Tapio Wirkkala

Tapio Wirkkala ( born June 2, 1915 in Hanko, † 19 May 1985 in Helsinki) was a Finnish graphic designer, interior architect and designer.

Life and work

Wirkkala was a graduate of the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

He worked among others with Raymond Loewy in New York.

Since 1952, Wirkkala worked for the Finnish Iittala glass factory, which has become internationally known for the designs Wirkkala and especially Alvar Aalto. For Wirkkala's most famous designs include the Glass series " Tapio " and its leaves shaped wooden bowls, called "Leaf dishes" from the 1950s.

Since 1957 he has worked for Rosenthal. His porcelain, glass and cutlery designs include Century, composition, curve, polygon, waist and variation. The service Century has been included in the permanent collection of contemporary design of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, variation is found today in the collection of the MoMa in New York. In 1964, his works at the documenta III in Kassel in the Department of Industrial Design were shown. Wirkkala was awarded in 1968 for the Rosenthal porcelain Rotunda, the Medaglia d'Oro. He was honored with the award Finnish academics of art ( Taiteen akateemikko ) 1972.

Tapio Wirkkala was married to the artist Ruth Bryk ( daughter of the artist and entomologist Felix Bryk ). The Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation in Helsinki reminiscent of the works of both artists, whose daughter Maaria Wirkkala is also an internationally successful artist.