Karin Mamma Andersson (1962-) Sweden

Karin Mamma Andersson is a Swedish visual artist who was born in Luleå in 1962. She studied sculpture at the University College of Arts, Crafts & Design, but then changed to fine art at the Royal Institute of Art. After completing the program, she lived in Stockholm, where she works today. Andersson’s paintings are primarily expressionist landscapes, though she depicts other motifs as well. Early in her career, she was inspired by Swedish artist Dick Bengtsson. She, too, created a series of paintings that all resemble one another, but tell their own story through changes to details. As her career has progressed, she has developed a more personal style, creating work that begins with herself and letting stories emerge as they are woven into the actual creation process. This allows her to convey a certain mysteriousness in her works. Since the 1990s, Andersson has had national and international solo and group exhibitions. She first used the nickname Mamma somewhat playfully at a student show in 1992, but it stuck and is now her “stage” name. In addition to being a highly regarded artist, she holds an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the Luleå University of Technology, and in 2006, she won the Carnegie Art Award first prize. For several years, she has been the designer of the Nobel Prize medal for literature. Today, her work can be seen in permanent collections at museums around the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and Moderna Museet in Stockholm. She is represented by gallerist David Zwirner.