Tapio Wirkkala Major Retrospective Reaches Final Venue in Japan

Marking the first comprehensive retrospective of Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) ever presented in Japan, Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima Thule has introduced one of Finland's most celebrated artists and designers to audiences across the country. Following its presentation at Shimane Art Museum, the exhibition's approximately 300 works will begin their journey back to Finland. 

Since opening at Tokyo Station Gallery in April 2025, The Sculptor of Ultima Thule has travelled to Itami City Museum of Art, History and Culture and the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art in Gifu, before reaching its final destination at Shimane Art Museum in Matsue. Organised to honour the 110th anniversary of Wirkkala's birth, the retrospective brings together an extensive body of work alongside archival material, offering Japanese audiences an unprecedented overview of his creative practice. 

Spanning design objects, glass art, plywood sculptures, prototypes, drawings and photographs, the exhibition reveals the breadth of Wirkkala's artistic vision and his lasting influence on design. Celebrated as a master of materials and form, Wirkkala moved seamlessly between art, design and sculpture, creating works that continue to resonate with new generations.

The exhibition tour is a collaboration between EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation and Japanese company Blue Sheep. 

“The enthusiastic reception of the exhibition across Japan has demonstrated the enduring relevance of Tapio Wirkkala’s work,” says Krist Gruijthuijsen, Director of EMMA. “As the exhibition reaches its final venue in Shimane, we celebrate not only Wirkkala’s remarkable legacy but also the meaningful cultural exchange and lasting connections this project has fostered between Finland and Japan.”

The exhibition is largely drawn from the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation Collection, the most extensive collection of works by Tapio Wirkkala and his spouse, ceramic artist Rut Bryk. Based on the couple's personal archives, the collection is permanently housed at EMMA in the Bryk & Wirkkala Visible Storage. The exhibition also features a significant selection of glass and silver works from Collection Kakkonen, one of Finland's foremost private collections of modern glass and ceramic art.