The Art Collection

The City of Turku began systematically building its art collection in 1937, with a particular focus from the outset on the contemporary art of its time. The collection encompasses a wide range of visual art forms and includes works by artists such as Iiu Susiraja, Heikki Marila, Saara Ekström, IC-98 and Manno Kalliomäki.

A significant part of the collection is devoted to Wäinö Aaltonen, featuring highlights from the artist’s oeuvre such as Golden Lily (1929), Paavo Nurmi (1924) and My Garden (1950–1959). The City of Turku Art Collection also includes Turku Lily (1927), located in Runeberg Park. It was the City of Turku’s first public art acquisition.

Caring for the collection

WAM cares for Turku’s art collection in many practical ways. Works of art are transported, installed, protected, conserved and stored for future generations.

The collection is cared for by WAM’s conservator and museum technicians. They monitor conditions both in the museum’s long-term storage facilities and exhibition spaces, ensuring that works are handled appropriately in all situations. The conservator checks the condition of works whenever they are put on display in WAM’s exhibitions or loaned to other museums.

WAM is also responsible for public artworks belonging to the City of Turku Art Collection. The maintenance of public art includes conservation, technical repairs, cleaning and protective surface treatments, among other measures.

Where can you see works from the collection?

In exhibitions and at the museum

Some works from the collection are on display in WAM’s collection exhibitions, while others are permanently installed in the museum’s indoor and outdoor spaces. In the WAM foyer, visitors are welcomed by Wäinö Aaltonen’s The Finnish Maiden (1928) and Jussi Niva’s Free-Floating (2026).

On WAM’s terrace, you can see Wäinö Aaltonen’s sculptures Storm (1929–1967), Spiritual Work (1928–1932), The Future (1928–1932) and The Pioneer (1928–1932). In the museum grounds, Carro Celeste (1994) by Mariella Bettineschi was commissioned as part of the Pro Cultura Foundation’s Sculpture City project.

WAM also lends works from the art collection to exhibition organisers in Finland and internationally.

In everyday life

Works from the City of Turku Art Collection are part of everyday life in the city. A significant proportion of the collection – around 1,200 works – are on long-term deposit in public buildings in Turku and elsewhere in Southwest Finland, including premises operated by the City of Turku and the Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland.

More than 100 outdoor sculptures from WAM’s collection can be found in parks, squares and other public spaces, while more than 80 works are located indoors, for example in schools, day-care centres and libraries.

The collection online

The Aina collection management system contains a wide range of basic information about each work, including the artist, title, year of completion and technique. The database also includes research information relating, for example, to the history, provenance and museum value of the works.

Information about the City of Turku Art Collection is also available through the Finna search service.

Collection policy

The collection policy is WAM’s long-term plan for defining the priorities, objectives and development measures of its collection work. It sets out the principles governing the acquisition, preservation, display, conservation and documentation of works.

The collection policy helps ensure that the art collection grows systematically, that works are preserved for future generations and that art remains accessible to residents through exhibitions and in the city’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

WAM’s collection policy is currently being updated.

How is the art collection expanded?

The focus areas of the City of Turku Art Collection include spatial contemporary art and art from Southwest Finland. The collection is expanded through both existing works and commissioned works. In addition to acquisitions, the collection grows through donations and works transferred from elsewhere within the city organisation.

Art acquisitions

The City of Turku allocates an annual budget for expanding the art collection. WAM’s specialists are responsible for preparing acquisition proposals, and acquisition decisions are made in accordance with the city’s administrative regulations.

The collection is also expanded through Percent for Art schemes and public art acquisitions. WAM acts as the City of Turku’s expert in public art projects.

Donations

Donations are assessed according to the same criteria as other acquisitions. Accepting a donation requires the work to complement or support the existing collection and for its preservation, maintenance and documentation to be appropriate. WAM does not accept donations or bequests that are subject to conditions. Each donation is considered on a case-by-case basis.