COLOUR – Highlights from the Art Collections of Central Finland

COLOUR is an ambitious exhibition that illuminates the central role of colour in Finnish modern art. Abstract paintings and sculptures from Central Finland’s collections are presented across two venues – Jyväskylä Art Museum and the Museum of Central Finland.

The exhibition has been produced in collaboration with the museums of Keuruu and Saarijärvi.

"The exhibition highlights the pivotal role of colour in Central Finnish art. Spanning two museums, this comprehensive presentation also underscores the importance of colour for the entire region."

Senior Curator Tiina Koivulahti
The exhibition focuses particularly on colourist and concretist art from Central Finland. The featured works treat colour both as a structural and emotional force – a means to construct space, rhythm, and meaning. The show also draws attention to the Informalist movement and its impact on artists of the region, featuring numerous works seldom seen in public exhibitions.

At its artistic and historical core lies the influence of Sam Vanni, whose work and teaching profoundly shaped the emergence of Finnish concretism and colourism. His legacy is evident in the featured artists’ explorations of colour and form – where thought and emotion merge into a cohesive visual experience. Among the exhibited pieces are Vanni’s Alpha II (1959), Union (1956), and Tribute to Prokofiev (1954).

Other key figures represented include internationally recognised artists Göran Augustson, Birger Carlstedt, Ernst Mether-Borgström, and Edgard Pillet, whose pioneering contributions to abstract art left a lasting mark on Finnish modernism and inspired many artists in Central Finland.

COLOUR continues a series of collaborative exhibitions showcasing the art collections of regional museums in Central Finland, held every five years since 2015.

Featured Artists Include:
Veikko Koskinen, Raimo Paavola, Juhani Petäjäniemi, Veikko Hirvimäki, Eila Kinnunen, Jo Niemeyer, Jaakko Valo, Ilkka Väätti, Anna-Liisa Aho, Anita Dahl-Kreuger, Harald Karsten, Pertti Karjalainen, Lauri Laine, Liisa Malkamo, and many others.