Own Collections - Classics and New Acquisitions

The summer exhibition is composed of works from the collection belonging to the Sara Hildén Foundation, which was established in 1962 when Tampere art collector and business woman Sara Hildén (1905-1993) donated her works of art to the Foundation bearing her name. The main collection was formed of paintings by Erik Enroth from 1945-62. The collection currently has approximately 4,500 works. The Sara Hildén Art Museum was opened to the public in February 1979.

The international artworks in the collection of the Sara Hildén Foundation reflect the prevailing styles in international art at the time of their acquisition. Informalism, which emphasised the freedom of the artist's expression, was one of the leading trends in European art in the 20th century. The most important names representing this style in the collection are Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Soulages and Antoni Tápies. Geometric abstract art is represented by artists such as Josef Albers, Alberto Magnelli and Serge Poliakoff. Early masters of modern art are represented in the collection by artists such as Giorgio de Chirico, Alberto Giacometti, Paul Delvaux, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Giorgio Morandi and Yves Tanguy as well as classic masters of modern art such as Pierre Bonnard, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger and Pablo Picasso. In addition to works by classic Informalist artists, the upper floor displays works in other art-historical styles, particularly those of Surrealism.

The latest acquisitions of the Sara Hildén Foundation are comprised of paintings and sculptures by contemporary Finnish artists. There are works by artists already represented in the collection, such as Martti Aiha, Juhana Blomstedt, Carolus Enckell, Silja Rantanen, Raili Tang and Hannu Väisänen. Also included are works by Reijo Hukkanen, Jani Hänninen, Anna Retulainen and Anna Tuori. New artists in the collection include Tomas Byström, Pasi Karjula, Jukka Rusanen and Kim Simonsson. The latest acquisitions in the collection are displayed on the upper floor.

The city of Tampere celebrates its 230th anniversary this autumn, and in honour of the anniversary the museum is exhibiting works by three Tampere artists: Kimmo Kaivanto, Tuula Lehtinen and Gunnar Pohjola. Tampere is currently holding a theme year based on North America, which can be seen in the programme of exhibitions in the city museums. After the exhibition of Alex Katz's works in the spring, the Sara Hildén Art Museum is continuing the American theme with a display of contemporary American art. The artworks on the lower floor of the museum show a wide view of American art during the period of the 1960s and 1970s. These include Edward Kienholz's audacious installation entitled The Tadpole Piano Pool with Woman Affixed Also, the portrait by Chuck Close in the spirit of Pop Art, Frank Stella's colourful series of works associated with Jewish folk traditions, or George Segal's The Aerial View, with its puzzling plaster figure surveying the night sky.

Own Collections - Classics and New Acquisitions

Künstler: Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Soulages, Antoni Tàpies, Josef Albers, Alberto Magnelli, Serge Poliakoff, Giorgio De Chirico, Alberto Giacometti, Paul Delvaux, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Giorgio Morandi, Yves Tanguy, Pierre Bonnard, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, Pablo Picasso, Edward Kienholz, Chuck Close, Frank Stella, George Segal, Martti Aiha, Juhana Blomstedt, Carolus Enckell, Silja Rantanen, Raili Tang, Hannu Väisänen, Reijo Hukkanen, Jani Hänninen, Anna Retulainen, Anna Tuori, Mari Sunna, Tomas Byström, Pasi Karjula, Jukka Rusanen, Kim Simonsson, Kimmo Kaivanto, Tuula Lehtinen, Gunnar Pohjola ...