## A Finnish Artist's SoHo Loft: A Time Capsule of Art, Mystery, and Controversy

Canvases are stacked in an artist’s loft in vertical storage spaces. — Canvases stacked in Iria Leino’s loft on Greene Street include one featuring actual high-heeled shoes and whiskey bottles (far left). Credit...Katherine Marks for The New York Times

When **Iria Leino**, a Finnish-born painter, died at 89, she left behind a treasure trove of over 1,000 artworks, a SoHo loft frozen in time, and a captivating story of an artist who lived a life shrouded in mystery. Leino, who lived in the same SoHo building complex from 1966 until her death in 2022, was a pioneer in the New York art scene of the 1960s. Her loft, once a raw, 4,000-square-foot space in a former knitting factory, is a testament to her dedication to art, her unconventional lifestyle, and her fierce independence. Today, her loft, once rented for a mere $650 a month, is valued at an estimated **$12,500 a month** in rent. While Leino's art career was overshadowed by her earlier success as a fashion model, her works reveal a kaleidoscope of styles and media, influenced by artists like **Larry Poons** and her own personal journey through Buddhism and spiritual awakening. ### A Life in Art and Controversy Leino's life was marked by both artistic ambition and a reluctance to share her work with the world. She participated in few exhibitions, sold little of her art, and fiercely guarded her creative space. Her story is one of a talented artist who, despite a challenging personal life and a sometimes prickly personality, remained steadfastly committed to her art. Her apartment, now a time capsule of a bygone era, is a testament to her legacy, and her paintings, a captivating mix of styles and media, offer a glimpse into the artistic journey of a unique and enigmatic figure.

Subscribe our Newsletter