Art exhibition vandalised in Helsinki with three works destroyed and €8,000 in damages

An art exhibition at Helsinki’s Itis shopping centre has been vandalised, with three works by artist Tiia Henriksson destroyed and total damages estimated at €8,000, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The vandalism targeted six of Henriksson’s pieces in the Unbound exhibition, which opened last Friday. Two larger works and a three-part triptych were damaged earlier, and a smaller mark was found on another piece on Wednesday. The guestbook also contained inappropriate drawings, and exhibition brochures had been tampered with.

Henriksson discovered the damage over the weekend after receiving a message from a friend who had visited the exhibition. “My first reaction was to cry,” she said. “I don’t even know why I reacted so strongly, but artworks are always personal and precious to an artist.”

While two of the damaged pieces can be repaired, one is beyond restoration. The artist is considering filing a police report but does not know who is responsible. This is the first time her works—previously displayed in shopping centres in Espoo and Tampere—have been vandalised.

The shopping centre has reviewed surveillance footage but has not yet identified the culprit. Security has been increased, and barriers have been placed around the artworks.

Henriksson expressed concern that such incidents could deter artists from displaying work in public spaces. “I hope we don’t reach a point where we avoid exhibiting art out of fear it will be destroyed,” she said.

The artist, who is self-taught and has earned her living from art for about five years, has faced mixed reactions from peers since the vandalism. While some have offered support, others have criticised her lack of formal training—a recurring issue in Finland’s art community. Henriksson recently highlighted the challenges self-taught artists face, noting that some have even abandoned their careers due to harsh criticism.

“It’s very sad that people stop making art because of mean comments,” she said. “I hope we can address problems in the art world without fear.”

The motive behind the criticism remains unclear to Henriksson, as many of her detractors are established professionals with successful careers, including works displayed at the National Gallery.