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Kirsti Gallen-Kallela, “Ilja,” Wool Kilim, Finland, c.1935.
This wool kilim, titled "Ilja," was woven c. 1935 by Finnish artist Kirsti Gallen-Kallela, known for her ability to blend Scandinavian craftsmanship with bold, modernist designs. Daughter of the renowned painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Kirsti developed her artistic skills in her family’s studio home, Kalela, before embarking on her own creative journey.
 
Kirsti spent several formative years in Taos, New Mexico, as part of the Taos Art Colony. The time she spent there exposed her to the region's rich Native American culture, art, and landscapes, deeply influencing her design language. The geometric motifs and warm, earthy tones in "Ilja" reflect this cultural synthesis, combining the Nordic aesthetics of her homeland with the vibrant patterns of Southwestern Native American weaving.
 
After the passing of her father in 1931, Kirsti returned to Finland and established a weaving mill at her family’s villa, Tarvaspää, alongside her close friend Lahja Pelttari. It was during this time that "Ilja" was crafted. While her rugs received critical acclaim at the Strindberg Art Salon for their striking color and composition, the outbreak of the Winter War in 1939 forced Kirsti and her mother to abandon their home, bringing the operation to an abrupt end.
 
"Ilja" is a testament to Gallen-Kallela’s remarkable ability to bridge cultures and eras, blending her Finnish roots with the American Southwest to create a truly unique, timeless and evocative textile piece.
 
Dimensions: 6' 2" x 9' 7"  

Kirsti Gallen-Kallela, “Ilja,” Wool Kilim, Finland, c.1935.

$7,500.00Price

    Kirsti Gallen-Kallela, “Ilja,” Wool Kilim, Finland, c.1935.

    This wool kilim, titled "Ilja," was woven c. 1935 by Finnish artist Kirsti Gallen-Kallela, known for her ability to blend Scandinavian craftsmanship with bold, modernist designs. Daughter of the renowned painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Kirsti developed her artistic skills in her family’s studio home, Kalela, before embarking on her own creative journey.

     

    Kirsti spent several formative years in Taos, New Mexico, as part of the Taos Art Colony. The time she spent there exposed her to the region's rich Native American culture, art, and landscapes, deeply influencing her design language. The geometric motifs and warm, earthy tones in "Ilja" reflect this cultural synthesis, combining the Nordic aesthetics of her homeland with the vibrant patterns of Southwestern Native American weaving.

     

    After the passing of her father in 1931, Kirsti returned to Finland and established a weaving mill at her family’s villa, Tarvaspää, alongside her close friend Lahja Pelttari. It was during this time that "Ilja" was crafted. While her rugs received critical acclaim at the Strindberg Art Salon for their striking color and composition, the outbreak of the Winter War in 1939 forced Kirsti and her mother to abandon their home, bringing the operation to an abrupt end.

     

    "Ilja" is a testament to Gallen-Kallela’s remarkable ability to bridge cultures and eras, blending her Finnish roots with the American Southwest to create a truly unique, timeless and evocative textile piece.

     

    Dimensions: 6' 2" x 9' 7"  

    $7,500.00

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