OP Art Foundation

The OP Art Foundation (Finnish: OP Ryhmän Taidesäätiö, formerly Pohjola Pankin Taidesäätiö and earlier OKOn taidesäätiö) is a Finnish non-profit foundation established in 1987 to manage a collection of string instruments acquired by Osuuspankkien Keskuspankki (OKO) in the mid-1980s. Its purpose is to promote the performing arts of music and the visual arts. The foundation owns nine historic string instruments, including a 1702 Stradivarius violin known as "Iiriläinen" (The Irish), which it loans to selected talented young musicians. It also supports Finnish visual art by purchasing works from contemporary artists for display in OP Group's premises. The foundation is part of OP Group, Finland's largest financial services group, and operates under the Finnish foundation register. Its art collection includes paintings, sculptures, and prints, and it participates in exhibitions organized by the Finnish Art Foundations Association. The foundation's activities are funded by OP Group, and it is a member of the Finnish Art Foundations Association. The foundation's instrument collection includes works by Stradivari, Carlo Antonio Testore, Charles Gaillard, Pierre & Hippolyte Silvestre, Ferdinandus Gagliano, Leonhard Maussiel, Joannes Florenus Guidantus, Giovanni Grancino, Nicolas Lupot, and John Terry. The foundation's art collection includes works by Finnish artists such as Marika Mäkelä, Hugo Simberg, Ulla Rantanen, Wäinö Aaltonen, Helene Schjerfbeck, Heimo Suntio, and Johanna Ehrnrooth. The foundation is based in Helsinki and operates primarily in Finland.

The OP Art Foundation was established in 1987 to manage a collection of string instruments that Osuuspankkien Keskuspankki (OKO) had acquired in the mid-1980s. Initially known as OKOn taidesäätiö, it later became Pohjola Pankin Taidesäätiö and now operates as OP Ryhmän Taidesäätiö (OP Group Art Foundation). The foundation's primary purpose is to promote the performing arts of music and the visual arts. It owns nine historic string instruments, including a 1702 Stradivarius violin called "Iiriläinen" (The Irish). This violin was owned in the early 20th century by Harry Wahi, a collector from Vyborg, who acquired it in 1924. The violinist Onni Suhonen saved it during the Winter War, but most of Wahi's other valuable instruments remained in Vyborg. The violin eventually ended up in the United States with Wahi's heirs. In 1986, it was put up for sale in Japan, and cellist Seppo Kimanen and his violinist spouse Yoshiko Arai interested the then OKO bank in purchasing it for the bank's art foundation. The name "Iiriläinen" derives from the violin having at some point ended up in Ireland. The foundation loans its instruments to talented young musicians. In 2024, the instruments were held by Alber Sahlström, Lotus Tinat, Sanni Talvitie, Iidamari Ahonen, Emil Hartikainen, Gizem Güllü, Charlotte Westerback, Senja Rummukainen, Maria Morfin Venäläinen, and Noora Attila. The foundation's second task is to support Finnish visual art by purchasing works directly from contemporary artists. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, and prints, and is augmented annually with the help of experts. The foundation also participates in exhibitions organized by the Finnish Art Foundations Association. The foundation is part of OP Group, Finland's largest financial services group.

• 2024

  Instruments loaned to ten young musicians, including Alber Sahlström and Senja Rummukainen.

• 1987

  Foundation established to manage string instruments acquired by OKO in the mid-1980s.

• 1986

  Stradivarius violin "Iiriläinen" offered for sale in Japan; OKO bank acquires it for the foundation.

A non-profit art foundation within OP Group that promotes music and visual arts by lending historic instruments to young musicians and acquiring contemporary Finnish art.

• Stradivarius violin "Iiriläinen" (1702)

  A historic violin made by Antonio Stradivari, owned by the foundation and loaned to Alber Sahlström in 2024.

• Carlo Antonio Testore violin (1730)

  Loaned to Lotus Tinat in 2024.

• Charles Gaillard violin (1867)

  Loaned to Sanni Talvitie in 2024.

• Pierre & Hippolyte Silvestre violin (1843)

  Loaned to Iidamari Ahonen in 2024.

• Ferdinandus Gagliano violin (1767)

  Loaned to Emil Hartikainen in 2024.

• Leonhard Maussiel viola (1722)

  Loaned to Gizem Güllü in 2024.

• Joannes Florenus Guidantus viola

  Loaned to Charlotte Westerback in 2024.

• Giovanni Grancino cello (1698)

  Loaned to Senja Rummukainen in 2024.

• Nicolas Lupot cello (1795)

  Loaned to Maria Morfin Venäläinen in 2024.

• John Terry cello (1989)

  Loaned to Noora Attila in 2024.

1. 1OP Pohjolan Taidesäätiö | Tietoa OP Pohjolasta | OPop.fi
2. 2OP Art Foundation - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3OP-ryhmän taidesäätiö - Wikipediafi.wikipedia.org