Olavi Leo Aleksander Kettunen (1928 in Impilahti, Finland - 2015 in California, USA), was a Finnish furniture and interior designer.
Kettunen pursued his education in the arts at the Taideteollisuuskeskuskoulu in Helsinki, graduating in 1953 with a focus on decorative painting. However, his interests soon shifted toward furniture design, where he found his true calling.
He began his career in Finland with furniture designs and moved to Canada in the mid-1950s at the invitation of a furniture factory there. In his later career, he worked as an interior designer for the U.S. investment bank Irving Trust later named the Bank of New York.
In the 1950s, Kettunen's reputation expanded beyond Finland, particularly as his work began attracting attention in Canada and the United States. Recognizing the potential for innovative design in the post-war era, he moved to Montreal to collaborate with a notable furniture manufacturer.
His success in Canada led him to relocate to New York City in 1958, where he worked as an interior architect for Irving Trust (later Bank of New York). In this role, he was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of commercial spaces, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Today, Kettunen's furniture designs are highly coveted, transitioning from their original purpose in public spaces to becoming cherished vintage items in private homes.
This enduring appeal underscores his impact on the world of design, making him a significant figure in the history of modern Finnish furniture design, whose legacy continues to inspire both collectors and new generations of designers.
