Once perceived as secluded—both literally and figuratively—due to its archipelagic nature on the edge of Europe, Stockholm’s art scene is transcending its confines. This evolution is showcased by Stockholm Art Week, running from May 14th through 19th, presenting its most expansive form since its inception in 2011. The event features more than 60 participants and up to 150 program activities, anchored by northern Europe’s premier art fair, Market, from May 17th through 19th at Liljevalchs Museum on Djurgården—a lush, green island in the heart of Stockholm. The fair presents 47 galleries and works by more than 100 artists.
A fluid approach is also being observed with the current aesthetic trends in Stockholm. Lovisa Berntson from Berntson Bhattacharjee—a Swedish-founded gallery based in Fitzrovia, London, with a satellite program in Stockholm—noted that social media is significantly shaping artists’ approaches, pushing them to consider how their works translate into digital formats. Simultaneously, she also sees how today’s Stockholm art scene is characterized by nostalgia: “Longing for the countryside, memories, and classical references. I think, as a result of our unstable times, art can serve as a catalyst to escape and for the viewer to transcend,” she noted.