The Moomins have captivated generations through books, comics, and animation. Drawing from the collections of the Moomin Museum, the exhibitions feature illustrations, photographs, film, and immersive environments that reveal how Jansson used storytelling to explore belonging, emotional honesty, and coexistence with nature.
Dive into the whimsical world of Moominvalley and the life of its creator, Tove Jansson, with Moomins’ Sea Adventures and Tove and the Sea.
Moomins' Sea Adventures
Experience the Imaginative World of Moominvalley
Moomins’ Sea Adventures brings Moominvalley to life with illustrations and life-sized characters from the stories. In the center of the exhibit is an interactive island complete with a lighthouse and rowboats that invites visitors to imagine adventures of their own.
Designed for visitors of all ages, the exhibition invites play, exploration, and emotional connection.
Spotlights
Tove and the Sea
Learn About the Life and Legacy of Moomin Creator, Tove Jansson
Tove and the Sea offers a more intimate counterpoint, tracing Tove Jansson’s lifelong relationship with the Finnish archipelago through large-scale photographs and reflective texts. The exhibition explores Jansson’s evolution from a curious child to a fiercely independent artist, shaped by creativity, travel, and her life with partner Tuulikki Pietilä on their island.
This presentation marks the premiere of a new photographic exhibition, including images of their shared life by the sea and a short documentary shot by Tove's partner, Tuulikki, giving you an intimate glimpse into summers they spent off of Finland's southern coast from 1970-1991. Pietilä was born in Seattle before returning to Finland with her family as a toddler, creating a meaningful local connection.
Spotlights
Together, Moomins’ Sea Adventures and Tove and the Sea reveal how the sea shaped both the fictional world of the Moomins and the remarkable woman who created them.
Developed by the Moomin Museum in Tampere — the official home of Tove Jansson’s original works — Moomins’ Sea Adventures and Tove and the Sea examine the central role of the sea in Jansson’s art and philosophy, from storm-tossed journeys to quiet island life.
This presentation marks the first time exhibitions from the Moomin Museum in Tampere, Finland, have ever traveled across the Atlantic, bringing one of the Nordic region’s most beloved cultural icons to the United States.
