Espoo Museum of Modern Art
Espoo’s Nelli has moved to Iso Omena shopping centre in Matinkylä!
The arrival of Espoo’s Nelli at its new temporary home in Iso Omena was celebrated with a welcome event on 18 May 2026. The bronze sculpture, created for the people of Espoo by artist Kerttu Horila, was a gift from EMMA to mark the city’s 50th anniversary in 2022. The nomadic sculpture is regularly relocated, bringing joy to the daily lives of as many Espoo residents as possible. The choice of location is made by a rotating group of Espoo residents, who pass a symbolic baton on to the next decision-making party. The new location in Matinkylä was chosen by the Espoo Elderly Council.
Espoo’s Nelli was unveiled in Haukilahti in 2022 and its most recent visiting location was Viapori Square in Leppävaara. The sculpture has now moved to its new site at Iso Omena shopping centre in Matinkylä, Espoo, where it will brighten the paths of passers-by. The aim of the Espoo Elderly Council was to place Nelli in a location where it could be encountered daily by as many people as possible – even unexpectedly and without seeking it out.
“Being with Nelli allows you to sit, enjoy, and simply be. We have been delighted to help bring art closer to people and into the middle of their everyday lives,” say Olli Männikkö, Kerttu Perttilä, Hannu Viitanen, and Kaija Viitakoski from the Espoo Elderly Council.
The Council was also tasked with naming the party responsible for deciding Nelli’s next location. “We wanted to pass the baton to Espoo Art, an active and vibrant local visual arts association. We believe they will bring a new perspective to Nelli’s future as they search for a new home for the sculpture after Iso Omena.”
Espoo’s Nelli is a gentle canine-human hybrid who holds a small puppy in its arms. Nelli invites passers-by to sit down beside it and turns attentively to listen to how they are doing.
The sculpture is part of Animal Humans and Human Animals, Kerttu Horila’s imaginative series of storybook fusions of humans and animals. Nelli was unveiled in Haukilahti in the summer of 2022, after which it has visited Kalajärvi, a location selected by the Espoo Youth Council, as well as Leppävaara, chosen by the Espoo Disability Council.
EMMA’s public art programming brings a significant part of EMMA’s collection within reach of residents all around Espoo. Take a picture with Nelli and share it on social media with the hashtags #EspoonNelli @emmamuseum and @espooesbo!
