International Swedish artist's Pop Up Show in Stockholm

Press Release  November 20, 2013

Selected small works from “It’s Boring to Die” series:

Paintings by Johan Wahlstrom

So Stockholm Gallery is proud to present paintings by the Swedish-born artist,

Johan Wahlstrom at a “PopUp” Exhibition. November 30^th-December 1^st, 2013.

Featuring Russian born guest artist: Konstantin Bokov (New York)

The title, “It’s Boring to Die”, is a series that embodies acrylic and ink canvases filled with graphic, naïf heads and torsos in a dark, limited palette of greys, blues, black and blood-red accents. The provocatively titled pieces are social critiques, reflecting the artist’s grappling’s with a world of extreme polarities.

Wahlstrom creates his paintings quickly, inspired by cryptic observations jotted on scraps of paper littering his Malaga, Spain studio. “I decide what titles I will work with each day and set myself into the mood with loud music, and try to paint the title to get the viewers to spin their brains toward the story.” Some of the titles include, “As God as it Gets”, “Give Us Something Real,” and  “So in Debt.” The titles may be ironic, but the paintings’ narratives strike a true emotional chord. The haunted people in his paintings seem to be crying out for sustenance, both physical and psychic.

Wahlstrom’s path to painting was unconventional, with unexpected turns that speak to a vital, original creative mind. Born in Stockholm to a lineage of artists, Wahlstrom was first a musician and singer who painted only infrequently. The rock and roll life “brought me too much trouble” and he traveled to France where did nothing but paint, which launched his new career as an artist. The series “It’s Boring to Die” has traveled around Europe and to New York.

For reproduction requests or general inquiries, please contact So Stockholm at

+46 70 873 36 37, Jussi Björlings Alle 5, Kungsträdgården, Stockholm

Exhibition hours:

Saturday November 30^th, 13.00-21.00 (1pm-9pm)
Sunday  December 1^st,  12.00-17.00 (noon-5pm)

www.johanwahlstrom.com