
BIO
A LITTLE ABOUT MY WORK, JOURNEY AND THOUGHTS ON ART
Making art is helping universe birthing dreams into form. Artists are midwives delivering mirrors in which spectators see different angles of the one self. My work reflects my exploration of mysticism and truth. Through the making of it I'm reminded of our spiritual nature.
I’m Sara Stenlund, born in Sweden 1989. My artistic journey began in the mecca of art in Florence 2007. There I completed a four year program of classical sculpture and drawing at The Florence Academy of Art. Since then sculpture has been my full time occupation. A path that has lead me to explore many interesting places in the world and in life. After my studies I taught the arts of academic drawing and sculpture at the Barcelona Academy of Art. The last couple of years I have been exploring new horizons in Latin America. Learning more about ecological construction, healing and indigenous culture. I frequently return to Sweden with yearly exhibitions in my home town Viken where I currently have my workshop in the port at Gallery Viken. Welcome to visit me there. You can also buy fine art online here in my web shop.
I create from a place of intuition, pleasure and love of aesthetics. My style is based in classical realism and influenced by tribal art. My creative process is at the same time spontaneous and methodical. I practice an ancient tradition of classical sculpture but allow creative impulse and experimentation along the way. The sculptures are first realised in clay after which I cast them in various materials. Some of them are unique pieces and others editions of maximum 8 copies. My most frequently used casting material these days is a gypsum / acrylic based compound called Jesmonite. I also work on commission and offer art works for public and private spaces in various materials and sizes.
My philosophy is inspired by zen, yogic tradition and shamanism. I have always been drawn to the unknown and art seem to me have an advantage over words in describing the formless, the unfathomable. I consider myself and all creators channels of spirit helping to birth the dreams of the universe. Through my work I hope to encourage people to imagine a little more and to express themselves more freely.
CV
EDUCATION
2018 Natural building course Atitlan Organics, Tzununa, Guatemala
2010-2011 Oil painting figure studies one year, The Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
2007-2010 3 year full enrolment Diploma, Figurative Sculpture at The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
PEDAGOGICAL ASSIGNMENTS
2013-2017 Director of sculpture program / principal instructor of academic drawing & sculpture at
Barcelona Academy of Art, Barcelona, Spain
2013-2020 Private tutoring in academic drawing and sculpture
2012 Instructor of Photography, Bladins High school, Malmö, Sweden
2010-2011 Drawing instructor Florence Academy of Art, Sculpture department, Florence, Italy
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND AWARDS
2017 Figurativas competition, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain
2013 Höganas city culture prize, Höganäs Sweden
2012 Art Renewal Centre, honorable mention Sculpture Category
2009-2010 Full tuition scholarship, Florence Academy of Art (FAA) Florence, Italy
2009 Best drawing of the year, FAA Sculpture department, Florence, Italy
2009 Spring tuition scholarship FAA, Florence, Italy
2008 Makarna Lindequists grant for promising artists, Göteborg, Sweden
PUBLIC ASSIGNMENTS
2020 Restoration of 3 public statues for the city of Höganäs, Sweden
2017 “Shiny happy people” Commission for Helsingborgshem, Sweden
2013 Restoration of Eric Ruth, terracotta statue for the city of Höganäs, Sweden
2010 Altar ornament for St. Josephs Cathedral in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on assignment by
sculptor, Cody Swanson.
2009-2010 Special effects masks for opera and theatre, Fillistrucchi, Florence, Italy.
EXHIBITION LIST
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 "Resonance" Galleri Viken, Sweden
2020 ”The bird of paradis is singing” Galleri Viken, Viken, Sweden
2019 "Towards the light" Galleri Viken, Viken, Sweden
2017 “The Head collector” Kulturhotellet, Helsingborg, Sweden
2012-2018 Konstrundan Nordvästra Skåne, Yearly exhibition including a solo show and group show
2011 “Nude drawings“ Bernie Horton Gallery, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
2011 “God’s own country” Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 "Kullasalongen" Krapperups konsthall, Sweden
2021 "Djur och odjur" Galleri Oscar
2020 ”Women create men” Krapperups Konshall, Krapperups castle, Nyhamnsläge, Sweden
with Turid Spildo, Cathrine Bergsrud and Helene Knoop
2017 “Figurativas Competition” Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain
2012-2016 ”Bjäremålarnas sommarsalong” Båstad, Sweden, Yearly exhibition
2015-2016 ”Sommarsalong” Gallery Maralto, Smögen, Sweden
2013-2015 Galleri Don Clarre, Torekov, Sweden, Yearly exhibition
2015 Sommarsalong, Galleri fabriken, Torekov, Sweden
2014 “Barcelona Academy of Art” MEAM, Barcelona, Spain
2013 “Figuratively speaking” Gallery Jager och Jansson, Lund, Sweden.
2013 Yoshio Nakajima Art Center, Råå, Sweden, with Joe Altwer
2012 The Florence Academy of Art’s sixth alumni exhibition, Florence, Italy
2012 ”Kullasalongen” Juried exhibition, Krapperup, Nyhamnslage, Sweden
2011 Haas collective gallery, Cape town, South Africa, With Nicholas Esterhiuzen
2011 Locanda degli Artisti, Florence, Italy, with Sos Brysch