Free 90

The Free Art School’s anniversary exhibition presents the school’s 90-year history and its significance in the development of Finnish painting and modernism. From the school’s early days to the present, the exhibition highlights the connections between the artists and the special spirit that has run through the Free Art School throughout its nine decades.

Start date

25.04.2025

End date

04.01.2026

elga sesemann: Self Portrait with a Yellow Pot, 1943. photo: ham/hanna kukorelli

The Free Art School was founded in 1935 on the initiative of art world influencer and patron Maire Gullichsen to offer an alternative to academic art education. Modelled after the “free academies” of Paris, the Free Art School was a champion of modern painting in Finland from its very beginning. The school has evolved from concretism and pure abstract colour painting towards the diversity of contemporary painting.

The history of the Free Art School and the artists who studied and taught there are approached through Leonard and Katarina Bäcksbacka’s donated collection, which is the heart of HAM and the City of Helsinki’s art collection. In 1915, the Bäcksbackas established the art gallery Taidesalonki, which showcased the works of several artists involved in the Free Art School – artists whose works the couple also acquired for their collection.

The exhibition features 60 artworks by 39 artists, including Tor Arne, Päivi Björkenheim, Yngve Bäck, Erik Creutziger, Carolus Enckell, Torger Enckell, Maire Gullichsen, Hjalmar Hagelstam, Ester Helenius, Pekka Hepoluhta, Erkki Hienonen, Kauko Hämäläinen, Jani Hänninen, Tove Jansson, Auli Järvelä, Ole Kandelin, Erkki Kulovesi, Anitra Lucander, William Lönnberg, Elina Merenmies, Thomas Nyqvist, Mikko Oinonen, Paavo Paunu, Outi Pienimäki, Unto Pusa, Ilmari Rautio, Pekka Ryynänen, Janne Räisänen, Sigrid Schauman, Sulho Sipilä, Elga Sesemann, Per Stenius, Mari Sunna, Tapani Tamminen, Timo Valjakka, Sam Vanni, Rafael Wardi, Carl Wargh, and Reijo Viljanen.