90 Years of Painting Education – A Book on the History and Pedagogy of the Free Art School

The Free Art School celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, a commemorative book is being published in collaboration with HAM Helsinki Art Museum and publishing house Parvs. The richly illustrated volume highlights the school’s diverse history and its unique pedagogical approach.

The Free Art School - Fria Målarskolan - was founded in late 1934 at the initiative of Maire Gullichsen. Gullichsen (née Ahlström) had the financial means to support the school's founding, and operations began in January 1935. The school was grounded in the principles of French modern painting. Gullichsen and the other founders envisioned an art school in Helsinki that would resemble the open-access “academies” of Paris. The mission was to offer an alternative to Finland’s academic art education. In 1971, The Free Art School became a multi-year institution providing professional training in painting.

A Book Celebrating 90 Years of Art Education

As of 2025, The Free Art School operates at the Cable Factory in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, offering a four-year professional program in painting. Over the decades, many renowned artists have taught at the school, including William Lönnberg, Sigrid Schauman, Unto Pusa, Sam Vanni, Tor Arne, and Carolus Enckell. Today, the teaching staff consists of actively practicing contemporary artists. Notable alumni include Tove Jansson, Elga Sesemann, Raili Tang, Jorma Hautala, Henry Wuorila-Stenberg, Rafael Wardi, Mari Sunna, and Jani Hänninen.

Since 2020, the school has been led by visual artist Elina Merenmies. We warmly thank the Finnish Cultural Foundation for funding the publication, and the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland (SLS) for supporting the project.

The book’s authors include architect and professor Juhani Pallasmaa; art historian and docent Juha-Heikki Tihinen; curator Satu Metsola; professors Magnus Quaife and Riikka Stewen; and from Vapaa Taidekoulu, rector and visual artist Elina Merenmies and administrative director Meri Karppanen.

📖 The book is available through Parvs Publishing: The Free Art School - Teaching Painting for 90 Years