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A Hot Opening for the Artists of the Year Exhibition

04/07/2026

The last day of June was so hot that Hotel Helka started to feel like a glass studio. That same evening, I had the great honor of receiving the Artists O Artist of the Year 2026 recognition together with Tuuli Autio. It was a wonderful surprise and one that gives you energy to keep going for a long time.


Tuuli Autio's powerful sculptures are made from wood... with an axe!
Tuuli Autio's powerful sculptures are made from wood... with an axe!
The opening night was packed. Thank you to everyone who came!
The opening night was packed. Thank you to everyone who came!
Artist and multidisciplinary creator Susanna Sivonen travelled all the way from Oulu to celebrate with us. We have some exciting plans brewing together.
Artist and multidisciplinary creator Susanna Sivonen travelled all the way from Oulu to celebrate with us. We have some exciting plans brewing together.
Liisa Tirronen runs the wonderful Liisa's Garage Glamour
Liisa Tirronen runs the wonderful Liisa's Garage Glamour
Sami Lämpsä, who created the weather simulation system for our Oulu public art project, stopped by as well. Last winter we used it to test how my glass sculptures would survive outdoors.
Sami Lämpsä, who created the weather simulation system for our Oulu public art project, stopped by as well. Last winter we used it to test how my glass sculptures would survive outdoors.
Suonenjoki mates! Kari has even been one of our models at New York Fashion Week, and Hanna-Kaisa continues to be one of my biggest role models when it comes to conquering the world with confidence.
Suonenjoki mates! Kari has even been one of our models at New York Fashion Week, and Hanna-Kaisa continues to be one of my biggest role models when it comes to conquering the world with confidence.

One of the greatest gifts of this exhibition was meeting Tuuli. Without this project, we probably never would have crossed paths. She creates her sculptures by carving wood with an axe. There's only one word for it; Badass.

I love how her work speaks about presence and reminds us that touching is an essential part of being human. It was cool to see how our works naturally found a dialogue in the gallery. Tuuli even created a path through the exhibition that feels like walking through a forest.


Amazing stand-up comedian Taina Törmänen had an entire room in tears from laughing at my husband Tomi's event.
Amazing stand-up comedian Taina Törmänen had an entire room in tears from laughing at my husband Tomi's event.
Tuuli and folk musician Ulla immediately found common ground, talking about how trees were once approached with deep respect.
Tuuli and folk musician Ulla immediately found common ground, talking about how trees were once approached with deep respect.
Hotel Helka is a wonderful exhibition venue because it feels playful, warm and surprisingly homelike.
Hotel Helka is a wonderful exhibition venue because it feels playful, warm and surprisingly homelike.
Jenny and I last met at Jouni Leino's studio, reminiscing about one of our adventures in the Finnish archipelago.
Jenny and I last met at Jouni Leino's studio, reminiscing about one of our adventures in the Finnish archipelago.


I arrived at the opening wearing long sleeves. The night before, I'd been in the mosh pit at Tuska Festival, so my arms were covered in bruises. That also became the starting point for my thank-you speech. Being an artist often looks like running endless circles through mud. But every now and then you reach the edge of the pit and ask someone to lift you up. That's what crowdsurfing is. You don't move forward by your own strength. Dozens of hands carry you. That's exactly what my career has felt like.

Most recently, Ossi from Metallikaari engineered the stainless steel support structure for my first permanent public artwork. Sami built a weather simulator that allowed us to test outdoor installations before they ever faced a real winter. Marja and Kari from Riihimäki have been walking beside me through the world of glass for more than a decade. Mira, who worked as a ballet dancer, can express vulnerability with the smallest movement, whether she's dancing with robots or walking on glass shoes on New York Fashion Week. And beyond them are countless others who have taught me, solved impossible problems, believed in ideas before they existed, and helped carry them into reality. The exhibition itself is built from collaboration.

That's why this recognition doesn't belong only to me. It belongs to every pair of hands that has lifted me. The best rule of crowdsurfing is that nobody stays at the front forever. You're carried forward, gently brought back down, then you go around and help lift the next person. Art should work the same way. When you've been carried, the most important thing you can do is help lift someone else.


For example, Ossi Kumpulainen came to the opening. Ossi is a true master of fish leather and produced the fish leather used in the footwear I designed together with Marja Hepo-aho. The shoes were crafted by Tytti Porvari and combine glass blown by Kari Alakoski, 3D-printed wooden spikes by Alex Holmes and ethically sourced gold by Kultaus Snellman. They have been worn by dancer Mira Ollila.
For example, Ossi Kumpulainen came to the opening. Ossi is a true master of fish leather and produced the fish leather used in the footwear I designed together with Marja Hepo-aho. The shoes were crafted by Tytti Porvari and combine glass blown by Kari Alakoski, 3D-printed wooden spikes by Alex Holmes and ethically sourced gold by Kultaus Snellman. They have been worn by dancer Mira Ollila.
Our works found a beautiful rhythm together throughout the gallery.
Our works found a beautiful rhythm together throughout the gallery.
The surface of Tuuli's sculptures shifts beautifully as the light changes.
The surface of Tuuli's sculptures shifts beautifully as the light changes.
Pia brought beautiful flowers.
Pia brought beautiful flowers.
We both gave talks about our work and artistic practice.
We both gave talks about our work and artistic practice.
Mare, my flatmate from the years after high school, came too. We even laughed about our nights at Mummotunneli back in the day, as good flatmates should.
Mare, my flatmate from the years after high school, came too. We even laughed about our nights at Mummotunneli back in the day, as good flatmates should.
By the end of the evening my arms were full of flowers.
By the end of the evening my arms were full of flowers.
Heidi-Hanna Karhu photographed Laitamyötäinen in its urban surroundings. She also happens to be the very first photographer I ever worked with when I started making glass art years ago.
Heidi-Hanna Karhu photographed Laitamyötäinen in its urban surroundings. She also happens to be the very first photographer I ever worked with when I started making glass art years ago.
And because the bruises deserve some context... here's a photo from Tuska.
And because the bruises deserve some context... here's a photo from Tuska.
Women supporting women isn't always about grand speeches. Sometimes it's simply ordering a burger for hungry artists who are still closing the exhibition long after everyone else has gone home.
Women supporting women isn't always about grand speeches. Sometimes it's simply ordering a burger for hungry artists who are still closing the exhibition long after everyone else has gone home.

Thank you to everyone who came. One more thing.

Artists of the Year – Tuuli Autio & Sini Majuri

1 July – 30 August 2026

Hotel Helka
Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 23
00100 Helsinki, Finland