NEWS
Didrichsen Art Museum´s exhibitions, events and news
Antrei Hartikainen. Photo: Ville Vappula
DIDRICHSEN PRO ARTE PRIZE GOES TO MASTER CARPENTER AND DESIGNER ANTREI HARTIKAINEN
Didrichsen Art Museum has awarded the Pro Arte prize 2025 to master carpenter, designer and artist Antrei Hartikainen. The prize includes a solo exhibition as part of Didrichsen Art Museum's 60th anniversary programme next year.
The Pro Arte prize continues the tradition of supporting young artists initiated by the museum's founders Marie-Louise and Gunnar Didrichsen. The prize includes a 10 000 € stipend, an exhibition at the Didrichsen Art Museum from October 2025 to January 2026 and an exhibition publication. In addition, the museum will acquire a work by the artist for its collection. Also nominated for the 2025 prize were fashion designer Sofia Ilmonen and artist Man Yau, who will receive a 1000 € scholarship.
The prize has been awarded since 2003. Before Antrei Hartikainen, the prize was given to graphic artist Sari Bremer and sculptor Kim Simonsson, and to visual artists Tamara Piilola and Karoliina Hellberg.
Sculptural objects and site-specific works
Antrei Hartikainen (b. 1991) is a master carpenter, designer and artist from Outokumpu, Fiskars, known for his sculptural wood and glass works. Hartikainen's utilitarian objects and artworks highlight the importance of craftsmanship and knowledge of materials.
Karoliina Hellberg's exhibition 25.1. –5.5.2019 was accompanied by works by previous Pro Arte artists from 2003–2016. Photo: Jussi Tiainen
THE WINNER OF THE DIDRICHSEN PRO ARTE PRIZE 2025 WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER 2024
Didrichsen Art Museum will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. The Didrichsen Pro Arte prize will be awarded for the fifth time. Three artists from the fields of art and design are nominated: master carpenter Antrei Hartikainen, fashion designer Sofia Ilmonen and artist Man Yau.
The 2025 art prize includes a 10 000 € stipend, an exhibition at the Didrichsen Art Museum and an exhibition publication. The winner will be announced in November 2024 and the Pro Arte artist will have an exhibition at Didrichsen in autumn 2025.
Arabic Landscape, 1948. Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum. Photo: Ralf T. Søndergaard
THE FAIRYTALES OF CARL-HENNING PEDERSEN
7.9.2024–26.1.2025
Birds, suns, ships in the sky and fairytale castles: the fantasy imagery of Danish artist Carl-Henning Pedersen (1913–2007) will take over the museum in autumn 2024. Pedersen, who had a long career, was one of the most important artists of Danish modernism. He also belonged to the important international CoBrA group.
Public guided tours to the exhibition in English on15 June, 6 July and 3 August at 12 noon
EGS: Traveling to the Ends of the World to Write Endless Letters, 2024. Photo: Marko Rantanen
EMBASSY OF EGS 7.6.–25.8.2024
For the Didrichsen Art Museum's 2024 summer exhibition, graffiti artist EGS transforms the museum into an embassy of an imaginary state. The exhibition brings together the main themes of the artist's work: the EGS alphabet, maps, history, folklore and graffiti. EGS has been making Finnish graffiti art known worldwide for almost 30 years.
Public guided tours to the exhibition in English on15 June, 6 July and 3 August at 12 noon
Rut Bryk: Sun-Rose (Three Cactus Flowers), 1950s. The Collection of Nordea Art Foundation Finland. Photo: Museokuva Matti Huuhka & Co.
EXTENDED OPENING HOURS UNTIL 26.5.2024
The museum is open everyday during Easter
Extended opening hours in the exhibition The Collection of Nordea Art Foundation Finland until 26.5.2024:
Tue–Sun 10–18
Mon closed
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Didrichsen Art Museum is open throughout Easter.
Opening hours
Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April
10 am to 6 pm
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931): The Lament of the Boat, 1907.
The Collection of Nordea Art Foundation Finland. Photo: Seppo Hilpo
THE COLLECTION OF NORDEA ART FOUNDATION FINLAND 10.2.–26.5.2024
The Didrichsen Art Museum's spring exhibition 2024 The Collection of Nordea Art Foundation Finland will showcase the Foundation's significant collection. The selection includes works by Ferdinand von Wright, Helene Schjerfbeck, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, but also modernists such as Rut Bryk, Ahti Lavonen and Sam Vanni.
Photo: Didrichsen Art Museum
THE MUSEUM RECEIVED 80 000 VISITORS IN 2023
In 2023, Didrichsen Art Museum received 80 000 visitors, an all-time record for the museum!
2024 exhibition program:
Rafael Wardi exhibition is open until 28 January 2024
The Collection of Nordea Art Foundation Finland 10.2.–26.5.2024
Embassy of EGS 8.6.–25.8.2024
Carl-Henning Pedersen 7.9.2024–26.1.2025
Rafael Wardi: Yellow, 2016, private collection
RAFAEL WARDI 9.9.2023–28.1.2024
The exhibition is popular, and the busiest times are at weekends.
Colour is at the heart of Rafael Wardi’s (1928–2021) art. The beloved artist’s colourful still lifes, often in shades of yellow, and his portraits of people and cities are very vivid at first sight. On closer inspection the dialogue between colour and light deepens into meanings – glimpses of emotions, stories and life themes.
Included in the exhibition are works from the artist's last years, which have never been shown to the public before. The selection of works underscores Wardi's long-standing artistic significance by presenting alongside new works key pieces from his career. The exhibition has a room dedicated to Wardi's work in opera and the performing arts, which began in the 2000s.
Introductions to the exhibition in English every first Saturday of the month at noon.
During the Rafael Wardi exhibition 9.9.2023–28.1.2024 the museum has extended opening hours:
Tue, Thu–Sun 11–18
Wed 11–20
Mon closed
After the exhibition the museum is open
Tue–Sun 11–18
Mon closed
Marie-Louise & Gunnar Didrichsen, 1965
DIDRICHSEN – HOME, ART, HISTORY
The summer exhibition presents a wide range of works from the museum’s own collection and celebrates the art foundation registered by Gunnar and Marie-Louise Didrichsen in 1963.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the foundation, the 120th anniversary of Gunnar’s (1903–1992) birth and the 110th anniversary of Marie-Louise’s (1913–1988) birth. The couple is
also present in the exhibition through material selected from the museum’s archives.
10.6.–27.8.2023 Tue–Sun 11–18.
Guided tours to the exhibition in English on the first Saturday of each month (1.7. & 5.8.) at 12 noon.
Elina Brotherus: Green Still Life, 2022. Visitor (Villa Didrichsen)
ELINA BROTHERUS – VISITOR
The exhibition Elina Brotherus – Visitor at the Didrichsen Art Museum juxtaposes Brotherus´s recent work with key themes from her long career. Drawing on the unique atmosphere of the museum, the exhibition will be the first public display of Brotherus´s photographic series Visitor (Villa Didrichsen), shot at Didrichsen Art Museum between 2021 and 2022.
11.2.–28.5.2023 Tue–Sun 11–18.
Guided tours to the exhibition in English on the first Saturday of each month (4.3.,1.4. & 6.5.) at 12 noon.
Meet the Artist:
11.2., 18.2., 25.3., 29.4., 20.5., 27.5., 28.5.
at 13:00
Former Museum Director Peter Didrichsen, Curator Iiris Markkola and Museum Director Maria Didrichsen. Photo: Antti Rintala
HELSINKI TRAVEL AWARD GRANTED TO DIDRICHSEN
The Helsinki Travel Award 2022 recognition for the Didrichsen Art Museum:
Love stories span decades and centuries. It´s exciting that one of these stories is an important part of Helsinki´s story today and for a very long time to come.
Marie-Louise and Gunnar Didrichsen met each other in Helsinki in the 1930s, experienced great and also very difficult times in our city together, worked, learned, succeeded, created a family and purchased art.
The individual works, getting to know the artists, introducing them to a wider audience and later a very significant collection certainly brought joy to them themselves.
But it seems that the big idea was to give all that to others. To others, first in their time and also later for future decades and centuries. They established a foundation, a museum in their home and invited everyone to visit.
The skilled people of the Didrichsen Art Museum have realized the idea of the museum founders. They have not been caught to admire the collection, the house designed by Viljo Revell and remember the past, but do world-class work, bringing us great ideas and exhibitions.
They know their house and milieu and truly give it to the visitor. You don´t get the feeling of sneaking into someone´s home. The welcome is immediate and warm. It will be an intimate experience. A state of being is created, in which Vincent Van Gogh or Eila Hiltunen happens to be part of.
And Marie-Louise and Gunnar are also quite close. Behind the house by the sea they are resting.
It is a pleasure to enjoy this love story and award the Didrichsen Art Museum with the Helsinki Travel Award 2022!
Kuva: Otso Pietinen
EILA HILTUNEN 100 VUOTTA 22.11.2022
JUHLAPÄIVÄN OHJELMA 22.11.2022
Vapaa pääsy Didrichsenille klo 11–18
suomenkieliset johdannot Eila Hiltusen näyttelyyn
klo 12.00, 13.00, 14.00,15.00, 16.00, 17.00
ruotsinkielinen johdanto näyttelyyn
klo 11.30
Esitelmäilta Villa Gyllenbergissä klo 18–20
Markku Pietinen ja Piia Virtanen muistelevat äitinsä Eila Hiltusen
elämää ja uraa
Ennakkoilmoittautuminen iltatilaisuuteen avautuu 8.11.2022
Photo: Otso Pietinen
POETRY OF MATTER - EILA HILTUNEN 100 YEARS
Poetry of matter -- Eila Hiltunen 100 years is open 10.9.2022–29.1.2023 Tue–Sun 11am to 6pm.
Guided tours in English the first Saturday of every month at noon.
Listen to the podcast episode Composing a sculpture -- Eila Hiltunen and the Sibelius Monument here
Photo: Maria Didrichsen
ONE MILLION VISITORS!
On the 12th of June, 2022, on Helsinki Day, the museum received visitor number one million since the opening in September 1965.
Jenna came to the museum with her spouse for the first time to participate in the Helsinki Day program. Jenna was awarded with free lifetime entrance to the museum and a silver necklace, designed by Hannu Palosuo, who at the time held his exhibition at the museum.
Thank you to all our visitors!
Kuva: Paolo Vezzoli
HANNU PALOSUO - YOU LIVE WITH ME
Hannu Palosuo -- You Live With Me -näyttely on auki 21.5.–21.8.2022 ti–su klo 11–18.
Museon alakerrassa on samanaikaisesti esillä kokoelmanäyttely Taide ja henkisyys.
Yleisöopastuksia suomeksi la ja su klo 13, ruotsiksi su klo 12.
Lue lisää >
Näyttelyn aikana museossa järjestetään erilaista ohjelmaa: taiteilijatapaamisia (21.5., 26.5., ja 28.5.2022 klo 13), Helsinkipäivänä sunnuntaina 12.6.,, Kuvataiteen päivänä sunnuntaina10.7.2022 (maalaustyöpaja Marita Liulian johdolla) sekä Taiteiden yönä torstaina 18.8. klo 16-21. Risteilyjä kauppatorilta 12.6., 10.7., 18.8.
Kuva: Rauno Träskelin
PER STENIUS
Per Stenius open 12.2.–8.5.2022 Tue--Sun 11–18.
Guided tours in English the first Saturday of every month at noon.
Photo: Rauno Träskelin
BJÖRN WECKSTRÖM – MAN, MACHINE AND JEWELLERY
The exhibition Björn Weckström – Man, Machine and Jewellery has ended. Thank you to all 25 300 visitors!
The podcast episode with Björn Weckström is still available on aur website and other platforms (Spotify, Apple music and Soundcloud).
Photo: Didrichsen Art Museum
THE SCULPTURE PARK : INCREASED SURVEILLANCE
Due to increased disturbance and littering during this summer the Didrichsen Art Museum has decided to increase the surveillance in the museum’s sculpture park. The park can be visited but the museum’s courtyard and the pier are open only during the museum’s operating hours. We would also like to remind that swimming from the pier is prohibited.
Kuva: Didrichsenin taidemuseo / Susanna Lehtinen
SUMMER IN SCULPTURE PARK 2021: BJÖRN WECKSTRÖM
Five sculptures by artist Björn Weckström are on display at the Didrichsen Art Museum's sculpture park from June 2021. Weckström's solo exhibition Man, Machine and Jewelry opens at the museum on September 11, 2021.
Photo: Per Olov Jansson
NEW PODCAST EPISODE AND VIDEOS PUBLISHED
To the world, Tove Jansson is mostly known as the creator of the famous Moomin characters, but she saw herself first and foremost as a painter. Our newly launched podcast episode Tove Jansson, more than the creator of Moomin, reveals fascinating, emotional and heartwarming stories from both her diverse professional and personal life. Her niece, Sophia Jansson, will take you on a journey from summertime magic in the Finnish archipelago with velvet rock pools and treeless islands to topics touching on Tove's incredible courage to be true to herself at a time when it was not always easy to be a woman in the creative field.
Virtual guided tours our Tove Jansson exhibition are now available on our YouTube channel. Language options: Finnish (with subtitles in English) and Swedish.
Tove Jansson: Tupakoiva tyttö, 1940, Moomin Characters Oy Ltd, Kuva / foto / photo: Yehia Eweis.
TOVE JANSSON EXHIBITION EXTENDS UNTIL AUGUST 22, 2021!
The exhibition Tove Jansson - To paint is to be extends until August 22, 2021. The museum is currently open with special safety measures. We will inform about possible changes on this page.
Read our guidelines for a safe visit.
Bookings can also be made beforehand.
Vincent van Gogh: Self portrait, 1887, Collection Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands. Photo: Rik Klein Gotink.
45 500 VISITORS IN THE VAN GOGH EXHIBITION!
The exhibition Becoming Van Gogh has ended. Despite the pandemic the exhibition had a total of 45 500 visitors, which makes it the second most popular exhibition of the museum, after Edvard Munch – The Dance of Life in 2014. Thank you for visiting!
The museum is closed during exhibition change 1.–12.3.2021.
Coming on March 13, 2021: Tove Janson – To paint is to be.
Please read our updated guidelines for a safe museum visit.
In the first episode Jenny Didrichsen tells the story of the museum
THE DIDRICHSEN ART MUSEUM PODCAST
A CULTURAL OASIS IN HELSINKI
Let us transfer your mind to another time and place through our newly launched podcast.
You can listen to this podcast as a narration as you walk through the museum grounds and interiors, or as an audio experience to discover on your own time – wherever you choose to be. We hope that you enjoy it.
Vincent van Gogh: Head of a fisherman with sou’wester, 1883. Collection Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, the Netherlands. Photo: Rik Klein Gotink.
VAN GOGH EXHIBITION EXTENDS ONE MONTH!
The Kröller-Müller Museum has agreed on the extension of the Didrichsen's Van Gogh exhibition until February 28, 2021. The original ending date was January 31.
Photo: Didrichsen Art Museum
GRAND EXPERIENCES IN SMALL ART MUSEUMS
A new website, SAM - Small Art Museums in Helsinki gathers together information about five art museums in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area that might be small in size but are colossal in content: Didrichsen Art Museum and Villa Gyllenberg on Kuusisaari island, the Reitz Foundation and Kirpilä Art Collections along Hesperiankatu, and the Gallen-Kallela Museum in Tarvaspää, Espoo.
Photo: Didrichsen Art Museum
ALMOST 35 000 VISITORS IN KUUTTI LAVONEN'S EXHIBITION
The exhibition Time and Eternity of the Finnish contemporary artist Kuutti Lavonen had a total of 34 300 visitors, which makes it the fourth most popular exhibition of the museum. Thank you for visiting!
Maria Didrichsen. Photo: Iiris Markkola
/ Didrichsen Art Museum.
MARIA DIDRICHSEN APPOINTED NEW MUSEUM DIRECTOR
Peter Didrichsen, who has been leading the Didrichsen Art Museum since 1992, has resigned on March 31, 2020. The Board of the Didrichsen Art Foundation has appointed Maria Didrichsen as his successor starting on April 1, 2020. Maria Didrichsen is only the third director in the 55-year history of the museum. During the years 1965–1992 Peter Didrichsen´s father and museum founder, Gunnar Didrichsen, worked as director of the museum.