Works by Anna Retulainen and Leena Nio in the President’s official residence in Mäntyniemi

Works by Anna Retulainen and Leena Nio have been installed in the newly renovated official residence of the President of the Republic of Finland in Mäntyniemi.

Anna Retulainen has created two new paintings for Mäntyniemi, planned specifically for the residence’s reception areas. The lobby of Mäntyniemi is adorned by Oksa (Branch) (2026), and the library room features a work titled Kirjasto (Library) (2026). Leena Nio’s painting Snake Basket (2024) is in the residence’s living quarters. 

Retulainen’s nine-panel oil painting on aluminium, titled Oksa, references the surroundings of Mäntyniemi and guides visitors further into the interior. Both works, Oksa and Kirjasto, feature themes familiar from the artist’s oeuvre: nature and culture. According to Retulainen, adapting the works to Mäntyniemi’s unique architecture was one of the most challenging commissioned projects of her career.

Mäntyniemi, located in Meilahti, Helsinki, was inaugurated in November 1993. The official residence at Mäntyniemi was designed by architects Raili and Reima Pietilä. 

The renovation of Mäntyniemi, the official residence of the President of the Republic, began in March 2024 and was completed in May 2026.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation has been responsible for selecting the artists and planning the overall concept for the Mäntyniemi x Contemporary Art project. On display at Mäntyniemi are works by Klaus Haapaniemi, Maija Isola, Jouni S. Laitila, Heikki Marila, Marika Mäkelä, Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi, Leena Nio, Erno Pennanen, Osmo Rauhala, Anna Retulainen, Kerttu Saali, Kustaa Saksi, Anna Tuori, and Viggo Wallensköld.