Unique gifts for art lovers: Gift ideas with an artistic touch
Teemu Järvi’s Spruce Branch poster is printed using the Japanese gyotaku technique where ink is applied directly to the object being printed.
Choosing an art gift: Expert advice
“When choosing a gift for an art lover, think first and foremost about the recipient’s personality, taste and home. A great art gift doesn’t always have to be an actual work of art. It could just as well be art ceramics, a one-of-a-kind glass object, a textile designed by an artist or a fascinating art book.
“At its best, an art gift is a personal find that brings joy for years to come.”
Pieces that sit somewhere between art and everyday objects often make great gifts, too. They bring beauty to daily life and stand the test of time – think a sculptural vase, a timeless design lamp or a beautifully shaped kitchen piece.
At its best, an art gift is a personal find that brings joy for years to come,” says Maija Rasila, interior architect and showroom manager at Finnish Design Shop.
The abstract patterns of The Wrong Shop’s Drawing lithograph posters grew out of lines Ronan Bouroullec drew with an ink pen.
Art prints to frame
An art poster is a striking yet often surprisingly affordable gift for an art lover whose visual taste you already know. Someone drawn to abstract art might love a work by Hilma af Klint, steeped in early 20th-century mysticism, or a more contemporary graphic composition in the vein of Reeta Ek or Ronan Bouroullec. For nature lovers, artist Teemu Järvi’s prints of Finnish animals and plants will bring a home to life.
To turn a poster into a ready-to-hang work of art, wrap it up already framed, or tuck a set of poster hangers into the package.
Iittala’s art glass is popular with collectors in Finland and abroad. Oiva Toikka’s glass birds are mouth-blown at the Iittala glassworks – pictured here is the 2026 annual bird, Lakla.
On a collector’s wish list
Sculptures and art glass are classic art gifts, and unique, numbered pieces are high on many a collector’s wish list.
Finland has a long and still-thriving tradition of art glass. In the hands of Iittala’s glassblowers, works by past masters, such as Oiva Toikka’s beloved glass birds and Tapio Wirkkala’s art glass, take shape alongside exciting new pieces.
Beyond glass, wood and ceramics also lend themselves to one-of-a-kind art objects. A memorable gift for an art lover might be found among the works of master woodworker Antrei Hartikainen, or in the collections of Bitossi, one of the best-known names in Italian art ceramics.
Swedish ceramic artist Lisa Larson designed the ceramic Yoga sculptures, made by Design House Stockholm, in 1982.
Bitossi’s ceramic Sun figure is part of the Rimini Blu collection designed by Aldo Londi in 1959. Its shades of blue bring to mind the sea and warmth of the French Riviera.
The Tapion väki collection features Tapio Anttila’s elf and spirit figures, inspired by Finnish folklore.
Created by Alexander Girard in 1953, Vitra’s wooden dolls draw on folk art from around the world.
Charming art figurines
Glass birds aside, other animal and human figurines make popular gifts for the holidays and birthdays as well as naming ceremonies, graduations and weddings.
A small animal sculpture on a nightstand or windowsill becomes a good-luck charm, a daily mood-lifter and a lasting reminder of the giver.
You might delight the recipient with Kaija Aarikka’s animal figures made from wooden balls, Lisa Larson’s ceramic yoga sculptures or Tapio Anttila’s mysterious elves.
The playful ceramic Gala vase by Serax, shaped like a shopping bag, was designed by Ukrainian artist Kseniya Kravtsova.
Portuguese ceramic artist Bela Silva’s Cosas Lindas candleholder is also part of the Serax collection.
Decorative and useful
The line between art and design is often a fine one, and the same goes for many objects that are part art piece, part everyday tool.
Vases and candleholders are perennial favorites among art gifts. They make a statement on their own, and their beauty multiplies with a bouquet or a lit candle. For vases and candle lanterns with a handmade feel, Belgian brand Serax offers an especially rich selection.
A paperweight, a bookend or a sculptural wall clock also makes a timeless decorative gift.
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Art gifts the Hem way: Fabien Cappello’s Molino grinders and Supergroup’s Bronto tableware never fail to make an impression.
Designed by the design collective NAVET for FÓLK Reykjavík, the Lava bowl is made at a Swedish glass studio by pouring molten glass into an open mold, so every bowl is unique!
Art gifts for the table
The table is where art becomes a tangible part of everyday life, perhaps as early as the morning coffee. A mug illustrated by an artist makes one of the loveliest Christmas gifts for art lovers, or a thoughtful one for any special occasion, and a tray or trivet hung on the kitchen wall can double as colorful wall art.
For the aesthete who revels in bold color and form, wrap up some of Hem’s exuberant tableware. A fan of more classic decorative traditions will appreciate dinnerware from Arabia or Rörstrand.
A sleepy figure designed by Tomi Leppänen dozes on Mum’s woolen Uneksija wall hanging.
The softest gifts
Art gifts can also be soft, cozy and even huggable. Scandinavian rya rugs and wall hangings warm both the interior and the soul, and a throw or cushion in an artful pattern warms the shoulders, too!
Gift-worthy Nordic textile art is easy to find, from Mum’s charming wall hangings and Lapuan Kankurit’s home textiles woven from natural materials to Klaus Haapaniemi’s enchanting illustrations.
Designed by Pedro Paulo-Venzon, the Giro table and other pieces in Viccarbe’s Viccarte collection sit somewhere between sculpture and design.
TAF Studio originally designed String Furniture’s Museum shelf for Sweden’s Nationalmuseum – the sturdy aluminum shelf was built to bear the weight of the museum’s collection of busts.
Furniture as sculpture
A piece of furniture can be a gift on par with a work of art, one that an aesthete gets to enjoy every single day. A handmade ceramic side table borders on sculpture, and in the hands of a skilled designer, even something as ordinary as a wall hook or mirror can become a unique art object.
Furniture may sound like an extravagant gift at first, but a flat-packed stool or a compact wall shelf slips easily into a gift bag, or under the tree. Larger, more valuable pieces also make great group gifts for someone who has long dreamed of a particular design classic.
Innolux’s Otso lamp was designed by Finnish sculptor and jewelry designer Björn Weckström, and its glass cube was shaped by master glassblower Kari Alakoski. This rare art lamp was made in a numbered edition of just 90 pieces.
Captivating art lighting
Light has always fascinated artists and designers alike, and many lamps look more like works of art than functional objects. Modern technology, from LEDs to dimmers and rechargeable batteries, has expanded the possibilities of lighting art even further.
Portable table lamps have become popular gifts in recent years, as they’re light and easy to carry from room to room. Other expressive gift ideas include Ingo Maurer’s playful art lamps and Innolux’s Finnish design lamps, which turn heads whether they’re on or off.
Art-themed books and games invite the recipient to take some time for themselves. Once assembled, Printworks’ Art Lover Book Puzzle also makes a fine wall decoration.
Art to read, art to play
An art book is a gift of time and fresh perspectives. It waits on the coffee table for the right rainy Sunday, when there’s nothing better than curling up in a corner of the sofa and getting lost in its pages. When choosing a book, start with the recipient’s interests. Some love diving deep into a single artist’s work, others the big questions of the philosophy of art. Among the best gifts for art history lovers are books that take the reader on a sweeping journey through the centuries.
Art-themed jigsaw puzzles and beautifully patterned board games fit right in among the stacks of books on an art lover’s coffee table, and a favorite puzzle can be framed and hung on the wall once it’s complete.
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See also:
• Design Edits: Decorate your home with art >
• More gift ideas at Finnish Design Shop >
Images: Manufacturers
Published on 29 Oct, 2026
