The artist, Ritva M.A. Airaksinen, was born in Juva, Finland. The first 15 years of her life she lived a country farm life and had her elementary education in a nearby (3 km walk back and forth)country school. The love for nature was instilled there.

At the age of 10 the education continued in town. There the world opened up studying the languages and world geography, art. She wanted to learn English in order to travel the world to learn how people lived in other countries.

At the age of 15 she moved to Helsinki, taking her first job, continuing her studies in the evening schools.

English, Advertising & Marketing, were the subjects. There she played tennis, had an opportunity to enjoy  ballet performances.

At the age of 20 an opportunity arose to travel to New York, USA. There the passion to study art represented itself again. Working in marketing during a day – attending the School of Visual Arts 1976 – 1980 in the evenings, in the Department of Fine Arts. Not to mention the education received by immersing in the international arts at large by visiting the museums, galleries, concerts, ballet.

1988 she returned to Finland and has been busy ever since creating and organizing exhibitions. Ritva has held tens of art shows of her own and taking part in group exhibitions as well. Most of her shows have been in central region of Finland,  one in Helsinki as well. Ritva Airaksinen has also produced several international art shows in Finland.

The international exhibitions she has participated in: New York,USA;  Florence, Italy ; Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

She received the Special Cultural Award by the town of Keuruu. Her art is in the collections of: The Keuruu Museum, The town of Jämsä, and in several private collections in Finland, Japan, USA.