Iria Leino (December 22, 1932 – March 8, 2022) was a Finnish-born painter.^[1]

Born Taiteilija Irja Leino in 1932, she was raised by a family friend after her mother died in 1938.^[2][3] Leino pursued studies in art and fashion design in Finland before relocating to Paris on a scholarship to attend the École des Beaux-Arts.^[2][3] During her time in Paris, she also worked as a fashion journalist and model.^[2]

In the 1950s, Leino established herself as a model, walking for fashion houses such as Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior.^[2] She adopted the name Iria after a misspelling of her original name during a modeling session.^[2]

Leino moved to New York City in 1964 and transitioned from modeling to painting following the development of a chronic eating disorder.^[2][3] She became a practicing Buddhist, influenced by the teachings of Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, founder of the Integral Yoga Institute in Manhattan.^[2]

In 1978, Leino faced eviction from her Greene Street studio when the building became a co-op.^[2] She resisted eviction through legal action, supported by pro bono lawyers, and declined a relocation offer.^[2]

Leino's body of work includes abstract paintings, plasticky paint applications, and portraits, notably of Swami Satchidananda.^[2] She also created a nonrepresentational series titled Buddhist Rain and was known to paint while chanting mantras.^[2] Her works varied in size, and one notable piece, Homecoming (After), features high-heeled shoes and whiskey bottles.^[2]

In 2018, Leino married Robert Alan Saasto, a Finnish American lawyer.^[2] Leino owned properties in the 6th arrondissement of Paris and in Taormina, Sicily.^[2][3] She authorized the sale of her Paris residence for approximately $650,000 and established a trust with the proceeds.^[2]