Women Sculptors

In spring and summer 2027 Villa Gyllenberg will exhibit works by Finnish women sculptors. The exhibition offers the first comprehensive overview of the lives and work of the first generations of women sculptors working in Finland. It presents works by sixteen artists – some celebrated in their own time, others now lesser-known – whose careers span the period from the 1870s to the 1950s.

Sculpture was not an easy profession for women: it required specialised training, physical strength, a suitable studio, and costly materials. It was also widely regarded as an inherently masculine art form. Yet these artists pursued their calling with determination, participating actively in exhibitions in Finland and abroad. Some went on to build long and distinguished careers in sculpture, leaving their mark on Finnish art history. The exhibition is based on extensive research by Liisa Lindgren, PhD, an expert in the history of sculpture.

The sculptors featured in the exhibition are:

Divina Asp, Hilda Flodin, Alina Forssman, Sigrid af Forselles, Gerda Godenius, Eva Gyldén, Helvi Hyvärinen, Ida Meller, Viivi Paarmio-Vallgren, Gerda Qvist, Essi Renvall, Auguste Rodin, Gerda Sprinchorn, Evelina Särkelä, Marita Walldén, Elsa Zilliacus.