The first scholarship holders selected for the scholarship studio apartment in Tapiola
In cooperation with the City of Espoo and Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA), the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation has launched scholarship studio apartment activities in the Tapiola Studio Building located in Tapiola, Espoo. Till de första stipendiatkonstnärerna har bildkonstnärsparet Aino Tillonen (född 2001) och Paavo Kärki (född 2001) valts ut. De börjar arbeta och bo i stipendieateljébostaden i början av 2026. Deras stipendiatperiod är tre år.
There was an open application process for the scholarship, during the autumn. The scholarship holders were selected by a jury with representatives from the Studio Foundation, EMMA and the City of Espoo.
Tillonen and Kärki are currently completing their Master of Fine Arts studies at the University of the Arts Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts. The works of both scholarship artists will be on display at the Kuvan Kevät exhibition of the Academy of Fine Arts, in spring 2026.
The work of both visual artists is painting-oriented. In their recent works, Tillonen has dealt with, for example, looking and being looked at, as well as memory and memories. Kärki's works have studied the power structures, networks and norms of art and society.
Through the scholarship studio apartment activity, the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation and the City of Espoo (Cultural Unit) want to support visual artists in the early stages of their careers, while also making the work of the visual artists in the Tapiola Studio Building visible to audiences. The Tapiola Studio Building is a unique terraced-house type building comprising 10 residential studios designed by architect Aulis Blomstedt in 1955. The building is located at Nallenpolku 1, Espoo.
Annual events open to the public are organised at the scholarship studio apartment, in cooperation with the EMMA Museum. These events open up the work of visual artists in their studio for Espoo residents and other residents of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
The City of Espoo enables scholarship holders to participate in artist-expert tasks related to the development of the city's cultural activities, during the scholarship period.
According to Tillonen and Kärki, “a shared daily life and parallel work will support creative dialogue and enable continuous exchange of ideas”. They are looking forward to the opportunity to cooperate with the City of Espoo and the EMMA Museum.
The Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation, the City of Espoo and EMMA believe that the scholarship period will provide Tillonen and Kärki with a unique opportunity for artistic work, as well as a steady foundation for their first years as professional visual artists, after graduation.
If you wish to receive invitations to events organised at the scholarship studio and want follow the work of scholarship artists, you can join the scholarship artists’ mailing list by sending an email at: alina.manttari@ateljeesaatio.fi.