Rosamaría Bolom
Immigrant, feminist, transdisciplinary artist, and cultural worker. Throughout her artistic and personal journey, she has discovered that art and community are the pillars of her path. Pillars that have led her to delve deeper into the concept of human dignity and what it means to be a woman in times of globalization.
Rosamaría Bolom by Elina Nissinen
Rosamaría Bolom
Mexico (1977)
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I am Rosamaría. My artistic name is Bolom, which means jaguar/feline in the Tzotzil language. I am an immigrant, a feminist, an interdisciplinary artist, and a cultural worker. Throughout my artistic and personal journey, I have found that art and community are the pillars that hold everything together.
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This path began in the year 2000, and two years later, it took a decisive turn thanks to an educational project that connected me with women and children in Zapatista communities in southeastern Mexico. It was there that the children gave me the name Bolom.
Later, when I crossed the Atlantic and settled in Finland, I had experiences that deeply shaped and enriched my reflection on what it means to be an immigrant woman in times of globalization—as well as the need to create art in community.
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Olen Rosamaría. Taiteilijanimeni on Bolom, mikä tarkoittaa tzotzil-kielellä jaguaaria/kissapetoa. Olen siirtolainen, feministi, poikkitaiteellinen taiteilija ja kulttuurityöntekijä. Taiteellisen ja henkilökohtaisen matkani aikana olen löytänyt taiteesta ja yhteisöstä yhdistävät peruspilarit.
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Tämä matka alkoi vuonna 2000, ja kaksi vuotta myöhemmin se sai ratkaisevan käänteen erään koulutusprojektin kautta, jossa työskentelin zapatistiyhteisöjen naisten ja lasten kanssa Kaakkois-Meksikossa. Nämä lapset antoivat minulle nimen Bolom.
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Myöhemmin, ylitettyäni Atlantin ja asetuttuani Suomeen, olen kokenut tapahtumia, jotka ovat muovanneet ja rikastuttaneet ymmärrystäni siitä, mitä tarkoittaa olla maahanmuuttajanainen globalisaation aikana, sekä siitä, miksi taidetta on tehtävä yhteisössä.
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EDUCATION
2002
Psychology
Bachelor’s Thesis: Circus Community, A Ethnographic Study
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco, Mexico City
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​FURTHER TRAINING
​2014
Art Therapy. Group process
Open Aalto University
Helsinki, Finland
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GRANTS
2024. Naisasialiitto Unioni. Small support for an encounter in the context of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women2023. Naisasiaunioni liitto. Acuerpamineto against violence.
2022. Naisasiaunioni liitto. Small support for Otroas Feminismoas Encounters.
2020. Kari Mattila Foundation - Project Grant. We Want What We Do. Actions against gender violence through +Collective
2020. Suomen Kultuurirahasto - Project Grant. Mechanism of Conformity (MOC). Production & Installation of four-channel video work. Mänttä Art Festival XXV. Mänttä
2020. TAIKE - Project grant. Third Space: Resisting Together. Intime multimedia art program
2019. TAIKE - Travel grant. La Colectiva book presentation in Mexico. Finland
2019. Alli Paasikivi - Project grant. Mask and Theater workshop in collaboration with Yhteiset Lapsemme. Finland
2018. TAIKE - Project grant. Third Space: Five Years Re-Defining Diversity. Curatorial program and publication. Finland
2018. Helsinki City - Project Grant. Third Space Festival. Dealing with equality and diversity. Finland
2018. Kari Mattila Foundation - Project Grant. Mixtas & Radicales. Migration, identity and belonging. Finland
2018. Catalysti Transcultural Artists in Finland - Project grant. MOC Collective. Hair and identity. Espoo
2018. Lasten ja Nuorten Säätiö - Glow Grant. Masks and Theater workshop. Monikulttuurisessa Koti Ilolassa. Finland
2017. Alfred Kordelin - Lifelong Learning Grant. Children rights and animals rights. Finland
2017. Kone Säätiö - Muistikuvat Project Grant. Latin American identity in Finland. Finland
2017. TAIKE - Project Grant. MOC COllective. Hair and Identity. Helsinki
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COMING Exhibitions
2025 Artivism on Edges – Art, Activism, and Gendered Violence. Lapland, Finland
2025 Skulls and skeletons of Finnish characters on the Day of the Dead at Helinä Rautavaara Museum
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SOLO Exhibitions
25-27.8.23 Katu kertoo Suomesta. Tutkijaliitto Kesäkoulu. Meritorni. Helsinki
3.10-24.11.22 Ilo on lapsen Oikeus. Oikeudet Kaikille! Sipoo, Finland
2-28.11.21 Auringon ja Kuun pimennyksen jälkeen. BokVillan
 2.27.11.20 Ilo on lapsen oikeus ja taide on elämää. Solo exhibition at Galleria Myötatuuli, Raahe, Finland
2020 Ilo on lapsen Oikeus. Oikeudet Kaikille!, Hamina Main Library, Finland
2019 Ilo on lapsen Oikeus. Oikeudet Kaikille!, Main Library of Kotka
2019 Ilo on lapsen Oikeus. Oikeudet Kaikille!, International Cultural Centre CAISA, Helsinki
2018 Ilo on lapsen Oikeus. Oikeudet Kaikille!, Art Cultural Centre Annantalo, Helsinki
2018 Patways of Desire. Kraam Gallery. Tallinn, Estonia
2016 Katu Kertoo. Photography installation. Third Space Gallery. Helsinki
2016 Lentaviä Naisia Installation. Third Space Gallery. Helsinki
2015 Naamiot ja eläinhahmoja, Porvoon Taidetehdas, Porvoo, Finland
2014 (UN) Persona. Third Space Gallery. Helsinki 
2013 Oraalisuus. Pub Sirdie. Helsinki 
2012 Seitsemän Modernia Kuolemansyntiä. Rikhardinkatu Kirjasto. Helsinki 
2010 Seitsemän Syntiä Tai Nautinnon Teitä. Arla Sauna. Helsinki 
2009 Nainen, Loputtomat Mahdollisuudet. Rauhanasema. Helsinki
2009 Mujeres Traba ja...ando. Legislative Assembly of the Federal District. Mexico, D.F 
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GROUP / CURATED Exhibitions
2023 Art Lotery. Outo Olo. Helsinki
2023 Under the Rainbow. Summer exhibition. Helsinki Artists' Association Art. Helsinki
2021 My Childhood at Annantalo. Annantalo Arts Centre, Helsinki
2021 NeoNorte 3.0. Myymälä2, Helsinki
2021 Mirror. immersive Installation by MOC Collective. Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, Finland
2020 2084. Exhibition and collective art festival curated by Anne Klontz through Catalysti ry, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki
2020 Fragmentos. Neo-surrealistic cardboard, graphite, colleges and photographs. Bokvillan Galleria. Helsinki
2019 Katu kertoo Suomesta. La Colectiva se Alimenta. Galleria Más Allá. Puebla, Mexico
2018 Me recuerdo a mí misma//Muistan itseni. Installation at "Objekti" -outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture, installation and environmental art in and around Espoon keskus- with Mechanics of the Conformity supported by Catalysti and TAIKE.
2018 Katu Kertoo Suomesta at Dear Suomi Exhibition. Collective Exhibition curated by Hanna Kress for Helsinki International Artists Association. Rantakasarmi Gallery, Suomenlinna, Finland.
2017 Interrupted Cosiness. Poetry-sonic-installation at the Contemporary Museum of Estonia EKKM. Tallinn, Estonia
2017 Mechanics of the Conformity. Collaborative intervention to explore concepts of identity, relationships, perceptions and otherness through hair between Catalysti artists supported by Catalysti, {RUNO - KOE} - Experimental Poetry Room, Third Space, Taike and the City of Helsinki.
2017 Night of the Arts. Collective exhibition as part of Helsinki International Artists’ Association. Weekend Gallery. Helsinki. Finland
​2016 Metamorphosis. Collective exhibition by Helsinki International Artists Association. Caisa Cultural Centre. Finland
2015 Echoes. Poetry intervention at Mänttä Art Festival with Third Space Collective and Yvapurü Samaniego. Finland
2015 Paljastus: Erotic Exposure. Galleria Värinä, Rovaniemi, Finland
2015 Women Communicating Across and Through Art. Caisa Cultural Centre, Finland
2014 Ayotzinapa: Actions and reflections against impunity Installation. Third Space Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2014 Bestiario Onírico, Caisa International Cultural Centre, Finland
2013 Nimetön. Installation at Cinemaissi Festivaali. Bio Rex Elokuvateatteri. Helsinki, Finland 
2011 Caminos al Placer. Caisa Kulttuurikeskus. Helsinki 
2009 TIR Collective exhibition. Tlalpan Cultural Centre. Mexico, D.F 
2009 Art-Object. Futurama Youth Centre, Art and Culture. Mexico, D.F
2009 Discourses of Pleasure. Azcapotzalco Cultural Centre. Mexico, D.F
2008 Women in Art. Azcapotzalco Cultural Centre. Mexico, D.F
2008 TGP Collective exhibition. Taller de la Gráfica Popular. Mexico, D.F
2008 La A no excluye la Z. Metro Candelaria, gallery itinerant. Mexico, D.F 
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COMMUNITARIAN/COLLABORATIVE/CONVERSATIONAL installations
2024 Zapatos Rojos. Collaborative art Installation designed by Mexican artist Elina Chauvet. Maailmankylässä. Helsinki, Finland
2024 El Tendedero. Pop-up installation at Vapaakaupungin Olohuone. Helsinki, Finland.
2023 Corpas que Voam. Installation-conversational. Centro Cultural María Antonia. São Paulo, Brasil
2022 Kevät Olentoja. Public Art Installation
2021 PRESENCIA/LÄSNÄOLO/PRESENCE. Collaborative installation with the Red de Mujeres Finlandia. Third Space. Finland
2020 Kuule Joulu Tulee! Public Art Installation with children. Espoo City
2020 Zapatos Rojos. Collaborative art Installation designed by Mexican artist Elina Chauvet. Kansalaistori, Helsinki
2019 MOC. Hair and Identity. Conversational-workshop at Objekti Festivaali4. Espoo
2019 Communitarian Intervention. Collective painting at Imanta Urban Festival in Riga. Riga, Latvia​
2019 Muistikuvat. Collaborative installation with La Colectiva Collective. Parque Bicentenario. Toluca. State of Mexico
2018 Territories. Collaborative installation with Colectiva Collective. Third Space. Helsinki, Finland
2018 R e c o r t e s // L e i k k a u k s e t // b o d (I E S) Collaborative installation with La Colectiva. Vastavirta Festival. Helsinki
2017 Mechanics of the Conformity. Collaborative intervention to explore concepts of identity, relationships, perceptions and otherness through hair between Catalysti artists supported by Catalysti, {RUNO - KOE} - Experimental Poetry Room, Third Space, Taike and the City of Helsinki
2017 Unattainable Maps. Visual poetry and collage with Martina Miño, Roxana Crisólogo, Lalo Barrubia. Maailma Kylässä, Helsinki
2016 Lentävä Naiset. Installation-textual. Third Space Gallery. Helsinki​
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CURED Exhibitions
2017 Pihalla!? Mask exhibition from the Puppet & Mask Theater Workshop project with Finnish and refugees youth through Yhteiset Lapsemme Ry supported by TAIKE as part of the Collective Exhibition at Annantalo. Annantalo, Helsinki. Finland
2015 Niños Héroes by Humberto Valdéz into the Mexican Cultural Month, Porvoon Taidetehdas, Porvoo, Finland
2014 La Reina de los Tacos by Humberto Valdéz into the Mexican Cultural Month, Caisa International Cultural Centre, Finland
INTERVENTION & PERFORMANCES
2024 Fandango de Día de Muertos. A communitarian event dedicated to our deceased loved ones. In collaboration with Helinä Rautavaara Museum. Finland
2019 Participatory Intervention. Imantas Urban Festival with Sepideh Rahaa as a collaboration of Third Space Colective. Riga, Latvia
2019 Mechanics of Conformity. Duo performance with Sepideh Rahaa as a collaboration of MOC Colective. Performance Riga Festival. Riga, Latvia
2018 Juuret by La Colectiva collective. RunoKuu festival. Lavaklubi, Helsinki. Finland
Roots and Dreams. Concept for the Sanahuone: Revolutionary poetry performance. RunoKuu Festival. Bio Rex, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Three points of view: What is the meaning of life? Performativa Assembly with music, contemporary dance and poetry. With the intervention of Viktor X, Geneva Rosett-Hafter at the Night of the Arts. Weekend Gallery. Helsinki. Finland
2017 Unattainable Maps. Visual poetry and collage with Martina Miño, Roxana Crisólogo, Lalo Barrubia. Maailma Kylässä, Helsinki
​2016 Voices of F. Monika-Naiset Liito. Astoria Saali. Helsinki
2016 Mutanttikieltä goes Jyväskylä. Poetry intervention with the intervention of the Nepalist artist, Abhisek Nakarmi. Gloria Cultural Centre. Jyväskylä
2016 Ashes. Intervention at Ashes Performance by Diana Soria Hernandez in the Teatteri Korkeakoulu
2016 Voices of F. Feminist Festival of Social Theater. St. Petersburg, Russia
2016 OccupARTy. Intervention with Eva’s Ribs project in Caisa at OccupARTy Artist' Week. Caisa
2016 Kehonvapaus. Moderm Slaves. Performance at Caisa.
​2015 Sanahuone. Migrate. Poetry performance with sound art performance at Caisa
2015 Ayotzinapa: Actions and Reflections. Intervention and performance at Third Space, Helsinki
2014 Ayotzinapa: Actions and Reflections. Intervention and performance at Third Space, Helsinki
2014 Sielun kieli. Nainen joka puhu suomea. Poetry performance at Caisa Cultural Centre, Helsinki
2014 Noche Andaluza. -Tarde de Toros. Poetry & flamenco with Cinta Hermo, Helmi Restaurant, Helsinki
2014 Songs of life & death. Poetry performance with James Andean at Caisa Cultural Centre, Helsinki
2014 Kirjallisuusilta: Nainen, joka puhuu suomea. Poetry evening at Pakilan Kirkko, Helsinki
2014 Prospero's veils. Intervention at City Ghettos of Today, Centre Forum, Helsinki
2014 Runobus. Poetry performance Maailma Kylässä, Helsinki
2014 Caracol multicultural: Rojos ayer-rojos ahora. Poetry performance at Maailman Kirja, Helsinki
2014 Poetry Show Case. Rojos ayer-rojos ahora. Poetry performance at Third Space, Helsinki
2014 Jälkilöylyt. Poetry sauna at Arla Sauna, Helsinki
2014 Naisten elämäntarinoita. Poetry happening at Caisa Cultural Centre, Helsinki
2014 Alku. Poetry happening at Third Space, Helsinki
2014 Talvitunnelma. Poetry happening Pub Sirdie, Helsinki
2013 Orality. Poetry Happening at Pub Sirdie, Helsinki
MEDIA ART / SCREENINGS
2022 Me Recuerdo a mí misma. Screening at Cinemaissí. Helsinki. Finland
2022 Me Recuerdo a mí misma. Screening at IX Visual Poetry Encounter. Peñaroya-PuebloNuevo, Cordoba, Spain
2021 Mixtas y Radicales. Reading video-poetry. Subversive Feminisms. Tutkijaliitto. Suomenlinna, Finland
2020 Me Recuerdo a mí misma. Screening at VAFT /Video Art Festival Turku. Turku, Finland
2020 I remember myself -screening. Video Art Festival Turku VAFT 2020. Turku, Finland
2018 I remember myself. Mechanics of the Conformity at Äkkigalleria
2017 Interrupted Cosiness. Sound Poem in collaboration with Miguel Cortes. Finland-Mexico
2015 Echos. Sound Poem in collaboration with Juan Duarte. Finland
2014 Motorized Memories, video-poetry realized by Jing Wang and Eero Heikkinen. Video Poetry Marathon of Hack your Heritage, Aalto University, Helsinki
2014 Caracol Multicultural, Sivuvalo's book trailler with Anna Recasens & Ana Gutieszca
PUBLICATIONS
Mirar y sentir con otros ojos. Tas Pol Be. Compilación de testimonios y reportes. México 2024.
Cristina Rivera Garza kirjoittaa tien ulos patriarkaatista. Tulva. 3.9.24
Abortti vihdoin laillinen Meksikossa. Unioni Naisasialiitto Suomessa Blog
Mexican Day of Death in Finland. Wiki-inventory for living Heritage. Online publication.
Me recuerdo a mí misma//Muistan itseni// I remember myself. XV Mäntänkuvataideviikot. 2021, Finland
Me recuerdo a mí misma//Muistan itseni// I remember myself. Visual poetry intervention at Objekti outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture, installation and environmental art Trapesa, Espoo
Todellisuuden Jälkiä. POEM.A Book, Art Artic Poetry, 1/2016, Finland
Passengers. Echoes Intervention by Third Space Collective and Yvapurü Bonnin at Mäntän Kuvataideviikot 2015, Finland
Taidetyöpajat toivat iloa ja vaihtelua, Yhteiset Lapsemme Magazine No.4/2014, Finland
Promoviendo talleres de arte, Yhteiset Lapsemme No. 3/2014, Finland
Recuerdos motorizados, Radiador Magazine No. 35/2014, Mexico
Sivuvalo book compilation, Into Kustannus, 2014, Mexico
Soy todas y ninguna. Mujer, ninfa, poeta. Boletín 1/2014, Suomen Espanjanopettajat Ry, Finland
Piñata, Boletín 1/2013, Boletín 1/2013, Suomen Espanjanopettajat Ry, Finland
Rojos Trilogía, Visión Magazine: Estudios de Publicación Política No. 30, 2011 Mexico
Salasanat, Blog. http://salasanat.wordpress.com/
Traspasando Fronteras  Teóricas Blog https://traspasandofronterasteoricas.wordpress.com/
INTERVIEWS
Yhdessä by Riina Rastas. Maailmankuvalehti. 2/2024. Finland
Tappava Virus by Kaisu Sofia Kinnunen. MeNaiset 8/2021. Finland
Lasten Puolesta by Mikko Määttä. Raahen Seutu. November 2020. Finland
Rosamaria Bolomin taidetta galleriassa Myötätuulessa by Jussi Häkkilä. Radio Pooki, November 2020. Finland
Rosamaría Bolom tekee vaikuttavaa taidetta by Irma Marttinen. ISO NRO, May 2018, No. 25, Finland
Rosamaría Bolom haluaa tehdä vaikuttavaa taidetta by Irma Marttinen. Yhteiset Lapsemme Kevätnumero 2018, 1-2018, Finland
Get together Ströhössä! Naamioita, capoeiraa ja Seksikäs suklaa by Tanja Kuisma. Uusimaa,
December 2017, Finland
I mexiko får döden glittra by Maja-Stina Andersson. hbl.fi, October 2014, Finland
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​SPEECHES IN SEMINARS, COURSES, WORKSHOPS
2024 Elävä kulttuuriperintö ja katsomusten kirjo. Speaker on Death and its culture in different parts of the world. Live Heritage Seminar organized by Museovirasto. Finland
2024 Kulps- Kulttuurikurkaus. High-quality artistic and pedagogical activities realize the objectives of the early childhood education plan in Espoo City.
2024 Kulttuurikurkaus. High-quality artistic and pedagogical activities realize the objectives of the early childhood education plan in Espoo City.
2023 COLLECTIVE BODYING —A C U E R P A R N O S— an intensive day of activities to reflect, share and do things together. Helsinki.
2023 Corpas que Voam. Conversational and Installation Workshop. Sau Paulo, Brasil
2023 Mexican Day of the Dead in Finland. A tradition of Mexican ancestors, which is also celebrated in Finland. Speaker at the seminar organized by Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland. Finland
2023 Kulttuurikurkaus. High-quality artistic and pedagogical activities realize the objectives of the early childhood education plan in Espoo City.
2022 Mexican Day of the Dead in Finland. How to preserve tradition in Finland. Speaker at the cultural ambassadors project. Museovirasto. Finland
2021 Mujer Migrante. Tejiendo Comunidad. Speaker at the seminar organized by the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Puebla
2020 Migración. Catarsis, arte y literatura. Spanish Philology. University of Helsinki
2018 Masks and Theater. Workshop for Yhteiset Lapsemme with the support of Nuori.fi
2018 Lintutalo. Mexican cardboard masks of birds fro children during the opening of Lauttasaari Manor by Kone Säätiö. Finland.
2018 We Buzzz! variety of methods to make insect masks out of card. IHME Contemporary Art Festival. Helsinki, Finland
2017. Continuous Transformation: Identity beside Sepideh Rahaa at Kraam artist-run space. Tallinn, Estonia.
2017. ​FEMiNicidios. Info-session on the wave of violence against women in Latin America, with a special focus on Mexico at FemF Feminism Forum. Helsinki, Finland
2017. The​ ​challenges​ ​faced​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Ibero-Aamerican​ ​collective:​ ​global​ ​and​ ​local​ ​in​ ​Helsinki. At Challenges of the future for the Ibero-American collective in Finland organized by Cienmaissí. Helsinki, Finland
2017. Living Heritage Workshop. Into the Migrants and Live Heritage Seminary organized by Museo Virasto. CAISA International Culture Centre. Helsinki, Finland
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COLLECTIVES​
2013 -2021
Third Space Collective. Co-founder & membership
2017 -2023
La Colectiva. Co-founder & membership
2017 -2023
Mechanics of the Conformity. Co-founder & membership
2017-2021
Red de Mujeres Finlandia. Co-founder & membership
2021- present
Otroas Feminismoas. Co-founder & membership
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ASSOCIATIONS, PROJECTS & MORE​
2018- present
Naisasialiitto Unioni member and board substitute
2011-present
Interkult-Kassandra Artist
2020 -present
Helsingin Taiteilijaseura member
2018- present
Suomen Kuvataidejärjestöjen Liittomember
2022
Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry
2022 - present
HIAA Helsinki International Artists' Association ​
2017 - 2019
Art Point Finnish artists' Association
Catalysti Transcultural Artists in Finland
Member