Oulu Art Museum’s 2025 exhibitions focus on the forest and celebrate the spectrum of life

Exhibition programme, focusing on forests and biodiversity, celebrates the diversity of life and all that we can still save.

Matti Mikkola, Blue monolith, 1970, oil on canvas, 115x158 cm, Oulu Art Museum Collection. Photograph: Mika Friman.

The year starts with forest-themed exhibitions featuring contemporary jewellery and collection works focusing on the forest. A broad range and richness of form and colour is explored in an activity-based exhibition of abstract art from museum’s own collections. In the spring, exhibitions focus on colourful encounters with contemporary art, arts and crafts and Sami handicrafts. The year ends with a solo exhibition of the life’s work of the Oulu woodcutter Antti Holma.

 

KORU8 – International contemporary jewellery triennial
24 January – 13 April 2025

This exhibition of contemporary jewellery art goes to the forest. The common denominator of jewellery with a forest theme is longing. The exhibition features 47 artists and groups from over 20 countries. Triennal is organised  by The Finnish Art Jewellery Association.

Go to exhibition website.

 

From This Neck of the Woods
24 January – 13 April 2025

The collection exhibition reflects on contemporary human relationships with the forest and ways of being in nature through art. From This Neck of the Woods highlights new acquisitions by the Oulu Art Museum and artists with connections to our region. The exhibition is part of our regional responsibility museum work.

Go to exhibition website.

 

Imagine Abstract
28 March – 30 November 2025

Imagine Abstract is an invitation to play and explore. The exhibition from the collections of the Oulu Art Museum encourages the public to approach abstract art and its elements with a curious imagination and explore the dimensions of non-figurative art in a functional and interactive way. Interpretation is free!

Go to exhibition website.

 

Kirjo
30 April – 17 August 2025

How can we live more sustainably as part of the spectrum of life and the community of species on Earth? Kirjo brings together contemporary Nordic art, arts and crafts and Sami handicrafts (duodji). The exhibition is curated by Ki Nurmenniemi.

Go to exhibition website.

 

Antti Holma
5 September – 30 November 2025

The roughness of life, strong emotions, physical frenzy – all this can be found in the imagery of the Oulu woodcut master from the 1970s to the present day.

Go to exhibition website.

 

AGF: kuu-tee listening sessions
2025

We will continue to develop our programme around community-based, sustainable exhibition production. We continue our listening sessions with our partner AGF, Antye Greie-Ripatti (b. 1969 Ebersbarch, lives in Hailuoto). The themes of the sessions arise from dissonance, disagreement and dissent.

Go to exhibition website.