Arja Miller

Thank you so much @mami_kataoka_2018 for the most inspiring and very productive site visit in Helsinki! Heartfelt thanks all the artists who joined us this week, my dear colleagues at @hamhelsinki and @tifto_foundation for co-hosting!Towards @helsinkibiennial 2027 ✨

We are excited to host Arja Miller this week as part of our Visitor Programme. During her time in Vienna, we’re bringing her together with local artists through studio visits and exhibition encounters, supporting her research for future projects. Arja Miller (MA) is the Director of HAM – Helsinki Art Museum since 2023 and Co-director of the 4th Helsinki Biennial in 2027. Before she worked as Chief curator of EMMA, Espoo Museum of Modern Art and as Head of Collections at Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art. Miller’s curatorial work includes numerous solo and group exhibitions, including solo shows by Marguerite Humeau, Pierre Huyghe, Elmgreen Dragset, Chiharu Shiota, Daniel Buren, Tatsuo Miyajima and Alicja Kwade. Miller has written and published extensively on contemporary art. Her particular areas of interest are museums as discursive spaces, public art, installation art, sound art and interactions between art, technology and nature. A warm welcome, Arja – we’re looking forward to the exchange and conversations ahead. @arjamiller @helsinkibiennial @hamhelsinki Photo: HAM / Kerttu Malinen

Last weekend of @marguerite_humeau ’s miraculous, magical exhibition at @hamhelsinki 🧡

Throwback to last week in beautiful, wintry Québec City ❄️ I was so honoured to be invited to the @exmuroartpublic conference to speak about @hamhelsinki public art in connection with @helsinkibiennial . EXMURO PRO brought together incredibly inspiring professionals and institutions working with art in public space, contemporary art biennials, and festivals from all around the world. Learned so much and feeling very grateful for the conversations and new connections! Thank you for @vincentroyexmuro & Michelle Drapeau for the wonderful program and hospitality! And thanks for the inspiration and insight to the amazing colleagues @ageearr @wish_you_webe_hepe @nakalun @jowa_hkhk @miranda.stearn @jasper_a_sanchez @anac.roman @gougola @hanchungwu @manwho_le_gaki @evedgl @sikes.toni and all the others 💙💙💙

Tule mukaan kuraattorikierrokselle näyttelyyn 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙪: 𝙎𝙤𝙞𝙝𝙙𝙪𝙩 🌚 14. helmikuuta klo 13 voit tutustua näyttelyyn näyttelyn kuraattorin ja HAMin johtajan Arja Millerin kanssa. Kierros on suomenkielinen ja sisältyy museon pääsylipun hintaan. Lue lisää bion linkistä. *** Join us for a curator’s tour of the exhibition 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙪: 𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 🌚 On 14 February 2026 at 1 PM, Director of HAM and exhibition curator Arja Miller will share insights and lead a discussion with visitors at HAM. The tour is in Finnish and included in the museum’s admission. Read more via the link in bio. __ Marguerite Humeau: Soihdut/Torches. HAM Helsingin taidemuseo / HAM Helsinki Art Museum, 2025. © Marguerite Humeau. Kuva/Photo: Julia Andréone. Taiteilijan luvalla / Courtesy of the artist.

When exhibitions care for the places they occupy 🌿 Listen to the newest episode of CHART Talks featuring a conversation between @arjamiller , @kati.t.kivinen , @hans.rosenstrom and @ainoainoaino 

Recorded live at CHART 2025, the panel discussion focuses on how sustainability in exhibitions goes beyond environmental impact - embracing social, cultural, and economic considerations.

 Featuring insights from the Helsinki Biennial 2025, the panel consists of Arja Miller, Director of @hamhelsinki , Kati Kivinen, Head of Exhibitions @hamhelsinki and Head Curator for @helsinkibiennial , Finnish artist Hans Rosenström who created the interactive installation ‘Tidal Tears’ for the @helsinkibiennial , and Aino Frilander, journalist and editor at @helsinginsanomat 

 From site-sensitive artworks to collaborations with local artisans, they reflect on how curatorial choices can balance artistic vision, ecological limits, and immersive visitor experiences.

Finally, we get a glimpse of the curatorial team and vision for the Helsinki Biennial 2027, continuing to balance local and international artists while prioritising environmental responsibility.

 Listen now via all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify (link in bio) 🔗👆

 • Photo 1-5 by Jonathan Damslund / BARSK Projects
 • Photo 5: Hans Rosenström, Tidal Tears, 2025 on view at Helsinki Biennial 2025. Photo by Sonja Hyytiäinen

“The straight line belongs to man, and the curved line belongs to God”, said Antonio Gaudí. What a weekend in Barcelona! Huge congratulations and thank you so much @mariabernatprats for inviting me to celebrate the very special artistic intervention Hidden Order by @matt_clark_uva on the facade of the iconic @casabatllo . In the same occasion a new exhibition space @casabatllocontemporary on the 2nd floor of Casa Batlló was opened with Matt’s impressive exhibition Beyond the Facade, curated by @joanaseguro Today I visited - for the very first time - incredible @basilicasagradafamilia as well as Casa Mila aka La Pedrera. One of the images shows a detail of the metal doors of Sagrada Família’s Nativity façade which were designed by @sotooetsuro in 2010s. The church is expected to have its main structural elements completed this year to mark the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. However, full construction, including intricate decorative details and an access stairway, is expected to continue another ten years.

Marguerite Humeau has transformed the arched hall at Tennis Palace into an ethereal landscape where time and place seem to dissolve, allowing past, present, and future to merge. Welcome to the world of guardians, sages and venuses; surrounded by the scent of beeswax and the sound of the last heartbeats of ancient elephant matriarch. Heartfelt thanks the amazing @marguerite_humeau and her wonderful studio @maudiegibbons @arthurgouillart for the extraordinary journey 🧡 I’m also grateful to Simon de Dreuille for the exceptionally refined exhibition design ✨And warmest thanks to the talented and dedicated @hamhelsinki team: @sanna.eveliina.juntunen @nilsheikkihyvarinen Kalle Jokinen @barbarafinland @maudepaude @heidi.hummastenniemi et al. I would also like to thank Marguerite’s gallery, @whitecube and @susannagreeves for your continued support 🤍

We're thrilled to announce Mami Kataoka and Arja Miller as Head Curators of Helsinki Biennial 2027 ✨ "Our joint curatorial approach will be based on the idea of art that connects and inspires broad audiences, encourages transcultural dialogue and fresh perspectives, and shares universal views on the environment and cosmology. Our goal is to create a polyphonic and thought-provoking biennial that will resonate both locally and internationally." Mami Kataoka is the Director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. Her curatorial work emphasises social themes, intercultural dialogue, and the role of art in exploring global structures and the equilibrium of fundamental cosmic elements. Arja Miller is the Director of HAM and Helsinki Biennial. Her work combines artistic ambition with strategic urban development. She is interested in curating site-specific and multisensory works that explore universal themes and speculate unknown territories. Helsinki Biennial will take place for the fourth time in summer 2027. *** On ilo esitellä vuoden 2027 Helsinki Biennaalin pääkuraattorit: Mami Kataoka ja Arja Miller ✨ ”Yhteinen kuratointimme perustuu ajatukseen taiteesta, joka yhdistää laajoja yleisöjä, rohkaisee kulttuurienväliseen dialogiin ja uusiin näkökulmiin, sekä jakaa yleismaailmallisia näkemyksiä ympäristöstä ja maailmankaikkeudesta. Tavoitteemme on luoda moniääninen ja ajatuksia herättävä biennaali, joka puhuttelee sekä paikallisesti että kansainvälisesti.” Mami Kataoka toimii Tokiossa sijaitsevan Mori Art Museumin johtajana. Hänen kuratointityössään korostuvat yhteiskunnalliset teemat, kulttuurienvälinen vuoropuhelu ja taiteen rooli globaalien rakenteiden ja maailmankaikkeuden perusainesten tasapainon tarkastelussa. Arja Miller on HAMin ja Helsinki Biennaalin johtaja. Hänen työssään yhdistyvät taiteellinen kunnianhimo ja strateginen kaupunkikehitys. Hän on kuratoinnissaan kiinnostunut paikkasidonnaisista ja moniaistisista teoksista, jotka käsittelevät universaaleja teemoja ja kartoittavat vielä tuntemattomia alueita. Helsinki Biennaali järjestetään neljättä kertaa kesällä 2027. 📸 1 Mami Kataoka. Photo/Kuva: Ito Akinori 2 Arja Miller. Photo/Kuva: Joni Luomanen

#TalksProgramme at CHART 2025 🎤✨ Exploring the Future of Sustainable Exhibition-Making Join us on Saturday 30 August from 13.00-13.45 for a panel discussion exploring innovative approaches and challenges in creating sustainable exhibitions, featuring insights from the Helsinki Biennial. Moderated by Aino Frilander (@ainoainoaino ) , Finnish journalist and author working as staff writer and editor at Helsinki Sanomat covering art and design, the panel features Arja Miller (@arjamiller ) , Director of the HAM Helsinki Art Museum in Finland, Kati Kivinen (@kati.t.kivinen ), Head of Exhibitions at the HAM Helsinki Art Museum and Head Curator for the Helsinki Biennial 2025 and Hans Rosenström (@hans.rosenstrom ), Finnish artist represented at the Helsinki Biennial 2025. Explore the full Public Programme at chartartfair.com 👆 📸 • Portrait of Kati Kivinen. Photo by Ilkka Saastamoinen • Portrait of Aino Frilander. Photo courtesy of Aino Frilander • Portrait of Arja Miller. Photo courtesy of HAM • Portrait of Hans Rosenström, Nordkystens Kunsttriennale, 2019. Photo by Kim Matthai Leland

Honored to meet with the Council Chairpersons’ Association of Chungcheongnam-do’s Cities and Counties. The cultural representatives of the city of Boryeong and the Chungcheongnam-do Province came all the way to Finland to learn the best practices of @helsinkibiennial as they plan to found their own art biennial on 5 island in front of the coastal town of Boryeong. Thank you for the memorable visit and all best success! @lillynextdoor @hamhelsinki

Thank you Tokyo🌷