Guests of Honour – Celebrating 40 Years of the Rovaniemi Art Museum

Guests of Honour celebrates the 40-year journey of the Rovaniemi Art Museum by presenting a wide selection of works from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection - works that have captivated and sparked conversation among the people of Rovaniemi since 1986. The exhibition opens in stages starting from 27 March, and the opening celebration for the full festive ensemble will be held on 7 May.

The exhibition presents favourites selected by both the public and the museum staff. It brings together works from the museum’s very first exhibition and the most recent acquisitions by leading figures of the Finnish art scene.

The exhibition is a tribute to the artists who have been part of the museum’s story over the decades. Equally, the guests of honour are the works themselves – and the audience who have fallen in love with them over all these years.

The exhibition is presented in two parts, on the museum’s upper and lower floors. An opening celebration open to all will be held on May 7.

Museum upper floor | from March 27, 2026

Albrecht Maija, Arminen Tuija, Cavén Kari, Eskelinen Petri, Heikkilä Markku, Helle Emma, Hirvimäki Veikko, Holma Marjatta, Hurtig Eliina, Juuti Lasse, Juvonen Jari, Kannisto Sanna, Kansala Rosa, Karintaus Liisa, Kauhanen Pekka, Kiuru Kaija, Koch Ari, Koivisto Kaisu, Kylänpää Hannele, Lehtinen Tuula, Lipiäinen Leila, Lucander Robert, Luostarinen Leena, Löppönen Ville, Marila Heikki, Mäkelä Marika, Nisonen Pertti, Nukari Pirkko, Oikarinen Mari, Ojansivu Juha, Peltokangas Matti, Pohjola Gunnar, Rantanen Silja, Rautiainen Taneli, Retulainen Anna, Roos Nina, Ryhänen Heli, Schroderus Noora, Sirén Päivi, Stereo Maria, Suomi Risto, Tapper Kain, Toija Tommi and Vionoja Veikko

Museum lower floor | from May 8, 2026

Blomstedt Juhana, Cavén Kari, Cizmic Mirza, Geller Jiri, Granfelt Erik, Harri Juhani, Heikkilä Jaakko, Heinonen Viljami, Huhtamo Kari, Hukkanen Reijo, Jula Jari, Junno Tapio, Jylhä Pekka, Jämsä Aarne, Kaskipuro Pentti, Koistinen Unto, Koponen Erkki, Kytösalmi-Buhl Mervi, Lassila Nina, Lavonen Ahti, Lehtonen Paula, Lucander Anitra, Merenmies Elina, Mäkelä Jukka, Nevalainen Pekka, Osipow Paul, Pietilä Tuulikki, Rautiainen Taneli, Pullinen Laila, Raekallio Raisa & del Val Misha, Raekallio Reijo, Raittila Tapani, Remes Helmi, Romo Heidi, Ruotsalainen Anitta, Sakkinen Riiko, Salosmaa Aarno, Sievänen Jaakko, Simonsson Kim, Suntio Heimo, Särkijärvi Sirpa, Tapper Kain, Toija Tommi, Toivonen Toni R., Tompuri Anne, Tornberg Jaakko, Tuominen Juhani, Utriainen Raimo, Valtakari Jussi, Valtonen Osmo, Virolainen Heikki, Wardi Rafael, Weckman Jan Kenneth, Wirkkala Maaria and Wuorila-Stenberg Henry

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The story of the Rovaniemi Art Museum began on October 17, 1986, when the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation donated its art collection to the city of Rovaniemi. Over the years, the Wihuri Foundation Collection has grown from around 500 works to nearly 4,000, and it is now one of the most significant collections of Finnish contemporary art.