art.wikisort.org - Artist

Kaija Helena Aarikka-Ruokonen (3 February 1929 — 14 August 2014) was a Finnish designer and entrepreneur.[1][2][3][4]

Kauppaneuvos Kaija Aarikka
Kaija-Aarikka in 1949
Born	(1929-02-03)3 February 1929 Somero, Finland
Died	14 August 2014(2014-08-14) (aged 85) Helsinki, Finland
Alma mater	Taideteollinen Oppilaitos
Known for	Wood objects
Spouse	Erkki Ruokonen ​ ​ (m. 1954, died)​
Awards	Pro Finlandia (1994)

Early life and education

Kaija Aarikka was born in Somero to a farming family; her parents were Väinö Aarikka and Alma Maria née Kares.[1]

She completed lower secondary school[lower-alpha 1] in 1945, and later studied textile arts and design at the Taideteollinen Oppilaitos school of design (now part of Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture), graduating in 1954.[1]

Career

In 1954, Aarikka co-founded together with her husband the eponymous design bureau Aarikka, to design and manufacture initially wooden buttons[5][6] and decorative and household items, later expanding also into personal accessories, dress jewellery and giftware.[2][1][3][5] She worked there as the firm's head designer and Artistic Director for most of her career, also taking over management duties including chairing the Board of Directors from 1977.[1]

The first Aarikka store opened in 1960, and by the 1980s there were 20.[7]

Aarikka is best known for her simplistic wooden designs, often in characteristic round shapes.[3] One of her most iconic creations is the wooden Pässi ('Ram') sculpture.[8]

From the early 1970s onwards, she also provided free-lance design services for Humppila and Ahlstrom glassworks (both now part of Iittala) as well as for Tampella textiles.[1][3][5] One of Aarikka's glass designs for Humppila is in the British Museum collections.[7]

Awards and honours

In 1994, Aarikka received the Pro Finlandia [fi] medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[9][8]

In 1999, to mark her 70th birthday, the honorary title of Kauppaneuvos [fi] was bestowed on Aarikka.[2]

Personal life

In 1954, Aarikka married businessman Erkki Ruokonen; the couple had three daughters.[1]

Her favourite pastimes included theatre, literature, and outdoor pursuits.[1]

She died, aged 85, following a long illness.[4][5]

Notes

References

External links

• Aarikka Museum, with history of the company and the designer

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