Tove Jansson Gallery: Artist Family Jansson

The Tove Jansson Gallery is built around the beloved frescos Party in the Countryside and Party in the City, which are permanently on display. Spanning three exhibition halls, the gallery aims to strengthen Tove Jansson’s artistic legacy and significance in both art history and Finnish society. It showcases Jansson’s art in a diverse way and introduces new perspectives on her as both a Helsinki-based and international artist.

The gallery’s first exhibition presents the diverse forms of expression and shared artistic projects of the Jansson family of artists. Photographs also provide a glimpse into the family’s leisure time. The home’s atmosphere, close relationships and shared family adventures were later reflected in the Moomin stories that launched Tove Jansson to international fame. 

The Artist Family Jansson exhibition commemorates the book Comet in Moominland, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026.

The Swedish-speaking Janssons are one of the most significant artist families in Finnish art history. The creative work produced by its five members has left its mark on many branches of art, from public sculptures to postage stamps to literature. 

During the first decades of the 20th century, the artist couple Signe “Ham” Hammarsten Jansson and Viktor “Faffan” Jansson were creating art and starting a family. Wars and social upheavals made life anything but easy. But the couple’s passion for creating art, their strong work ethic and close family ties helped them pull through and provided an encouraging and inspiring home environment for their children. 

The mother, Signe, was an illustrator and graphic designer and the father, Viktor, a sculptor, and both encouraged their children to pursue art. All three siblings were authors, and Tove also became a painter, Per Olov an art photographer and Lars a cartoonist. In their bohemian home, everyday life and making art blended naturally: art was a way of life. Filled with art supplies, literature and creativity, their home was also a gathering place for their friends and a place for parties. 

The Artist Family Jansson exhibition brings together more than 140 objects and works of art at the Tove Jansson Gallery. It includes 50 drawings by Signe Hammarsten Jansson, more than 20 ex libris, banknote and stamp designs, dozens of printed stamps and a wallpaper covered in caricatures drawn by her. The collection also includes 13 statuettes by Viktor Jansson, as well as frescoes, paintings, drawings, magazine cover illustrations and ex libris by Tove Jansson. Lars Jansson’s signature style is on display in the form of a sculpture, books and original comic strips, while Per Olov Jansson’s displayed works include photographs and books.

The Artist Family Jansson exhibition is designed to appeal to adults and children alike. There is a wall covered with hatches that visitors can peek into to find Moominvalley residents who resemble members of the Jansson family. There are tables displaying tools used by illustrators and sculptors, ranging from red chalk to hammers and from scratchboard to chisels.

Visitors are free to touch the materials used by sculptors and discover what they feel like in their hand, including black dolerite from Varpaisjärvi and pink granite from Korpijärvi. You can also try your hand at caricature drawing and think about the features you would like to exaggerate in your drawing of yourself or your friend.

The Tove Jansson Gallery is produced in collaboration with Moomin Characters.

The exhibition is curated by HAM’s Tove Jansson experts, Curator Heli Harni and Audience Engagement Specialist Lotta Kjellberg.

Events

Artist Family Jansson: Sophia Jansson and Lotta Kjellberg in conversation

18.2.2026 17:30 – 18:30

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Artist Family Jansson: Sophia Jansson and Heli Harni in conversation

26.2.2026 17:30 – 18:30

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All events