Vapaa Taidekoulu | Fria Konstskolan | Free Art School

The Free Art School was founded in 1935 by Maire Gullichsen. In its early years, the school advanced the principles of French modernist painting and colourism. Modelled after the ‘free academies’ of Paris, Helsinki’s Free Art School offered an alternative to formal academic art education in Finland. In the 1950s, the school’s teachers and students formed a hub of Concrete Art led by Unto Pusa and Sam Vanni. In the 1970s, the tuitional focus shifted to pure abstract colourism, Josef Albers’ colour theory, and American influences introduced by teachers Tor Arne and Carolus Enckell. By the end of the 1990s, the school began embracing the boundless diversity that characterizes contemporary painting. Today it embraces a pedagogical principle of freedom of expression, with a focus on practical tutelage in painting. Many prominent artists taught at the Free Art School, including William Lönnberg, Sigrid Schauman, Unto Pusa and Sam Vanni. Famous alumni include Tove Jansson, Tor Arne, Carolus Enckell and Rafael Wardi. The school is currently headed by Elina Merenmies. The Free Art School has played a unique role in Finnish art history, exerting a significant influence on the evolution of Finnish art.

 The authors are architect and professor Juhani Pallasmaa, art historian and associate professor Juha-Heikki Tihinen, curator Satu Metsola, professors Magnus Quaife and Riikka Stewen, and the Headmaster of the Free Art School, artist Elina Merenmies and Administrative Director Meri Karppanen.