Jewellery artist Märta Mattsson from Stockholm is the 2016 Young Applied Artists. Fascinated by the wonders of nature, she transforms dead animals and insects into jewellery pieces, giving new life to something that would otherwise moulder away. The award of SEK 100,000 from the Bengt Julin Fund, administered by the Friends of Nationalmuseum, will be presented at a ceremony on 14 November.
On Friday 3 June, Ingegerd Råman opens at Nationalmuseum Design. In this exhibition, one of Sweden’s most influential designers presents a personal selection of the projects and commissions she has worked on, with commentary in the form of sketches, videos and captions. The exhibition is coproduced with Vandalorum in Värnamo, where it will go on show this autumn.
Saturday 28 May will see the unveiling of the 2016 Portrait of Honour at Gripsholm Castle. This year it depicts Professor Barbro Osher, the Swedish Consul General in San Francisco and a generous philanthropist. The portrait was taken by Thron Ullberg, who faithfully captures both the model’s modest air and her work as a patron of the arts.
In celebration of Carl XVI Gustaf’s 70th birthday, the Friends of Nationalmuseum, Nationalmusei Vänner, has given the Swedish National Portrait Gallery at Gripsholm Castle a gift comprising eight portraits of H. M. the King and members of the royal family. The photographic portraits are by four renowned Swedish photographers: Dawid (Björn Dawidsson), Bruno Ehrs, Thron Ullberg and Mattias Edwall.
The Nationalmuseum has acquired a red-chalk figure study for a Hercules, in three-quarter-length from the 1640s by the Italian Baroque artist Guercino. The drawing that in the 18th century belonged to the Swedish diplomat and art collector Count Carl Gustaf Tessin has thus been reunited with the main part of his drawings collection in the museum’s holdings.
Continuing its programming on the theme of art jewellery, Nationalmuseum is presenting an exhibition titled The Jeweller’s Art at Läckö Castle this summer. On show will be some 300 pieces – tiaras, necklaces, brooches, snuff boxes, pocket watches and miniature portraits – dating from 1650 to the present day. The materials range from gold, pearls and diamonds to plastic, eggshell and perch skin.
Nationalmuseum has acquired a unique piece of art glass designed by Betzy Ählström. The Christmas Cactus vase was manufactured in 1902 at the Reijmyre glassworks where she was hired for a brief period. Ählström is now considered one of the female pioneers in the history of Swedish glassmaking and only a few works by her are known.
This spring Nationalmuseum Design will host an exhibition of contemporary art jewellery. The exhibition features 30 international artists with about 160 works on display. A press preview will be held on 11 march at 10 am.
Thirty years ago, Kulturhuset staged a landmark exhibition of international art jewellery. Nationalmuseum is excited to present a sequel, but this time the exhibition is one of many. Various Stockholm museums, galleries and artist collectives are hosting parallel exhibitions of significant Swedish work.
Nationalmuseum has acquired a nude by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, a central figure in the art history of the Danish Golden Age. Nationalmuseum has also acquired a second nude and an idyllic interior scene of a mother and child by a window, both painted by Eckersberg’s pupil Ludvig August Smith.
A year ago, during Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, Nationalmuseum Design opened as a new arena for design. This year two exhibitions are on show; The New Map and Women Pioneers. During the week there will be guided tours, a design talk and a release party together with Omforma, all with free admission.
Thanks to a generous donation, Nationalmuseum has acquired a unique photographic portrait by C.G. Rosenberg of King Gustaf VI Adolf. This portrait of Gustaf VI Adolf is the most widely circulated image of the king. A version of it remains in daily use in the form of a five-krona coin, which is to be gradually withdrawn from circulation, starting in the autumn of 2016.
