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Finnish art showcased in New York – Minister Talvitie strengthens partnerships in the US

Photo by Emma Termonen

Originally published by the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland. The original release can be found on their official website.

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶-𝗟𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭 𝘁𝗼 𝟰 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀.

During her visit, Minister Talvitie will attend the opening of an exhibition of works by Helene Schjerfbeck at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and explore New York galleries presenting Finnish contemporary art as part of a new collaboration between the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, Finland’s Consulate General in New York and the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA). The Minister will also meet representatives of local cultural institutions and professionals in the field.

“An exhibition of Helene Schjerfbeck’s work at one of the world’s most prestigious art museums is a significant tribute to a central figure in Finnish art. Schjerfbeck’s artistic courage and constant renewal continue to resonate, and her example shows that unique talent attracts international interest, provided that global audiences and professionals are made aware of it. I want to champion today’s artists so they gain the recognition they deserve in the world’s foremost art hubs. That’s why I’ll be meeting American gallerists, curators and other leading voices in the arts during my trip,” says Minister of Science and Culture 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞-𝙇𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙖 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚.

The visit aims to help Finnish artists and creative industries gain international reach in line with the Government Programme, the Cultural Policy Report and the Growth Strategy for the Creative Economy.

“I see this visit to New York as an opportunity to advance the goals of both the Cultural Policy Report and the Growth Strategy for the Creative Economy. These are not just words on paper; they set a clear direction for our work. We have moved from drafting strategies to implementing them – to getting things done,” Talvitie says.

The Cultural Policy Report stresses that culture and the creative industries contribute to resilience, vitality and wellbeing in society. The Growth Strategy for the Creative Economy highlights strengthening exports and international engagement as key priorities.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺𝘀.

Three New York galleries – Gaa, Margot Samel and Ulterior – will present exhibitions of Finnish contemporary art this winter as part of a new collaboration between the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, Finland’s Consulate General and NADA.

Funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Finlandia Foundation National and the Ministry of Education and Culture, the project brought gallery representatives to Finland earlier this year to meet artists and institutions. These visits have led to a series of exhibitions aimed at strengthening ties between the Finnish and New York art scenes and increasing the international visibility of Finnish visual art.

“Finnish visual art is in a challenging position. I want to do my part to improve the livelihoods of artists and other professionals by supporting their networking and opportunities to succeed in New York. Success there can open doors elsewhere too,” Talvitie says.

The strong visibility Finnish art is gaining in New York is the result of long-term efforts to promote art exports and build international networks. Next year, the city will offer Finnish artists several major platforms.

𝙅𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙖 will feature in an exhibition opening in early 2026 at the renowned New Museum. Sutela will also represent Finland at next year’s Venice Biennale, where the Finnish Pavilion exhibition has been curated by Stefanie Hessler, Director of Swiss Institute in New York. Frame Contemporary Art Finland, which supports the international promotion of Finnish contemporary art, has in recent years advanced numerous exhibition projects in New York and across the United States.

In addition, Pioneer Works, a cultural centre where art and science converge, will host a solo exhibition by 𝙏𝙪𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘼. 𝙇𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣 during Climate Week NYC. Laitinen’s works were last displayed in New York in The Boneless One exhibition at the Yeh Art Gallery in 2022. New works by 𝙄𝙞𝙪 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙟𝙖, whose art was featured at MoMA PS1 in 2023, will be shown at Gratin in an exhibition opening in December 2025.

𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀:

− Anssi Vallius, Special Adviser, Consulate General of Finland in New York, tel. +1 917 515 7030, anssi.vallius@gov.fi

− Kati Laakso, Executive Director, Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, tel. +1 917 692 0609, laakso@fciny.org

− Requests for interviews with the Minister: Santeri Lohi, Special Adviser to Minister Talvitie, tel. +358 295 330 353

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