The Museum Gallery Alariesto was opened in July 1986 and exhibits the life work and production of painter Andreas Alariesto permanently. 

Earlier The Museum Gallery Alariesto was maintained by Riikka and Andreas Alariesto’s Lapinkuvat Foundation and Sodankylä Municipality. The task of the foundation was to take care of the collection of 64 paintings donated by Alariesto to the municipality of Sodankylä and to nurture the distinctive cultural heritage of Lapland and especially old Sompio.

In September 2020 the life work of the artist Andreas Alariesto was transferred to the Kauko Sorjonen Foundation. With this merger, the aim is to continue the operation of the Museum Gallery Alariesto in Sodankylä as well as secure the future of an extensive collection of paintings.