Founded in 2012 by photographer Katja Hagelstam, Lokal Helsinki is an art gallery and shop that showcases locally produced and high-quality art, crafts, and design, available in limited quantities. Their special Christmas store takes place in their new online store as well as in the Art Nouveau landmark Väinämöisenlinna, a striking and ornate stone building from 1901.
The range includes objects for the home, such as Pino wooden boxes, lightweight and stackable storage items crafted by master carpenter Antrei Hartikainen, ceramicist Nathalie Lautenbacher‘s Kahvi cups in different sizes which create a harmonious atmosphere together with glass artist Renata Jakowleff‘s Kaksi glasses, and fine artist and designer Veera Kulju‘s Ilo textiles. Nikari’s minimalist furniture from Fiskari village showcases the best of traditional carpentry skills and internationally acclaimed Eija Koski has contributed her poetic Himmeli (a traditional Finnish ornament) mobiles, unique works of art made from rye straw she has grown herself.
For clothing and jewellery, Danish label Carcel offers high-quality knitwear and silk clothing produced in women’s prisons in exchange for fair wages. The world of fragrances is represented by Nakuna Helsinki, inspired by the quintessentially Finnish trait ”sisu” (meaning perseverance against the odds), whose range by Anu Igoni and Jaakko Veijola has been created for an international audience in collaboration with top noses.
Last, but not least, the shop includes artwork. Naturally, as one of Lokal Helsinki’s core purposes is to showcase the work of independent artists and designers and the temporary exhibitions at Lokal’s Annankatu gallery shop have featured talented artists for the last eight years.
