Statement

Gallery Halmetoja is a curated art gallery specializing mainly in Finnish Contemporary Art. The gallery operates in collaboration with artists of various disciplines. The gallery’s exhibitions present artworks of diverse media, such as paintings, sculptures, photography and media art.

Gallery Halmetoja holds exhibitions commenting on the future direction of contemporary art. The gallery appreciates visual artists who want to portray the world candidly and genuinely.

Gallery Halmetoja observes the principles of equality and responsible consumerism in all of its operations.

History

Gallery Halmetoja is a contemporary art gallery located in the centre of Helsinki, presenting topical Finnish art. Gallery Halmetoja was established in early 2020, but its roots run deeper.

Gallery Halmetoja was born out of three persons’ common vision and passion for art. In 2014, Jules Lajola invited Veikko Halmetoja and AKi Peltola to discuss a dream once verbalized by Veikko, his own art gallery. The gallery was opened a year later in Hietalahti, serving the art-loving public and artists from 2015 to 2019 with more than a hundred exhibitions.

Gallery Halmetoja was born on the same foundations. The founders are continuing operations with new minority partners strengthening the ranks. New, more central and spacious premises will enable better services for both the artists and the public.

Service concept

Gallery Halmetoja mainly holds exhibitions at its own gallery space, but also collaborates on group and solo exhibitions at other locations. Gallery Halmetoja offers clients tailor-made service in finding just the right artwork for them. The artworks can be purchased in instalments. The gallery also provides hanging design and art collection inventory services for customers in both the private and the public sectors.

The gallery’s exhibitions are designated by invitation, and the exhibition dates cannot be applied for.

Team

Veikko Halmetoja

Gallerist

Veikko Halmetoja is an art critic and curator who has worked as a gallerist since 2015. He curates both group and solo exhibitions. The art-loving public of Helsinki may remember him as a critic for Finland’s largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, during 2010 – 2015. Veikko served as the curator for Mänttä Art Festival in 2018. He is also interested in alternative exhibition spaces, having curated shows in such venues as condemned houses. On his spare time, Veikko writes radio columns and spends time with his poodle, Fred.

Sonja Linkoneva

Exhibition Manager

Sonja Linkoneva, BA in Cultural Management, is in charge of the production of the gallery’s exhibitions. Sonja has previously worked for the Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation, Mänttä Art Festival and as a producer for Tsiigaa Art Goes Kapakka and Gallery Wednesday. Now settled in Helsinki after stints in London and Brussels, Sonja likes to spend her free time on sports, films and books (print and audio). Often seen travelling with Sonja is the 5-year-old rescue dog, Lempi.

Jules Lajola

Founding Copartner
Chairman of the Board

Jules Lajola has four passions in life: work, self-development in many forms, quality time with his husband and close family members, and various activities with friends, such as this gallery with Veikko. His work keeps him traveling a good one third of the year with business development and leadership tasks. He describes himself as a European born in Finland who has benefited from decades of Californian influence. He cherishes diversity and champions human rights and equal opportunity. By education, he holds an MBA from Henley Business School and he is certified executive coach from Berkeley ECI.

AKi Peltola

Founding Copartner
Member of the Board

AKi Peltola is a business developer and a corporate acquisition professional. AKi graduated from the Helsinki School of Business in 2006 and since then, he has gained experience from both large multinational corporations (such as Citibank and Hewlett-Packard) and startup companies (such as Vueling Airlines). He has been self-employed since 2015. His free time in his home city of Barcelona is spent with his family, contemporary art and golf, with allowances for good food and wine.