The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection
Donated to the Rovaniemi Art Museum in 1983, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation collection is one of the most significant contemporary art collections in Finland.
Started in 1957, the collection offers a comprehensive view of the development of Finnish contemporary art and how artistic themes and methods have evolved over the years.
The earliest works in the collection consist primarily of prints, small sculptures, and paintings. Over time, the collection has expanded to include a wide range of material experiments, installations, as well as photographic and video art. Works are acquired from both emerging and established artists. Today, the collection comprises nearly 4,000 pieces and continues to grow by approximately 60 new acquisitions annually.
Works from the foundation’s collection are regularly on display in Rovaniemi as part of curated, rotating exhibitions at the art museum. The Wihuri Foundation has also supported the use of the collection for the benefit of Rovaniemi and the wider Lapland region through various development projects.
In 2022, the Finnish National Gallery, the Rovaniemi Art Museum, and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation collaborated on a major collection exhibition to celebrate the foundation’s 80th birthday. First shown at Kiasma and later in Rovaniemi, the exhibition featured works selected by Kiasma’s curators from the Wihuri Foundation’s collection, with a focus on artists from Northern Finland or those working in the region.
Detail from the installation Karamelliuni (2021) Eero Yrjölä
Before Night Falls Again (2020) Eemil Karila
Winterfell (2018) Petri Ala-Maunus
DINGDONG! (2015) Jiri Geller
Taikuri (2014) Maiju Salmenkivi
Arcana (2023) Hanna Saarikoski
Paint Plays Painting Tarja Pitkänen-Walter
Tila (Madrid) Pertti Kekarainen
History of the Collection
In 1957, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation made a pivotal decision: instead of awarding grants for visual arts, it would begin acquiring artworks. The goal of the newly formed Art Acquisition Committee was to build a high-quality collection that would reflect the evolving landscape of Finnish contemporary art over time.
As the collection grew, discussions emerged in the early 1980s about finding it a permanent institutional home elsewhere in Finland. The City of Rovaniemi was among the candidates and committed to building suitable museum facilities and overseeing operations.
At that time, Northern Finland lacked a major art museum, making Rovaniemi a compelling choice. On August 15, 1983, the decision was made to donate the collection—then consisting of around 500 works—to the city. The gift was publicly announced later that autumn, on the 100th anniversary of Antti Wihuri’s birth.
Korundi: From Bus Depot to Cultural Centre
The Rovaniemi Art Museum has operated in its current premises for nearly 40 years. The museum was established in 1986 in the former post bus depot, which was adapted for museum use by architect and professor Juhani Pallasmaa.
In 2009 and 2010, the building underwent extensive renovations. New exhibition spaces, offices, and art storage were built for the museum and the collection that had grown over several decades. At the same time, an extension was added to house the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, including new facilities and a concert hall. The renovation and expansion were once again designed by Juhani Pallasmaa’s architectural office, with funding for the architectural design provided by the Wihuri Foundation.
The Korundi House of Culture opened in 2011. The centre takes its name from the hard gemstone korundi, also known as the Star of Lapland.
