Master painter Einari Junttila 125 years

Einari Junttila (1901–1975) from Kittilä was a pioneering artist from Lapland, best known for his Lapland landscapes and nature scenes. 2026 marks the 125th anniversary of the artist's birth. To celebrate the anniversary, Rovaniemi Art Museum is holding an exhibition that provides insights into the artist's life and the development of his art, as well as his influence on a younger generation of artists. The exhibition presents works from different stages of Junttila's career as well as pieces by contemporary Lapland-based artists who have been influenced by him.

Einari Junttila, the son of a cantor from Kittilä, began his career as a painter in the 1910s, gaining public recognition in the 1930s. In his early years, he was encouraged by figures including the forester, nature writer and artist A. E. Järvinen, as well as the Tampere-based artist Gabriel Engberg. It was through their example that Junttila became familiar with watercolour and oil painting. Following a brief period in Helsinki he returned to Kittilä, where he balanced everyday work with art, supporting his family through farm labour while devoting his spare time to painting. Junttila's passion for painting was so strong that he travelled all the way to Rovaniemi to purchase the necessary art supplies, sometimes on foot.

Einari Junttila's breakthrough came in the mid-1930s when his watercolours were exhibited in Germany. After participating in an exhibition of Finnish art, he was invited to exhibit at the Kunsthalle Helsinki. The exhibition received overwhelmingly positive reviews, which established his career. Junttila went on to become a successful professional artist, supporting his family through his work.

Eiari Junttila lived in Kittilä all his life. Remaining faithful to his subjects and style, he painted thousands of works depicting the surrounding area. His landscape paintings brought the unique light of the North to the attention of a wider audience. Junttila also played an active role in developing art in Lapland. He was a member of the Lapland Art Association Seitapiiri, which was founded after the Second World War, and the Staalo Artists' Association was established at his initiative. Junttila's courage in becoming a professional artist made him an important role model for a younger generation of artists.

The exhibition presents Einari Junttila's extensive production from different stages of his long career. Also featured are artists who inspired him, as well as those he inspired and artists from his immediate family. The works are drawn from the collections of Kemi Art Museum, Rovaniemi Art Museum, and Einari Junttila Art Museum, as well as private homes in Lapland. The exhibition has been curated by professor emerita Tuija Hautala-Hirvioja.