Women Artists

The Practical Side of Modernism – Aino Aalto

Joanna Kaszubowska 19 March 2022 min Read

Aino Marsio-Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer, she was also the wife of Alvar Aalto, which is why you may not have heard about her. They worked very closely together, to a point where now it is very difficult to unpick Aino’s work from Alvar’s. In the first half of the 20th century it was very difficult for a woman to become an architect with an independent office, hence the Aalto’s worked as a partnership. Times may have changed, but the fame of Zaha Hadid still feels more like an exception than a rule.

Despite being less known than her husband Aino Aalto was a very active designer. She and Alvar often cooperated, with Aino focusing on interior design. However, they also competed, taking part in the same competitions, especially when while working together on a submission they ended up with different variants of the project.

Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto, Villa Mairea, 1938-1939, Noormarkku, Finnland. Nordic Home.
Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto, Villa Mairea, 1938-1939, Noormarkku, Finnland. Nordic Home.

In 1935 the Aalto’s and Maire Gullichsen and Nils Gustav-Hahl founded Artek. The company produced furniture and interior accessories. Aino became the Design Director and with time the Managing Director of the company, effectively running the business. Artek exists to this day, owned by a private company, check out their website.

Artek, Booth at Salone Milan 2018. Photo by Eduardo Perez.
Artek, Booth at Salone Milan 2018. Photo by Eduardo Perez.

One of the most famous buildings the Aalto’s worked on together is Villa Mairea in Noormarkku, built for Maire Gullichsen (the co-founder of Artek). Aino designed the interiors, that work perfectly with the architecture. Both believed in a concept of a Gesamtkunstwerk, a complete work of art. They did not limit their work only to architecture, but considered every aspect of life, down to the smallest detail.

Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto, Villa Mairea, Noormarkku, 1938-1939. Photo by Johanna Kokkola.
Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto, Villa Mairea, Noormarkku, 1938-1939. Photo by Johanna Kokkola.

Aino’s most famous project indicated her focus on the practical aspect of design while retaining very strong sensitivity to nature. The collection of glassware, called Bölgeblick, was inspired by the rings a stone makes when thrown into the water. At the same time, you can also stack the glasses for easier storage. I am sure they look familiar to many of you, they are still sold by iittala, and even IKEA sells glasses inspired by Aino’s design.

Aino Marsio-Aalto, Bölgeblick, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK.
Aino Marsio-Aalto, Bölgeblick, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK.

Recommended

Women Artists

Christina Rossetti: Interweaving Poetry and Art

Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) is still beloved today for her timeless poetry—but her creative influence transcends the written word. By...

Emily Snow 8 June 2023

Lubaina Himid, The Operating Table, 2019. Women Artists

Stories of Black Britishness by Lubaina Himid

Winner of prestigious awards, including the Turner Prize, Lubaina Himid has a long and prolific career as an artist, curator, and teacher. Her art...

Natalia Tiberio 24 April 2023

Suzanne de Court. Suzanne de Court, Oval Plaque with the Annunciation, c. 1600, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD, USA. Women Artists

Suzanne de Court’s Enamel Masterpieces

Suzanne de Court was a French artist who was active at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. She focused on the production of enamel pieces with...

Jimena Escoto 24 April 2023

Anna Boberg Women Artists

Anna Boberg – Self-taught Painter of Lofoten Landscapes

Anna Boberg was a multidisciplinary self-taught artist active in Stockholm and Paris. She is best known for her arctic landscapes from Lofoten in...

Europeana 20 March 2023