Unique Woven Wool Art Tapestry by Kari Walden – Finland, 1980's

A unique pictorial tapestry (kuvakudos) by Finnish artist Kari Walden, handmade in the 1980's as a one-off commission. This large-scale woven piece blurs the line between modernist wall art and fine textile craft. Woven entirely by hand from wool by artisans who worked for Suomen Käsityön Ystävät, though not produced under the organisation itself.

The abstract zig-zag motif in inky black cuts across rich ultramarine blue, bordered by a warm neutral white. Clean and composed — a bold, confident study in Finnish modernist rhythm.

This is a unique piece — there’s only one. Commissioned directly from the artist by a Finnish gallerist, and sourced directly from her personal collection. This extremely rare woven work combines fine art and Finnish textile craftsmanship in ways that feel both architectural and expressive making this a highly collectable piece, seldom seen outside private collections.

Truly one-of-a-kind — and unlikely to ever surface again. 

✦ Size 120 × 160 cm
✦ Hand-woven wool
✦ Artist: Kari Wallden
✦ Made in Finland
✦ Period: 1980's
✦ Excellent vintage condition: clean and well-kept
✦ One-of-a-kind – only one piece exists

NOTE ON THE ARTIST - Kari Walden (b. 1940) is a Finnish painter and printmaker known for his bold abstract language and explorations of rhythm, line, and colour. His work is rooted in graphic clarity and visual tension — often balancing precise structure with gestural freedom. This wool tapestry is a rare exception in Walden’s work. Commissioned in the 1980's, it is the only known woven piece by the artist — a unique extension of his visual language into textile form.