TAPIO WIRKKALA (1915-1985) was a Finnish designer and sculptor who had a formative influence on post-war Scandinavian design. Inspired by the basic laws governing natural form, he created objects that were as stunningly beautiful as they were functional. His output was immense, he designed glassware for littala and Venini, porcelain for Rosenthal, jewellery, stoneware, metalware, lighting and furniture. Wirkkala also designed more utilitarian pieces including postage stamps, banknotes, light bulbs and ketchup bottles...
Tapio Wirkkala has won numerous Awards including
:
. Four prizes, Design of Postage Stamps, Helsinki Olympic Games 1951
. Grand Prix, Milano Triennale (IX) Glass
. “Most Beautiful Object” House Beautiful Magazine, USA
. Golden Obelisk Prize, Domus, Mannheim, FRG
. Prins Eugen Medal, Stockholm
Selected Public Collections:
. Corning Museum of Glass, Corning New York
. Museum of Art and Design, Helsinki
. Museum of Modern Art, New York
. National Museum of Modern Art, Toyko
. Victoria and Albert Museum, London
. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Toronto
The Photograph is a Poster for The Tapio Wirkkala Exhibition New York 1985
