The Moomins are a phenomenon. The Finnish round-snouted creatures first appeared in the 1940s in books which have since sold over 30 million copies.
Now, a London exhibition is exploring the woman behind the beloved characters. Tove Jansson and her Families, held at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, is the UK’s first show dedicated to the author and illustrator. It will uncover her personal relationships, looking at the people who shaped her life and work, through over 100 rarely-seen sketches, paintings, illustrations and photographs, including previously unseen drawings. Jansson’s childhood drawings will also be on display – a first for the UK.
While Jansson hailed from Finland, London held a special significance. Her Moomin series comic strip ran in the London’s Evening News (now The Evening Standard) for over 20 years.
Paul Gravett, co-curator of the exhibition, said: “Tove’s extended Moomin cast are intimately inspired by her family, friends and lovers in Helsinki’s cultural circles and lesbian community. Brilliant across so many literary and artistic expressions, her lifelong celebration of inclusivity and individuality has never been more inspiring and necessary.”
Tickets cost £15, concessions available. Booking from 10am, Tues 22nd September 2026.
Key Information
Dates | Sat 21 November 2026 – Sun 9 May 2027
Address | Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, 1 Myddelton Passage, EC1R 1AG
For more information | qbcentre.org.uk
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