Artist Erkki Vesanto (1915-1990) was the first designer hired full-time by a Finnish glass factory. He worked at Iittala from 1936 to 1980, leading the Drawing Office (Visual Department) until 1970 before becoming director of the Iittala Factory Museum in 1971. His career began alongside the rise of functionalism, a movement that resonated with his approach to creating pure, practical glassware.

At Iittala, Vesanto’s work included four key areas: designing functional glassware, creating art glass and cut crystal, facilitating collaboration between artists and glassblowers, and overseeing the factory’s catalogs. From 1956 to 1972, he curated and produced Iittala’s catalogs, managed image quality, and organized production. When the Iittala Museum was founded in 1971, he became its first director, a role he held until his retirement in 1980, after a 44-year career.

Intimately familiar with Iittala’s production processes, Vesanto ensured that the museum’s collections and exhibitions increased the factory’s visibility and drew more visitors. An exhibition on his work showcases his functional and artistic glass designs, including both production items and unique pieces, along with drawings, sketches, and film material.

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