The Forest of Hope exhibition asks two questions. What does the world look like from an outsider artist’s perspective? And what could it look like?
The exhibition is on display at Pertin Valinta X Tiketti Gallery from 20 to 30 August 2026, as part of the Outsider Art Festival’s visual arts programme.
The artists
The exhibition features Jenni Carlén, Jarkko Salminen, Mikko Kallinen, Juha Pesonen, Petter Hartzell, Riina Noro and Mikael Valjakka.
The same works in two places
Works by Mikael Valjakka, Juha Pesonen and Riina Noro are also on show in Espoo in August: the TOIVO exhibition runs at the Länsimetro stations in Tapiola, Espoonlahti and Aalto University from 21 August to 29 September. Forest of Hope at Pertin Valinta X Tiketti Gallery presents the original versions of the same works.
The Länsimetro exhibition is produced in collaboration with Espoo Cultural Services and Länsimetro.
Curated inclusively
Forest of Hope is curated inclusively, as is the whole festival: the programme is planned and produced together with outsiders and insiders of the art field. Artist selections are made by an artistic team of curators and mentors. The curators are outsider artists and often belong to various minority groups; the mentors are experienced professionals working in the art field. The visual arts team consists of Johanna Konttinen, Jaana Miettinen, Christine Langinauer and Elvira van Eijl (Art Brut Biennale).
Artists are selected through an open nationwide call, and each artist defines for themselves whether they are an outsider artist. Team members read the applications independently and choose their own candidates, and the final selections are made together in workshops.
Read more about inclusive curating
Opening reception, 19 August
The opening is celebrated on Wednesday 19 August at 17:00, with an opening speech by Emilie Gardberg, the first Director General of the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency. The programme includes speeches, performances and encounters around art.
Invited guests include OAF artists, curators, international guests and partners — and the event is open to everyone. Welcome.
Forest of Hope is open 20–30 August, Wed–Fri 14:00–18:00 and Sat 12:00–16:00. Free admission. Pertin Valinta X Tiketti Gallery, Hakaniemenkuja 2, Helsinki.
More information on the event page
Outsider Art Festival is a friend festival of Helsinki Festival. The festival runs 20–30 August 2026 in Helsinki and Espoo, and this year’s theme is Hope. You can support the work by buying a supporter ticket from the OAF ticket shop.