24 Facts About Maija Isola

Maija Sofia Isola was a Finnish designer of printed textiles, and the creator of over 500 patterns, including Unikko.

Maija Isola had a successful career as a visual artist.

Maija Isola lived and worked in Finland for most of her life in, but spent some years in France, Algeria and the United States.

Maija Isola was born to Mauno and Toini Maija Isola, the youngest of their three daughters.

Maija Isola studied painting at the Helsinki Central School of Industrial Arts.

Maija Isola was inspired by a display of classical era pots at the Oslo Museum of Craft and Design to create her Amfora print.

Maija Isola taught her woodcut printing and inspired her to paint.

Maija Isola became the principal textile designer for Marimekko, creating some eight to ten patterns every year.

Between 1957 and 1963, Maija Isola created her first series of works on a single theme, Luonto.

Maija Isola was a wealthy art lover with a spacious home in the centre of Helsinki.

When Maija Isola wanted more creative freedom from Ratia's control, Tissari negotiated with Marimekko to give her a new contract that allowed her more creative freedom.

The collaboration between Maija Isola and Ratia was an "unusual creative power game" characterised by "vitality and inventiveness" rather than a harmonious understanding.

The tone for this was set when, in 1964, Maija Isola "provocatively" defied Ratia's professed hatred of floral patterns by painting the famous Unikko pattern in bold pink, red and black on white; the pattern came to define the brand and has been in production ever since.

From 1965 to 1967, Maija Isola worked on the theme of sun and sea, creating at least nine designs that were adopted by Marimekko, including Albatrossi, Meduusa, and Osteri.

Maija Isola encouraged her to work on Arabian patterns, sketching for her the basis of her Poppy.

Maija Isola's Arabian-inspired patterns of this period include Kuningatar, Naamio, Sadunkertoja, Tumma, and Vally.

Maija Isola spent three years in Algeria, taking a lover named Muhamed.

In 1974, Maija Isola designed the popular pattern Primavera, consisting of stylized Marigold flowers; this has since been printed in many different colours for tablecloths, plates and other items.

Maija Isola spent the year painting, walking, and doing yoga, inspired by the scenery of the Appalachian Mountains, which she said reminded her of her home town, Riihimaki.

Maija Isola made some designs, but found it hard to sell any in the American market, as there were few factories that could print fabrics to her specifications.

From 1980 to 1987, Maija Isola designed patterns for Marimekko jointly with her daughter, Kristina.

From 1987, when she retired, Maija Isola worked on painting rather than textiles, until her death on 3 March 2001.

Maija Isola describes Isola as unconventional, leaving her daughter Kristina "to grow up with her grandmother so she could travel the world to find inspiration for her textiles".

Booth quotes Finnish novelist Kaari Utrio as saying Maija Isola was "a dangerously original character"; she "belonged to a trailblazing generation" which enabled young women to move freely into the arts.