Oulu2026 mural
This year’s mural will be located in Tuira
Upeart, a Finnish public art professional, is involved in our cultural program with the “Joy from Urban contemporary art” -project, which produces mural artworks around the Oulu area.
The locations for the murals are chosen by the residents of Oulu in annual votes, open to all city residents. Voting for the work to be carried out in the summer of 2023 was open in June.
In the European capital of culture year 2026, the mural will be realized in the area of the center of Oulu. Various activities, such as art tours and competitions, will be announced for the year 2026 around the created artworks. After completion, the artworks will be transferred to the collections of the Oulu Art Museum.
The residents of Oulu have voted for Tuira as the location for the Oulu2026 mural. A total of 1521 votes were cast, and Tuira emerged as the winner with approximately 25 percent of the votes. Ritaharju received the second highest number of votes, followed by Toppila. In 2022, Rajakylä won the vote with Tuira coming in second place.
Artist Ilana Pichon chosen to create the mural
Oulu2026 mural in Tuira will be realized by visual artist Ilana Pichon. The artwork will be created on the building located on Valtatie 54 during September.
Pichon will arrive in Oulu at the end of August and will begin her work in Tuira, getting to know the area and meeting its residents. Pichon can be met at an open event at the Tuirakas resident hub in Tuira on Friday, September 1st at 5:30 PM, located at Jatkotie 2.
Born and raised in Switzerland and currently residing and working in Quebec, Canada, Ilana Pichon has a background in architecture and visual arts. She works with techniques such as screen printing, murals, installations, and art books. Pichon’s art can be seen in both galleries and public spaces, and her background as an architect is evident in her site-specific and spatial works.
Pichon was chosen as the artist for Tuira based on a global portfolio search held in 2022, with 530 artists from 64 countries participating. The artist selection was made by a panel of public art professionals: visual artist Kaija Hinkula, curator Katariina Kemppainen from the Oulu Art Museum, producer Inka Hyvönen from the Oulu Cultural Foundation, and Upeart’s art coordinator Yiorgos Fanaris.
The first Oulu2026 mural vote was won last summer by Rajakylä, with Tuira coming in second. The photo on this page is from the celebration of the completion of the work from October -22. The artwork in Rajakylä “Turning Point” was realized by British artist Eloise Gillow.
Addition info:
Upeart
+358 50468 6521
press(at)upeart.com