A Year of International Exchange at EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art
2.1.2026 12:30:00 EET | EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art | Press release
In 2025, EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art welcomed 160 000 visitors and significantly strengthened its international profile through touring exhibitions and cultural exchange, as reflected in the leadership transition at the end of the year. The museum presented a distinctive programme exploring material- and textile-based practices across art, design, and fashion.
“It has been exciting to join EMMA at the close of a year marked by exceptional international collaboration. I am looking forward to build on this foundation as EMMA enters its third decade in 2026", says EMMA’s Director Krist Gruijthuijsen.
International exchange defined the year, spanning high-level cultural diplomacy and exhibition collaborations. Highlights included the royal visit from Denmark for the unveiling of an acquisition by Danish artist Poul Gernes, the Japanese tour of Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima Thule, and the Howard Smith retrospective collaboration at Palm Springs Art Museum.
Nordic partnerships were further strengthened through the Swedish tour of Ulla Wiggen: Passage and a fashion exhibition collaboration with ALPHA and Nordic partner museums. The year also saw the launch of EMMA-Saastamoinen International Curatorial Fellowship Programme.
2025 exhibitions explored materiality as a lens for re-examining art and design histories, with a particular attention to textiles, organic materials and experimental practices. The changing exhibitions brought together Finnish modernist heritage and contemporary experimentation, from Draped – Art of Printed Fabrics and the first retrospective of Karin Hellman to the international group exhibitions Arte Povera – A New Chapter and Social Fabric. Site-specific art was highlighted by Antti Laitinen’s multisensory Chiming Forest, the eight commission in the InCollection series, and Dialogues exhibition of Saastamoinen Foundation was renewed with a new section.
The museum continued to strengthen engagement with its audiences and local partners. Collaboration with Aalto University was highlighted with two artwork collaborations with students and the EMMA Award partnership at the university’s annual fashion show. In conjunction with Social Fabric, EMMA Shop launched an exclusive product collaboration with Finnish fashion designer Rolf Ekroth.
The Children's Museum Festival welcomed over 2700 visitors for a weekend of fun activities, and new public artworks were installed in Espoo, including a commissioned work by Pekka Jylhä in the front yard of the museum.
Throughout the year, EMMA advanced its work on accessibility and sustainability, among others by introducing exhibition texts in Easy Finnish and receiving recognition through the Sustainable Travel Finland label. Reaching audiences beyond the museum walls, EMMA Zone offered art experiences online through video productions, podcasts, and articles.
Eye on EMMA’s 20th anniversary year:
New exhibitions in 2026
In Search of the Present –– 13 March 2026 – 7 February 2027
Axel Straschnoy –– 15 April – 9 August 2026
Howard Smith –– 9 September 2026 – 7 February 2027
Gerda Thesleff –– 25 November 2026 – 26 November 2028
Karin Hellman –– until 1 February 2026
Arte Povera – A New Chapter –– until 1 February 2026
InCollection | Antti Laitinen: Chiming Forest –– until 23 August 2026
Draped – Art of Printed Fabrics –– through 2026
Collection Kakkonen
Bryk & Wirkkala Visible Storage
Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection –– new display in the Autumn of 2026
Keywords
Contacts
Iris SuomiLead Marketing Communications SpecialistEMMA – Espoon modernin taiteen museo
Tel:+358447601930iris.suomi@emmamuseum.fiLinks
EMMA Zone
EMMA Zone is the digital extension of EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art. Inspired by zine culture, it brings together essays, artist interviews, talks, and behind-the-scenes stories that invite audiences to reflect and discover. Through intimate studio visits and process films, EMMA Zone offers a closer look at how art and design come to life. Free and accessible to all, EMMA Zone expands the museum experience beyond its walls — and is always open for art.
Subscribe to releases from EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art
Subscribe to all the latest releases from EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art
EMMA och Saastamoinen stiftelsen välkomnar Pauline Koffi Vandet till Finland som den andra kuratorn i Curatorial Fellowship-programmet8.9.2026 13:05:00 EEST | Pressmeddelande
EMMA – Esbo moderna konstmuseum och Saastamoinen stiftelsen har glädjen att meddela att kuratorn och forskaren Pauline Koffi Vandet har valts som den andra kuratorn i programmet EMMA–Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship. Under de kommande sex månaderna kommer Koffi Vandet att arbeta på EMMA och bedriva självständig forskning om Saastamoinen stiftelsens konstsamling, en av Finlands mest betydande samlingar av modern och samtida konst.
Pauline Koffi Vandet valittu EMMA-Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship -ohjelmaan8.9.2026 13:05:00 EEST | Tiedote
EMMA – Espoon modernin taiteen museo ja Saastamoisen säätiö ovat valinneet kuraattori ja tutkija Pauline Koffi Vandetin EMMA-Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship -ohjelman toiseksi osallistujaksi. Koffi Vandet työskentelee EMMAssa seuraavan kuuden kuukauden ajan ja tehden tutkimusta Saastamoisen säätiön taidekokoelmasta, joka on yksi Suomen merkittävimmistä modernin ja nykytaiteen kokoelmista.
EMMA and Saastamoinen Foundation Welcome Pauline Koffi Vandet to Finland as the Second Curatorial Fellow8.9.2026 13:05:00 EEST | Press release
EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art and Saastamoinen Foundation are pleased to announce the selection of curator and researcher Pauline Koffi Vandet as the second recipient of EMMA–Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship. Over the next six-months, Koffi Vandet will work at EMMA while conducting independent research into Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection, one of Finland’s most significant collections of modern and contemporary art.
Howard Smiths länge emotsedda retrospektiv öppnar på EMMA4.9.2026 09:00:00 EEST | Pressmeddelande
EMMA – Esbo moderna konstmuseum presenterar en länge emotsedd retrospektiv över Howard Smith (1928–2021). Många känner Smith för hans älskade trycktextilier från Vallila och keramiken från Arabia, men han arbetade lika ledigt med målningar, collage, skulptur, pappersklipp och monumentala offentliga verk. Retrospektiven som nu öppnar omfattar omkring 90 verk från åren 1965–2010 och lyfter fram bredden i konstnärens produktion och dess betydelse för finsk visuell kultur.
EMMA opens the long-awaited retrospective of Howard Smith4.9.2026 09:00:00 EEST | Press release
EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art presents the long-awaited retrospective dedicated to Howard Smith (1928–2021). Best known for his printed fabrics for Vallila and ceramics for Arabia, Smith was also an exceptionally versatile artist who worked across painting, collage, papercuts, sculpture, textiles and public art. Bringing together around 90 works from 1965 to 2010, the exhibition reveals the breadth of Smith’s practice and his lasting impact on Finnish visual culture.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom