Vuokko Nurmesniemi

HonRDI
Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi
FRSA
Nurmesniemi in 1971
Born
Vuokko Hillevi Lilian Eskolin

(1930-02-12)12 February 1930
Helsinki, Finland
Died19 April 2026(2026-04-19) (aged 96)
Helsinki, Finland
Alma materInstitute of Industrial Arts (Helsinki)
Known forTextile design at Marimekko
Spouse
​
(died 2003)​
AwardsArts Academian, Honorary Royal Designer for Industry

Vuokko Hillevi Lilian Eskolin-Nurmesniemi (12 February 1930 – 19 April 2026)[1] was a Finnish textile designer. She is best known for her work as one of the two leading designers of the Marimekko company. Her signature striped Jokapoika shirt helped to make the company's name.[2]

Life and career

Eskolin-Nurmesniemi studied ceramics at the Institute of Industrial Arts (in Finnish: Taideteollinen oppilaitos) in Helsinki, Finland. After graduating, she designed glassware and ceramics for Arabia and Nuutajärvi. In 1957, she received a gold medal at the Milan Triennial XI for her glassware.[3]

She joined the Finnish company Marimekko in 1953. She designed patterns for many of their printed fabrics in the 1950s; together with Maija Isola, she was responsible for most of Marimekko's patterns.[4][5] Nurmesniemi's signature product was a simply striped red and white shirt named Jokapoika, in 1956; she went on to create a large number of striking designs.[6]

Nurmesniemi left Marimekko in 1960 due to conflicts with Marimekko founder Armi Ratia.[7] She founded her own company, Vuokko Oy, in 1964, and designed textiles as well as ready-to-wear clothing and accessories.[3] This company closed its doors in 1988. In 1990 Nurmesniemi founded a second company, Vuokko Nurmesniemi Oy.[8]

She received the Milan Triennale XI in 1957 and Milan Triennial XIII grand prix in 1964,[9] the Lunning Prize for design in 1964,[10] the Prince Eugen Medal in 1986[11], and the Kaj Franck Design Prize in 1997.[12]

Nurmesniemi was married to designer Antti Nurmesniemi until his death in 2003.

Vuokko Nurmesniemi died on 19 April 2026, at the age of 96.[13]

Museums and exhibitions

Vuokko and Antti Nurmesniemi (right) receiving the Milan medal from the Finnish minister of education Jussi Saukkonen in 1965.

Nurmesniemi's designs are in the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art[14] and the Victoria and Albert Museum.[15]

In the summer of 2009, the Röhsska museum in Gothenburg, Sweden, held an exhibition of her designs.[16]

Reception

Ted Hesselbom of the Swedish Röhsska Museum wrote of Vuokko's Retrospective in 2009:[17]

Vuokko Nurmesniemi's collections for fashion and interior design have a strong graphic and colourful design. Their style and expression is clearly from the same era as Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and Roy Lichtenstein.[17]

Awards and honorary titles

Bibliography

  • Jackson, Lesley. Twentieth Century Pattern Design. Princeton Architectural Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1-56898-712-5

References

  1. ↑ "Muotoilija Vuokko Nurmesniemi on kuollut". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Helsinki: Yleisradio Oy. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Priha, Päikki. "Vuokko Nurmesniemi". National Biography of Finland. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 Hiesinger, Kathryn B.; Marcus, George H., eds. (1983). "Biographies of Designers". Design Since 1945. Philadelphia Museum of Art. p. 229. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. ↑ Jackson, 2007, page 128
  5. ↑ Finn Guide Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Vuokko Nurmesniemi – Fashion Designer. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Marimekko Timeline Archived 27 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 October 2011
  7. ↑ Jackson, Leslie (2003). "Textile Patterns in an International Context: Precursors, Contemporaries, and Successors". In Aav, Marianne (ed.). Marimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architecture. Yale University Press, for the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture, New York, and the Design Museum, Finland. pp. 66, 82. ISBN 9780300101836.
  8. ↑ "Design x Finland Participants". VUOKKO. Hirameki. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "The golden age of Finnish design at the Triennales – Forthzine – Jonas Forth ". 26 July 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "the Lunning Prize". danish architecture and design review. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. ↑ Sleeman, Elizabeth (2001). The International Who's Who of Women 2002. Psychology Press. p. 412. ISBN 978-1-85743-122-3.
  12. ↑ "Kaj Franck Design Prize". Design Forum Finland. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Vuokko Nurmesniemi on kuollut". Ilta Sanomat. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Metropolitan Museum of Art: Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  15. ↑ Museum, Victoria and Albert (20 April 1960). "Mini-Dress | Eskolin-Nurmesniemi, Vuokko". Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Kristoffersson, Sara (25 July 2009). "Kultur på tvären". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Hirameki Design Finland". Vuokko. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Current Honorary Royal Designers for Industry". The RSA. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Marja-Terttu, Kivirinta (12 October 2007). "Vuokko Nurmesniemestä akateemikko". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
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