Three New York galleries will host exhibitions of Finnish contemporary art this winter as part of a new partnership between the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, the Consulate General of Finland and the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA).
The initiative, funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the National Foundation of Finland and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, sent Gaa Gallery, Margot Samel and Ulterior Gallery to Finland earlier this year to meet with artists and institutions. These trips gave rise to a series of exhibitions aimed at deepening ties between the Finnish and New York art communities.
“Finnish creativity has always been palpable—you can see it in architecture, design, and even everyday life—but now what’s happening in the visual arts takes on added urgency,” said Heather Hubbs, executive director of NADA. “A generation of artists is redefining what it means to create in the North. For us, this partnership gives New York galleries the opportunity to experience this energy first-hand and build truly transnational relationships.”
Gaa Gallery will present “Beyond Matter”, a Finland-wide group exhibition from November 14 to January 3, 2026, featuring artists such as Kerttu Saali, Eetu Sihvonen, Teemu Salonen, Johanna Härkönen, Taru Happonen, Eeva Lietonen and Frans Nybacka. Margot Samel will present “Kuu Maa”, which features Finnish artist Man Qiu alongside six international artists, on view from November 21 to January 3, 2026. Ulterior Gallery then presents works by Päivi Takala, Elina Vainio and Noora Schroderus, opening on January 16 and running until February 21, 2026.
“Cultural diplomacy works best when it is rooted in real encounters, when artists and gallerists meet not just at an art fair or opening, but in the studio and share ideas,” said Anssi Vallius, Special Advisor for Cultural Affairs and Creative Industries at the Consulate General of Finland in New York. “Through this collaboration, we are creating these moments between Finland and New York, with the goal of integrating Finland’s voice into the global cultural fabric in a lasting, authentic way.”
The collaboration comes amid a broader wave of Finnish art events in New York. Earlier this year, Dunkunsthalle hosted “Remix the Archive,” a generative art exhibition that merged the National Gallery of Finland’s digital collection with creative coding. In December, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will host “Seeing Silence: The Paintings of Helen Schjerfbeck,” the Finnish painter’s first museum retrospective in the United States.
Further details about future gallery exchanges will be announced in 2026.
