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Aino & Alvar Aalto

2026

–

2027

2026

Lada 2

The picture shows Aalto's flower 1939 in green glass.

The exhibition presents Aino Marsio-Aalto and Alvar Aalto, one of the most important couples in design and architecture of the 20th century. Working as equal partners, they developed a design language that weaved together soft organic forms with function and innovation. The exhibition includes more than 300 of their iconic objects — furniture, glass, luminaires and unique prototypes — drawn from the private Aalto collection of Pertti Männistö, the largest in the world of its kind.

Aino Marsio-Aalto (1894—1949) trained as an architect in Helsinki. In 1924, she began working in the architectural office of Alvar Aalto and in the same year they married. Aino Marsio-Aalto distinguished himself early on for his aesthetics, knowledge of materials and craftsmanship. She made significant imprints in modern glass design and interior design and co-founded Artek in 1935, where she was design director and later CEO.

Alvar Aalto (1898—1976) was one of the foremost architects of modernism and Finland's most internationally known representative in the field. He was a pioneer of functionalism but in the late 1930s began to move towards the organic architecture that became the model for generations. He came to perceive his buildings as seamless wholes that also included custom-designed interiors, furniture and fixtures.

The exhibition at Vandalorum shows director Virpi Suutari's award-winning documentary film about the couple Aalto, in which Pertti Männistö's furniture forms a fund. Vandalorum also publishes a catalogue of texts by the American writer and curator Nina Stritzler-Levine and author Hedvig Hedqvist, with new images by Patrik Lindell. The exhibition's set design is created by TAF Studio.

The exhibition is based on Kunsthalle Helsinki's Aallot — Aino and Alvar Aalto with a Collector's Eye (2022) and AALTO Aino & Alvar at Millesgården Museum (2025-26).

Thanks to: Tore G. Wärenstam Foundation, Estrid Ericson Foundation, Stiftelsen Längmanska kulturfonden, Swedish Arts Council, Region Jönköping County, Värnamo Municipality, and Vandalorum’s Partners: Hamrin, Liljedahl, Svenstig

^{Photos:
Aino Marsio-Aalto & Alvar Aalto,}^{Aalto Flower}^{, 1939, photo: Elina Männistö
Alvar Aalto,}^{armchair 37,}^{1936, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Anssi Vaarola
Aino Marsio-Aalto,}^{floor lamp 607 A}^{, 1941, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Anssi Vaarola
Aino Marsio-Aalto,}^{carafe Bölgeblick}^{, 1935, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Elina Männistö
Alvar Aalto,}^{lamp 110}^{, 1953, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Anssi Vaarola
Aino Marsio-Aalto,}^{lounge chair}^{, 1937–38, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Anssi Vaarola
Alvar Aalto,}^{Paimio armchair}^{, 1931–32, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Anssi Vaarola
Alvar Aalto,}^{ceiling lamp, type 1}^{, prototype c. 1958, Pertti Männistö Collection, photo: Anssi Vaarola
Alvar Aalto,}^{serving trolley 100}^{, 1937, photo: Anssi Vaarola}

The Artist's Stool

In connection with the exhibition Vandalorum and Artek launch the project The Artist's Stool where contemporary artists and designers were invited to make their own interpretation of Alvar Aaltos Stool 60 in birch (designed 1933). The stools will be displayed in the exhibition at Vandalorum and eventually auctioned. The revenue collected by the pallets is divided equally between the authors and Vandalorum. Vandalorum's part goes directly to Design School, where children and young people meet weekly to learn about design and work in workshop form with professional designers.

Contributors in The Artist's Stool: Peter Andersson, Karin Broos, Folkform (Anna Holmquist & Chandra Ahlsell), Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska, Richard Johansson, Jenny Nordberg, Masayoshi Oya, Fredrik Paulsen, Sigrid Sandström, TAF (Gabriella Lenke & Mattias Ståhlbom), Gustaf Westman

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