The Art of Community: Carrie Vander Veen’s Lasting Impact on the Finlandia Art Gallery
Written By:
Finlandia Foundation
After more than two decades as gallery director and curator at the Finlandia Art Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Carrie Vander Veen is retiring and stepping into a new chapter—one as colorful and creative as the countless exhibitions she has brought to the community.
Under her leadership, the Finlandia Art Gallery became a cultural bridge between Finland, Finnish America and the wider world, hosting an extraordinary range of artists whose works invited reflection, connection, and growth.
From Finnish masters like Camilla Vuorenmaa and Aino Kajaniemi to Finnish-American and Indigenous voices such as Carl Gawboy and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Carrie managed a gallery that celebrated both diversity and shared humanity. Her guiding philosophy—“to use contemporary art to educate, build community, and open us to seeing life through a multitude of perspectives”—defined every exhibition and conversation that took place within those walls.
“Art connects us—across distance, across generations, and across silence. It’s how we remember who we are and imagine who we might become.”
Carrie’s legacy continued into 2025 with Finlandia Foundation’s first official Artist-in-Residence program, featuring Finnish-American painter Eric Aho.
His exhibition, Northern Tier (September 18–November 13, 2025), brought a new dimension to the gallery’s mission by pairing an immersive residency experience with a major solo show. Aho spent several days painting in the Keweenaw’s woods and along its shores, finding inspiration in the northern light and landscape. The resulting works—displayed alongside paintings from his Vermont studio—captured the living spirit of Finnish-American connection to nature, community, and imagination. This milestone program embodied the kind of forward-looking, heart-centered artistry that Carrie championed throughout her career.
Carrie’s impact also extends beyond the gallery walls. She built a true community of art lovers, welcoming visiting artists into her home for home-cooked dinners (and famous cakes!) that fostered lasting friendships and artistic exchange. Her vision and dedication helped the gallery thrive through transitions, including its renewal under Finlandia Foundation National, where she expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to continue the gallery’s mission after the university’s closure.
Today, the Finlandia Art Gallery stands as a testament to Carrie’s courage, curiosity, and care—a space that, for more than 30 years, has brought people together through art across cultures. As she moves on to her next adventure, her influence will remain woven into the gallery she so lovingly shaped and in the hearts of all who were inspired by her work.
On behalf of all of us, Kiitos, Carrie!
Visit FinlandiaArtGallery.com to stay tuned with the art in the making!
To follow along Carrie’s journey, visit cbvvart.com.