Public art collections at Aalto University

The vision of public art at Aalto University is to address and raise questions about what it is to be a university, what we do together in society, and what constitutes the public.
Based on these and other enquiries, public art is site-specific and connects with the diversity of the university and its post-disciplinary communities that extend beyond Otaniemi, to global networks. Public artworks reflect this diversity through different art forms, materials, techniques, and traditions.
Artwork: Renata Jakowleff «Blue» 2017, 190 x 160 x 40 cm, glass and steel, assembled Photo: Mikko Raskinen
Cooler Planet Public Art Tours
Join a guided tour of the public art collections.

How does Aalto procure our public art?
Contemporary public art often raises critical questions about history, the present and future, and reflects the values of Aalto such as passion, courage, freedom, responsibility and integrity. These questions and values help guide the procurement of artworks at Aalto University.
Art procurements are made by purchasing ready works of art, ordering site-specific art works or organising art competitions. The collection and art procurements are curated and coordinated by Senior Specialist Outi Turpeinen together with the Aalto community.
The artists of the works are mainly Aalto University alumni, faculty or students who represent numerous different fields of art.
Global Equality Art Collection at Väre
Artworks in Väre remind us of the power of art in its ability to explore and expose diverse sociocultural and natural phenomena.

The Human Approach – art collection at the School of Business
The theme of the art concept that the one per cent art principle was applied to is Human Approach.

Radical Creativity art works at Töölö
Impressive art works by Sakari Kannosto and Kristina Riska are placed in the staircase and lobby areas. Aalto University Töölö is the fourth construction project at Aalto University in which approximately one per cent of the project budget was allocated to art.

Engineering Materials art collection
One per cent for art principle was applied in the Engineering Materials collection

Wall-art competition for Väre 2018.
Campus art competition for Otaniemi campus areas 2019.
Engineering Materials art competition for Aalto Works block 2022.
Who defines how we experience art? User research on public art 2022.
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Konsta Klemetti: Creative artistic thinking and finding surprising perspectives are ingrained in me
'It has been fun and enlightening to discover that there is a tribe, i.e., like-minded people at Aalto. Everyone accepts an idea, no matter how crazy it is. The culture is open-minded and accepting in a fun way.'
Shared imagination and between waves - the themes of Marsio and Otakaari 2B's art collections reflect Aaltonians
The themes, artists and drafts of the new buildings' art collections were published
Love and poetry - the artists were inspired by the passion conveyed by the university's research
Engineering Materials, an art collection for K1, K2, and K3 buildings, was published
Upcoming book discusses the role of public art at Aalto University
To be published in May, Unfolding public art book is based on the university's art collection- Published:
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