on weddings in Tunisia.

Her work is part of the Kamel Lazaar Foundation collection, the permanent collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), the Beth Rudin DeWoody collection and the Miina Äkkijyrkkä collection. Dora Dalila Cheffi was selected for participation in the Nuoret 2023 (Young Artists) exhibition.

Education

2014-2018 Bachelor of Arts, Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture, Uniarts, Helsinki, Finland
2012-2014 Photography, Pekka Halonen Academy, Finland
2012 Photojournalism, Helsinki Evangelical College, Helsinki, Finland
2006-2009 Secondary Studies, Lauttasaari Coeducational School, Helsinki, Finland

Solo Exhibitions

2024 Yosr Ben Ammar Gallery, Tunis
2022 The Sunny Nihilist, Cape Town Art Residency
2022 Tunis, Tunisia
2020 Imitating Equilibrium, Taymour Grahne Projects, Online
2020 Screenshots of Novel Realities, The Other Space by Andersen Contemporary, Online
2020 Bitter Oranges, La Marsa, Tunis
2019 Tunisian Sceneries, Espace d’Art Mille Feuilles, Tunis
2017 Ryijyjä, Rupla Helsinki, Finland

Group Exhibitions

2024 'Boundless, Binding', Subliminal Projects x Emergeast, Los Angeles, USA
2023 Exhibition TALAN curated by Ludovic Delalande,Tunis
2023 Nuoret 2023 // Young Artists 2023, Kunsthalle Helsinki
2023 Cinématique de Saint-Étienne
2021 Art, a serious game, MACAAL, Marrakesh, Morocco
2021 K OFF, Gabes Cin Fen, Gabes, Tunisia
2020 Our Lives In T-shirts, Miami, USA
2020 Middle Sea, Institut Finlandais, Paris, France
2020 Summer Show, Selma Feriani Gallery, Tunis, Tunisia
2019 GEYLA, Derjine, Tunisia
2018 Perfect Child, Helsinki Pride Week, Finland
2018 Kohtaamisia, Gallery Kajaste, Helsinki, Finland
2018 FEEL sur REEL, Gallery Dipoli, Espoo, Finland
2018 Free Form, Habitare Fair, Helsinki, Finland
2018 UU Market Launch, Gallery Kalleria, Helsinki, Finland
2014 Hiljaista Huutoa, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland

Grants

2023 Kansan Sivistysrahasto
2020 KONE Foundation, Home Residency Grant
2020 Arts Promotion Center Finland, Promoting Cultural Diversity Grant
2019 Finnish Foreign Ministry (The Finnish Embassy in Tunisia), Maakuvaraha
2017 The Department of Arts Grant of Aalto University