This summer, Tampere will host a major overview of contemporary art featuring works by nearly 80 artists in the Art Realm biennial. In spring 2025, Tampere Art Museum invited artists who live, work, or otherwise have connections to the regions of Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Päijät-Häme to apply for participation in Art Realm ’26. The museum received 215 applications from individual artists, artist pairs, and artist groups. Based on these applications, 39 works were selected for the biennial.
The exhibition includes site-specific works, media art, paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, as well as performances and participatory works. The selected works have been created by individual artists, artist pairs, and groups of up to more than 20 artists.
Art Realm challenges and expands the traditional power structures of art museums and curatorial practices. The works were selected by a multidisciplinary jury of 14 members. In addition to representatives from museums and the art field, the jury included six lay members selected through an open call.
Above all, the summer 2026 biennial in Tampere offers a shared opportunity to plan and imagine futures — boldly, freely, and together. The biennial theme TOGETHER extends to the content and forms of the selected works, the artists’ working methods, the visitor experience, and collaboration with partners.
Art realm ’26 will take place in two exhibition venues — the TR1 building in the Finlayson area and Haihara Art Centre — as well as in public urban spaces. In the upcoming biennial, Tampere Art Museum will collaborate with partners including Finlayson Art Area, the Finlayson district, and the City of Tampere’s Cultural Services.
Raisa Foster
Kyllikki Haavisto
Eeva Honkanen
Juhani Koivumäki
Marko Lampisuo
Laura Lappi
Eeva Peura
Inari Sandell
Hanna Oinonen
Pauliina Parjanen
Pilvi Takala
Jirko Viljanen
Jenny Vesiväki
Camilla Vuorenmaa
Artist pairs
masamiracles: Matti Haaponiemi and Sanna Saastamoinen
Panu Ruotsalo and Helmi Remes
Artist groups
MOKA: Senni Aleksandra, Timo Höyssä, Ilai Elias Lehto, Paananen & Ulvila, Sanna Saarreharju and Liisa Tarleena Öhman
Edwina Goldstone and Omapolku community: artists Lasse Rinne, Linnea Meuronen, Sam Laurila, Joonas Mäkinen, Ville Penttilä, Vesa Rimpilä, Eveliina Korlee, Artturi Puskala, Henri Hakala, Joni Jaaskelainen and Daniel Lehtinen. Art instructors Leena Lehti and Tiia Viiltola.
Anna Hyrkkänen, Katri Mononen and Mia Saharla
Hyäryllistä: Jouko Korkeasaari, Sari Koski-Vähälä and Heli Kurunsaari
Piia Rossi
Janne Laine
Janne Rahunen
Siina Levonoja
Rosaliina Paavilainen
Vilma Pimenoff
Sanni Seppä
Jari Silomäki
Maria Stereo
Anni Kristiina Takala
Tiina-Liisa/Tisainia
Artist pairs
Helinä Hukkataival ja Ida Sofia Fleming
Jesse Kitinoja ja Macu Makkonen
Sirkku Rosi ja Juho Kanervo
Eero Yrjölä ja Aleksi Kolmonen
Artist group
Jan Anderzén and work group (Pauliina Haasjoki, Henriikka Tavi and Sini Silveri)
Janne Hokkanen
Jussi Lahtinen
Ilkka Virtanen
Hämeenlinna Art Museum and Tampere Art Museum have joined forces with the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva to launch Art Realm, a series of biennial exhibitions, which will rotate between venues in Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Päijät-Häme. The Art Realm forms part of the regional activities undertaken by Hämeenlinna Art Museum (Kanta-Häme), Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva (Päijät-Häme) and Tampere Art Museum (Pirkanmaa).
