The Kuntsi Foundation

Consul Simo Kuntsi (1913–1984) established a foundation carrying his name in 1970. The Kuntsi Foundation’s art collection includes over 800 artworks and centres around classic works of Finnish contemporary art.

The Kuntsi Foundation became known in the 1970s for its candid approach of displaying its ever-growing collection in a public space, the new Vaasa Commercial School. Art played an important role in the life of Simo and Kaisa Kuntsi already before the foundation was established. From the 1960s onwards, Simo Kuntsi was an active member of the Nykytaide (Contemporary Art) association and the Maecenas Guild, as well as an avid participant in Artek’s exhibition projects.

He secured a strong foothold in the art world thanks to his diverse roles and affiliations. He expressed his wide-ranging thoughts on the significance of art in society as well as on the individual level in, for example, the renowned Finnish art magazine Taide.

The Kuntsi Collection – 50th Anniversary of the Kuntsi Foudation

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Kuntsi Foundation is exhibiting part of its art collection at Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition presents beloved artworks from relevant Finnish artists in the 1960s to 1980s. It also includes rarely seen international artworks from the 1970s.

The Kuntsi Foundation’s core idea since its establishment has been to collect and exhibit fresh approaches in the art world alongside phenomena from recent history, and to offer perspectives on contemporary art to the public. The collection grew rapidly during the 1960s–1970s, and these decades shape to a great extent the profile of the foundation. The art of this era – including pop art, kinetic art, informalism and neo-expressionism – is especially well represented in the collection.

The most active acquisition period in the foundation’s history was during Simo Kuntsi’s lifespan, but the collection continues to grow to this day. In 2007, the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art was opened in the city of Vaasa. It is based on artworks from the foundation’s collection.

The artists featured in the exhibition are Timo Aalto, Göran Augustson, Agostino Bonalumi, K.P. Brehmer, Gernot Bubenik, Rafael Canogar, Lourdes Castro, César Baldaccini, Christo, Hanne Darboven, Karl Heinz Denning, Fritz Genkinger, Juhani Harri, Simo Hannula, Mauno Hartman, Reino Hietanen, Eero Hiironen, David Hockney, Karl Horst Hödicke, Antti Jantunen, Tapio Junno, Kimmo Kaivanto, Erkki Kannosto, Aimo Kanerva, Pentti Kaskipuro, Tero Laaksonen, Ahti Lavonen, Kuutti Lavonen, Kauko Lehtinen, Juhani Linnovaara, Rauni Liukko, Tuomo Lukkari, Pentti Lumikangas, Leena Luostarinen, Ernst Mether-Borgström, Marika Mäkelä, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Gunnar Pohjola, Kimmo Pyykkö, Väinö Rouvinen, Aarno Salosmaa, Konrad Schulz, Jaakko Sievänen, Arvo Siikamäki, Larry Stark, Mikael Stierncreutz, Marjatta Tapiola, Kain Tapper, Sam Vanni, Risto Vilhunen, Veikko Vionoja, Carl Wargh, Andy Warhol, Rainer Wittenborn and Hannu Väisänen.

The Collection

Mikael Stierncreutz: Romantisoitu omakuva

The collection grew rapidly during the 1960s–1970s, and these decades shape to a great extent the profile of the foundation. The art of this era – including pop art, kinetic art, informalism and neo-expressionism – is especially well represented in the collection.