Pyyhkala was born under the northern lights of Finland. Often described as a dark, heavy and a deeply an isolated solitary country, the artist seems to carry forth the traditional mood of her native country in her work. As a child, Pyyhkala immigrated to the United States. She grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and later moved to New York City. At the age of 23, she returned to Europe for good and currently resides in Prague. Her recent exhibitions include "Balance Sheet" (Prague); Dream Girls (Prague), 2 1/2 Hours (3.04), and Group shows including "Foreign", "Animals", "Eros" all in 2004. In 2005 Minna will exhibit at the House of Photography in Slovakia as well as in Helsinki.

Pyyhkala's photography is naturally theatrical and presents passing moments or seemingly insignificant objects as profound symbols, while simultaneously maintaining an essential and striking abstract function. This is often accentuated by linking images in diptych or triptych to create provocative colour, texture or linear relationships in juxtaposition with loaded iconography.

In video, Pyyhkala uses abstract objects and unusual cuts in the editing room. She tends to make short - 3 to 7 minute works. Currently she is collaborating on a project for Futura Center of Contemporary Art on a piece called (working title) "Flow-March". more >>>

Pyyhkala is also currently working on a video documentary for Prague TV on "Bag Pipes". This film will trace the history of the bag pipe throughout Europe and feature an 80 year old piper as the lead character in the story line. The film will follow musicians from Hungary, Scotland, the UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ireland and 7 other countries.

She has also shot a feature film that is on tour with indie film festivals -www.rexpatriates.com, music videos - www.nihilists.cz, art videos as well as documentary live music gigs.

Minna has been in a punk rock band named Gussy. After 3 gigs, they were signed to a local label. She works in commercial photography from time to time. Minna worked for the Hollywood film industry in Prague for 5 years - many of the huge commercial films were shot in Prague due to cheaper sets, crew, available sets, etc... She grew tired of this work and now works full time as an artist. more >>>

In December of 2004, Pyyhkälä was accepted by the Arts Council of North Karelia to a residency program. The resulting work, a series entitled "The Snow Beds" were exhibited at Gallery Ahjo in Joensuu, Finland in February this year. Recent exhibitions she has had include "Balance Sheet" (4.04 - Prague); Dream Girls (7.04 - Prague), 2 1/2 Hours (3.04), Group shows including "Foreign", "Animals", "Eros" all in 2004. In 2005 Minna will exhibit her solo series "HI DIE" at the House of Photography in Slovakia and "In Love?" series at the International Festival of Photography in Lodz, Poland.

Minna teaches very popular and successful art photography workshops. The workshop tends to be less technical but more conceptual and "theme and concept" oriented. At the end of each workshop the students exhibit work from these classes. Her latest workshop, "Dream Girls" was selected to be shown at Kyoto Art Center in Japan in February 2006 and will be shown on the island of in Kita-Kyushu City in March 2006. Pyyhkala will also hold art photo workshops in Japan as well as lecture on her photographic work.