The Making of Modern Living
Date(s)
Fri 28.08.2026 - Fri 04.09.2026
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 11–18
Address
Artek 2nd Cycle, Pieni Roobertin katu 4–6, 00120, Helsinki
Tickets
Free Admission
Held during Helsinki Design Week, the exhibition The Making of Modern Living invites visitors to Artek 2nd Cycle to experience the atmosphere of Artek’s very first store, which opened in 1936 on Helsinki’s Fabianinkatu.
The Artek store was not merely a place to buy furniture, but also a cultural space. It embodied the ideals of Aino and Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl: the fusion of art and technology, and the promotion of “a modern way of living”.
Since then, Artek has remained a fixture of Helsinki’s street life, offering a compelling and tangible expression of the founders’ vision. We invite you to step back in time.
'The Making of Modern Living' exhibition is open from August 25, 2026 at the Artek 2nd Cycle.
Artek was founded in Helsinki in 1935 by four young idealists: Aino and Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl. Their goal was “to sell furniture and to promote a modern culture of living through exhibitions and other educational means.” In keeping with the radical spirit of its founders, Artek remains an innovative player in the world of modern design to this day, developing new products at the intersection of design, architecture, and art. The Artek collection consists of furniture, lighting, and accessories designed by Finnish masters and leading international designers. It stands for clarity, functionality, and poetic simplicity.
