Happy Island – The Önningeby Artist Colony

9.5-7.9.2025

Finland’s first artist colony was established in 1886 in the Åland Islands, in Önningeby village near Mariehamn. The colony was founded by the artist Victor Westerholm, who thought the Åland Islands was the most wonderful place in the world for painting. He called the place “Måland”, a nickname that combines the Swedish verb ‘to paint’, måla, and Åland. For the young outdoor artists who came to stay at the colony, the isolated wonderland also provided an adventure into the unknown. Westerholm’s artist residence, called Tomtebo, became the heart of the colony, where artists would gather at the end of their working day to discuss art and the art world. In addition to painting, the colony was a venue for making friends, goofing about and, occasionally, experiencing mishaps.

The exhibition includes audio stories that transport visitors to life in the artist colony, presented by actress Lena Labart.

The exhibition presents artworks from following artists: 

J.A.G. Acke, Fredrik Ahlstedt, Nina Ahlstedt, Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Ellen Favorin, Ida Gisiko-Spärck, Amélie Lundahl, Elin Alfhild Nordlund, Hanna Rönnberg, Eva Topelius-Acke, Dora Wahlroos, Anna Wengberg, Victor Westerholm, Edvard Westman.

The following institutions have borrowed artworks to the exhibition: Önningebymuseet, Ålands konstmuseum, Ålands lagting, Alandia Försäkring Abp, Anders Wiklöfs samling, Ålands Ömsesidiga Försäkringsbolag, Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi, Joensuun taidemuseo Onni, Åbo konstmuseum.