Brooklyn Library Opens the Door to Moominvalley

This summer, the Brooklyn Public Library is drawing visitors through a door that leads, at least metaphorically, into the heart of Finnish imagination. Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open is the first major American exhibition devoted to the work of Tove Jansson, the Finnish-Swedish artist and author best known for creating the gentle, troll-like Moomins.

Running through September 30th, the free exhibition coincides with the 80th anniversary of Jansson’s first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945). It presents the characters’ global legacy as more than children’s entertainment. Jansson’s creation, translated into over 60 languages, has long offered readers—young and old—comforting themes of belonging, environmental stewardship and nonconformity.

A Creative Life on Display

The exhibition’s curators have assembled a rare selection of original illustrations, manuscripts and early editions. Among the treasures are the political cartoons Jansson drew during the Second World War, letters to her partner, and sketches that reveal her broader modernist sensibility. The material frames Jansson not only as a literary figure but as a pioneering queer artist in post-war Europe.

American visitors unfamiliar with her cultural significance may be surprised by the depth of her archive. The Moomins, whose round white silhouettes have adorned television screens, stage productions and endless merchandise, serve as an entry point into Jansson’s wider creative practice.

A Family Affair, But Not Only

The library has not ignored the Moomins’ enduring appeal for children. Storytimes, craft workshops and character meet-and-greets punctuate the summer schedule. Animation screenings and musical performances will extend the experience beyond the Central Library’s galleries into the borough’s branch libraries. Yet the exhibition is pitched at adults as well. Jansson’s illustrations and writings, with their subversive humour and political undertones, reward mature readers as much as they delight younger ones.

Why It Matters

Hosting the exhibition in a public library feels appropriate. Jansson’s stories have always celebrated openness and community—qualities central to the institution itself. At a time when libraries are increasingly under political pressure, the show is also a reminder of their cultural relevance.

More broadly, the exhibition brings overdue attention to a Nordic artist whose work transcends borders. The Moomins may look whimsical, but they remain one of the 20th century’s most quietly radical cultural exports.

Dates: June 28–September 30, 2025
Location: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY
Admission: Free