Origins and History of the Colony
The Önningeby artists' colony was founded in 1886 by Victor Westerholm. Established in the village of Önningeby, the colony functioned as an international meeting place for artists from Finland and Sweden. By the early 1900s, the community's reach extended further, as Estonian artists and writers also visited the area to participate in the creative environment.
The Önningeby Museum preserves this history. The museum opened in 1992 and underwent an expansion in 1999. It remains a specialized museum in Åland, dedicated to the legacy of the colony and the artists who gathered there.
The Museum Building and Architecture
The museum is situated in Önningeby, Jomala, within the Åland islands. It is located approximately 6 km northeast of Mariehamn. The institution occupies a former stone barn and the Jonesas farm, preserving the architectural character of the local landscape. The primary structure is a renovated barn dating from about 1869.
The site is managed by the Önningeby hembygdsförening. The use of these historic agricultural buildings provides a direct connection to the environment that once hosted the artists' colony. The physical setting remains central to the museum's identity, maintaining the relationship between the built environment and the surrounding coastal scenery.
The Art Collection and Artists
The museum holds an impressive collection of over 400 works. This assembly preserves the cultural heritage of Oeninkylä through the visual records of the Önningeby artists' colony. Much of the collection focuses on the output of Victor Westerholm and the various painters who gathered in the village. The works reflect a commitment to plein air painting and the specific light of the Åland archipelago.
The collection features significant contributions from several prominent members of the colony. These include works by Nina Ahlstedt, Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Ida Gisiko-Spärck, Hanna Rönnberg, and Anna Wengberg. The museum also holds paintings by J.A.G. Acke. These artists documented the landscapes and the social fabric of the community during the colony's active years.
Specific pieces within the holdings include:
- Mother and Children, about 1894 - Dora Wahlroos
- Motif from Italy, about 1900 - Dora Wahlroos
- Coastal Landscape with Cabbage Field, 1890 - Ida Gisiko-Spärck
Exhibitions and Special Programs
The museum maintains a presence beyond the Åland Islands. In 2022, the Önningeby Museum collections were featured in an exhibition at the Waldemarsudde art museum in Stockholm. The institution also focuses on specific artists through seasonal programming. A special exhibition during the summer of 2023 was dedicated to the works of Ida Gisiko-Spärck, Anna Wengberg, and Elin Alfhild Nordlund.
The Friends of the Önningeby Museum act as an active support association for the institution. Visitors can also utilize the on-site café service and the second-hand shop located within the museum premises.
