Saunders Fine Art

Additional Information

Tuulikki Pietilä (1917-2009)

Ida Helmi Tuulikki Pietilä was born in Seattle, Washington on 18th February 1917. She was a Finnish artist, designer and teacher.

Pietilä's family moved back to Finland in 1920 and settled in Turku. Pietilä attended the Turku drawing school (1933-1936) and the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts (Suomen Taideakatemia) in Helsinki (1936–1940) where she studied sculpture and design.

During WW11, Pietilä moved to Halmstad in Sweden where she worked with Finland’s child evacuees. In 1945 she resumed her studies at the Konstfack (University College of Arts, Crafts and Design) in Stockholm before attending the Fernand Léger Art Academy in Paris (1949-1953). It was during her time at college that she met her partner - The Finnish novelist, painter, illustrator - Tove Jansson (1914-2001). Thoughout their lives together they collaborated on many projects - including the Moomin works - and often spent their summers together on the Klovharu island in Pellinki

Pietilä taught at the Finnish Academy of Art design (1956-1960).

Pietilä participated in numerous exhibitions in Finland and abroad and her works are held in the collections of many international and national art museums. Her awards include the Pro Finlandia Medal (1963), the City of Helsinki Prize, the State Prize for the visual arts and the city of Paris silver medal. He was also an honorary member of Finnish Printmakers Association.

Tuulikki Pietilä died at home in Helsinki on 23rd February 2009. She was a 92.