Famous Swedish Artists & Painters

Jwan Yosef is a Swedish artist and painter who specializes in plastic arts. Over the course of his career, Yosef has participated in a number of group exhibitions and art fairs. He is also credited with founding The Bomb Factory Art Foundation in North London.

Hilma af Klint was a Swedish mystic and artist whose paintings represented complex spiritual ideas. English musician and singer-songwriter Jane Weaver cited af Klint's work as inspiration for her 2017 album, Modern Kosmology. In 2019, Hilma af Klint became the subject of a feature-length documentary titled Beyond the Visible — Hilma af Klint.

Claes Oldenburg is a Swedish-American sculptor recognized for his public art installations. Many of his artworks, which were co-designed by his wife Coosje van Bruggen until 2009, feature everyday objects. One of the most celebrated sculptors of his generation, Claes Oldenburg has been honored with many prestigious awards like the National Medal of Arts and the Wolf Prize in Arts.  

Anders Zorn was a Swedish artist who achieved international success as an etcher, sculptor, and painter. One of Sweden's most important artists, Zorn's paintings currently adorn the National Museum of Fine Arts which is located in Stockholm. Apart from creating brilliant works of art, Zorn is also credited with establishing the Bellman Prize, which is a literature prize awarded yearly.

Swedish artist Lars Vilks created a major controversy with one of his drawings that showed Prophet Muhammad's head set on a dog's body. Previously, his 2 sculptures, Nimis and Arx, set in the Kullaberg nature reserve, were attacked by vandals. He died in a traffic accident in southern Sweden.

For Moki Cherry, there was no strict boundary between design, art, drama and music. An interdisciplinary artist, she worked in all kinds of mediums, including textiles, woodworks, painting, and ceramics and at the same time excelled in set and costume designs, creatively collaborating with her husband, jazz musician Don Cherry, drawing inspiration from Indian, Tibetan as well as folk arts.

Swedish painter John Bauer, best known for his portraits of dense forests and fairy tale creatures, first gained fame with the release of his book Amongst Gnomes and Trolls. Part of the Romantic nationalistic movement, he was inspired by both the Italian Renaissance and Sami cultures. He died in a shipwreck.

Part of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century, Swedish painter Carl Larsson is best remembered for his iconic painting Midvinterblot, or Midwinter Sacrifice. Born to a poor casual laborer, he had a tough childhood and began working as an illustrator at age 18.

One of the pioneers of expressionism in Sweden, Sigrid Hjertén was the only female member of the artist group De Åtta. Initially a teacher of textile design, she later painted iconic works such as Atelierinteriör. She died of a failed lobotomy procedure to cure her schizophrenia.

Currently advisor of art and culture to the Swedish government, P. K. Mahanandia traveled from India to Sweden on a second-hand bicycle to be with the love of his life, whom he met while studying at College of Art, New Delhi. Today a Swedish citizen and an established artist, exhibition of his works have been held in major international cities.

Internationally renowned children’s book author and illustrator Lena Anderson began working in the publishing industry at age 16 and first gained fame with her book Linnea in Monet's Garden, which was one of her many collaborations with author Christina Björk. She is known for creating her much-loved character Maja.

Swedish figurative painter Alice Herbst is best remembered for her depictions of elite and beautiful women in a vintage fashion. A former model and Sweden's Next Top Model winner, she gave up her modeling career out of a dislike for the lack of ethics in the industry.

Swedish painter Alexander Roslin is best remembered for his detailed depiction of jewelry and clothes in his portraits of the elite. While his paintings are mostly of the Rococo style, they also showcase Classicist features. The Lady with the Veil remains one of his best-known works.

While Evert Taube was initially a sailor, he also worked as a railroad worker, a tram conductor, and a journalist. He later made a successful career as a singer and soared to fame with tracks such as Calle Schewens Vals. He is now regarded as one of the best Swedish troubadours.

Swedish painter Prince Eugen, Duke of Narke was the youngest son of Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland. Though he initially didn’t aspire to become a painter, he later became one of the finest landscape painters of his time. He was homosexual, but his orientation was not known to the general public.

Also known as Sweden's Beatrix Potter, Swedish children’s author Elsa Beskow is best remembered for her iconic books such as Children of the Forest and Pelle's New Suit. Elves, goblins, and farm animals often appeared as characters in her books. The Elsa Beskow Award was named in her honor.

Swedish sculptor Carl Milles is best remembered for his large-scale fountains, such as Europa and Orpheus Fountain. Some of his best-known works include the Gustaf Vasa statue at the Nordic Museum of Stockholm and the Poseidon statue in Gothenburg. He also headed the sculpture department of the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Kristoffer Zetterstrand is a Swedish surreal artist whose paintings are based on scenography sculpted in 3D applications and virtual still lifes. In 2012, he was honored with the prestigious Marianne & Sigvard Bernadotte Art Award. Kristoffer Zetterstrand is perhaps best known for his mosaic The Medical Landscape which earned him the Stora Kakelpriset in 2013.

Swedish artist and printmaker Julius Kronberg was known for his use of themes from mythology and Shakespeare’s works in his paintings. His works adorn the Stockholm Palace, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, and the Adolf Fredrik Church, among others. He suffered from cancer in his final years.