Tapio Wirkkala

A multifaceted genius, sculptor and master of Scandinavian design, always seeking to create organic, innovative forms that are still attentive to artisanal traditions, Tapio Virkkala found his principle source of inspiration in the form of nature. Nature was his refuge of peace and creativity, living in a hermitage so far removed that it was reachable only by helicopter, or, more realistically, by foot. A fascinating “man of the woods”, always with a pipe in his mouth and a thick beard, but also a refined and extremely prolific artist – thanks to the complexity and beauty of his work, Virkkala became much more a simple designer of objects. A multi-award-winning artist, with many of his creations presented in some of the biggest museums in the world, Virkkala was crowned winner of a competition sponsored by iittala in 1946, the company of which he later became artistic director, inextricably linking his name to Finish glasswork with more than four hundred extraordinary creations. He also went on to collaborate with the likes of Venini, for whom he designed vases which, with their poetic designs, left an indelible mark on the world of Murano glassmaking.