Curated by Nina Stritzler-Levine e Timo Riekko, 2022
Book
Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World, edited by Nina Stritzler-Levine and Timo Riekko and published by Bard University Center, traces the history of Artek, the company founded in 1935 by Aino and Alvar Aalto together with Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl. The aim of the furniture company was to promote a modern way of living that was both accessible and grounded in everyday life.
The book stems from the exhibition of the same name held at the Bard Graduate Center in New York in 2016, which received strong critical acclaim. The New York Times called it “one of the most complete exhibitions on the art of design and its making,” and listed it among the year’s best art shows.
Featuring more than 300 pieces, including furniture, glassware, lighting, and interior designs, the volume presents a detailed view of the Aaltos’ approach, where natural materials, pared-back forms, and attention to the user experience are brought together in a consistent design language.
With contributions from international scholars and a detailed inventory of Artek’s output, the book underscores the cultural scope of the Aaltos’ work and its influence on twentieth-century design, reaching beyond the boundaries of architecture.
Book Structure
Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World is organized around a series of thematic essays that examine the history of Artek and the design philosophy of Aino and Alvar Aalto through a critical and contextual perspective. After a foreword by Susan Weber and an introduction by editor Nina Stritzler-Levine, the first section outlines the company’s early history, followed by essays that explore its international roots, its relationship with figures such as Sigfried Giedion, and the Aaltos’ formative experiences in London before 1935.
Among the subjects explored are the role of standardization in the Aaltos’ design work, Aino’s often overlooked contributions as creative director, Artek’s function as an art gallery, the company’s expansion into Sweden and the United States, and its trajectory in the postwar years.
The second part of the book gathers specialist essays on furniture, glass, textiles, and lighting systems, with close studies of key works such as the Paimio chair and the Savoy vase.
The book concludes with a technical inventory of Artek’s production, including detailed entries, historical context, and a bibliography. Together, these contributions offer a comprehensive view of the scale and complexity of the Artek project.
Why the Book is interesting
Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World is a key work in the study of twentieth-century design and architecture. It was the first book in English entirely dedicated to Artek and to the joint work of Aino and Alvar Aalto, making a substantial body of material, previously scattered or available only in Finnish, accessible to an international readership.
Its contribution is twofold. It traces the connections between Artek’s production and the Aaltos’ architectural work, showing how the company functioned as a core part of their modernist vision. At the same time, it offers a more inclusive reading of design history. Aino Marsio-Aalto emerges as a central figure, not as a supporting presence, but as a creative and strategic force in her own right.
The book renewed attention to the role of women in design and continues to be cited for its interdisciplinary scope and clear editorial structure. More than a catalogue, it serves as a research tool that has informed exhibitions, publications, and further scholarship, contributing to a deeper understanding of Nordic modernism.
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Details
Bard College Center
The book is available online on Amazon.com >
Hardcover, 696 Pages
978-0300258967
