Draped – Art of Printed Fabrics wraps EMMA’s exhibition space in a tapestry of patterns

Draped delves into the art of printed textiles, a cornerstone of Finnish design. The exhibition presents a striking spatial installation, where captivating patterns and rich colours unfold across fabrics suspended in EMMA’s gallery space. Spanning from the 1930s onwards, with a particular focus on the golden era of print design from the 1950s to the 1990s, the exhibition highlights a period when Finland's printed fabric industry flourished and gained international recognition. Visitors will discover beloved classics, lesser-known prints, and contemporary textiles by today’s artists. The exhibition also features works from Aalto University’s New Landscapes in Textile Design project.

“Extraordinary artists have worked with textiles, bringing their creations into people’s everyday lives and homes through printed fabrics. Textile patterns and colours weave into our lives,” says the exhibition’s curator Aura Vilkuna, Curator of Collections at EMMA. “They help us construct identities, express individuality, and foster a sense of belonging.”

Printed fabrics play a central role in the history, present, and future of Finnish design. Fabrics have long served as an endless canvas for artists and designers. The exhibition includes both hand-printed and industrially produced textiles, demonstrating how the demands of mass production can be harnessed as a tool for artistic expression. Also on display are rare textiles by the designer duo Rut Bryk and Tapio Wirkkala, whose life’s work is permanently exhibited in the Bryk & Wirkkala Visible Storage at EMMA, which surrounds the Draped exhibition. 

A video produced by EMMA exploring Bryk’s printed fabrics will be released alongside the exhibition and can be viewed in the exhibition space and on EMMA’s digital platform, EMMA Zone (emmazone.fi). The exhibition also features the online article Art on Fabric by Swedish textile expert and collector Maria Jernkvist, who shares personal stories about iconic Finnish textile designers and the inspirations behind her collection.

The Draped exhibition presents the textile artistry of: Jalmari Aarnio, Rut Bryk, Maija Fagerlund, Viola Gråsten, Pirkko Hammarberg, Saara Hirvisalo, Fujiwo Ishimoto, Maija Isola, Kaarina Kellomäki, Juhani Konttinen, Raili Konttinen, Emilia Kuurila, Maija Lavonen, Aino Marsio-Aalto, Marjatta Metsovaara, Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Matti Pikkujämsä, Markku Piri, Lena Rewell, Eero Rislakki, Jenni Rope, Maarit Salolainen, Pi Sarpaneva, Timo Sarpaneva, Anna Semi, Howard Smith, Nana Suni, Eva Taimi, Anja Terho, Edward Terzibasiyan, and Tapio Wirkkala. Read more about the artists here.

In 2025, EMMA’s exhibitions will explore experimental uses of materials, with a special focus on art, design, and fashion featuring textiles, as well as recycled and natural materials.

Exhibitions in 2025 

Draped – Art of Printed Fabrics 12.2.2025–14.3.2027 
Karin Hellman 9.4.2025–1.2.2026 
Arte Povera – A New Chapter 9.4.2025–1.2.2026 
Social Fabric 23.5.2025–7.12.2025 
InCollection: Antti Laitinen 24.9.2025–13.9.2026 

Media works on display in 2025 

Diego Marcon: Dolle 12.2.2025–7.9.2025 
Mohamed Bourouissa: The Genealogy of Violence 24.9.2025–15.2.2026