One long used strategy of interior design is basing the colors of furnishings on a piece of art to harmonize the space. The Finnish Design Shop in collaboration with The Met are trying an intriguing variation on this approach. I don’t think I ever heard of the work of an artist influencing the color of purchasable furniture before. That’s part of what the Tones Of Modernism Collection explores.
To coincide with modernist painter Helene Schjerfbeck’s Met show Seeing Silence(the first ever solo exhibition by a Finnish artist) five Finnish design brands have created special edition products influenced by her color use. The most prominent of these is Alvar Aalto’s iconic Stool 60 from Artek, presented with a couple different leg colors and upholstered tops.
The launch event took place at Vitra’s NYC showroom, which offered a chance to get an update on the space since it opened in May 2025.
Full Description
FINNISH DESIGN SHOP presents TONES OF MODERNISM COLLECTION in collaboration with THE MET
To celebrate the opening of the exhibition Seeing Silence: The Paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Finnish Design Shop has collaborated with The Met on an exclusive collection, the TONES OF MODERNISM COLLECTION, featuring thoughtfully selected furniture and interior objects.
The limited-edition collection brings together five distinguished Finnish design brands: ARTEK, lITTALA, LAPUAN KANKURIT, NIKARI, and the natural scent house HETKINEN, in a tribute to Schjerfbeck’s quietly radical expression, delicate color palette, and pioneering role in Finnish modernist art.
Photos and Text: Dave Pinter
Additional Text: Finnish Design Shop
