Once again, Barnebys, thanks to the help of a jury, has compiled a list of individuals within the art world who have had the biggest impact on the Swedish art scene in 2023.
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1. The Nordenhake Family & Ben Loveless, gallery owners The Nordenhake family and Ben Loveless have built one of Northern Europe's most influential galleries, with locations in Stockholm, Berlin, and Mexico City. Participation in several of the world's most prestigious fairs and representing some of the most celebrated contemporary artists has made Galerie Nordenhake one of the country's few mega-galleries. This autumn, they are moving from the gallery district to Östermalm.
2. Per Skarstedt, gallerist and art dealer Per Skarstedt is a top player in the art world with galleries in New York, London, and Paris, selling masterpieces by Francis Bacon, Willem de Kooning, Andy Warhol, and Picasso. Despite his low profile in Sweden, he has been active since the late 1980s, selling to museums and international collectors.
3. Gitte Ørskou & Co, director of Moderna Museet Moderna Museet is Sweden's premier contemporary art venue. Despite relatively little media attention, Gitte and her team, including Hendrik Folkerts and Asrin Haidari, deliver high-caliber exhibitions.
4. Ciléne Andréhn & Marina Schiptjenko, gallery owners While others work hard on their image, Ciléne Andréhn and Marina Schiptjenko are known for their high-class exhibitions. The dynamic duo run galleries in Stockholm and Paris, participating in fairs in Basel, Brussels, and Dubai.
5. Carl Kostyál, gallery owner Carl Kostyál travels extensively with his entourage of young artists, hosting exhibitions and fairs worldwide. He operates a gallery in London, an open home in Milan, and special exhibitions at Stora Sundby Castle, with his wife Kathrine Kostyál supporting the team.
6. Lisa Ivermark, art advisor Lisa Ivermark, a Nordic ambassador and head of VIP relations for Art Basel, has dedicated her life to art and its most influential clients. She is known for her keen eye and charm as an art advisor.
7. Patrick Amsellem, director of the Nationalmuseum Patrick Amsellem, with a background at Rooseum and Brooklyn Museum, now heads the Nationalmuseum, aiming to enrich visitors by linking older art with contemporary contexts.
8. Lars Strannegård, president of the Stockholm School of Economics Lars Strannegård, a leading public voice on art's value, integrates art into education at the Stockholm School of Economics.
9. Verner Åmell, art dealer Verner Åmell, Sweden's largest art buyer, now includes contemporary art in his dealership, tailoring collections for wealthy buyers. Museums, the financial elite, and tech entrepreneurs who have made billion-dollar exits all turn to Verner, the art hunter.
10. Prince Daniel & Sara Sandström, director of the Princess Estelle Cultural Foundation Sara Sandström and Prince Daniel lead a major public art initiative in Royal Djurgården, Stockholm, combining Sara's reputation with Daniel's interest in contemporary art.
11. Lap-See Lam, artist Lap-See Lam's visual language has gained international attention, with solo exhibitions in Frankfurt, New York, and Buffalo, and participation in the Venice Biennale's Nordic Pavilion.
12. Magnus Karlsson, gallery owner Magnus Karlsson nurtures and internationalizes successful artists like Karin Mamma Andersson and Jockum Nordström, showcasing their work at global art fairs.
13. Martin Lilja & Amy Giunta, gallery owners of Loyal Gallery Martin Lilja and Amy Giunta run Loyal Gallery, featuring a mix of Swedish and international art, and spend much time traveling between alternative art fairs and studio visits.
14. Niclas Belenius & Katarina Sjögren, gallery owners of Belenius Niclas Belenius, with Katarina Sjögren and Jonas Kleerup, runs one of the city's most interesting art spaces.
15. Parisa Liljestrand, Minister of Culture Since her inaugural speech for last year's Stockholm Art Week, Parisa's presence in the Swedish art scene has increased greatly. As the Minister of Culture, she recognizes art's societal importance.
16. Michael Storåkers, Michael Elmenbeck & Anna-Karin Pusic, founders of CFHILL CFHILL continues to deliver high-quality art in Stockholm, recently opening a new pop-up space. Michael Storåkers was also appointed chairman of the Royal Opera.
17. Lars Nittve & Jonas Höglund, Arte Collectum Lars Nittve and Jonas Höglund lead Arte Collectum, a diversified art fund focusing on female artists and those being re-evaluated in the market.
18. Björn Wetterling, gallery owner Björn Wetterling, a successful gallerist for 40 years, remains influential in Stockholm, known for his bold and outspoken views.
19. Stefan Hagdahl, head of Stockholm Konst Stefan Hagdahl oversees public artistic design in Stockholm, responsible for ensuring a percentage of new building budgets is allocated to art.
20. The Josefsson Family, collectors and patrons The Josefsson family are major patrons of contemporary art, actively working for a better art and cultural climate and participating in international art events.
22. Pontus Bonnier, CEO and chairman of Bonniers Konsthall Pontus Bonnier, with a deep connection to art, leads Bonniers Konsthall, one of Sweden's most vital contemporary art institutions.
23. Teresa & David Castenfors, founders of Artlover Teresa and David Castenfors run Artlover, Sweden's only print art magazine, known for its ambitious, relevant content and interviews.
24. Cecilia Hillström, Katrin Källeskog & Ruth Anna Eriksson, gallery owners of Cecilia Hillström Gallery Cecilia Hillström Gallery, led by Cecilia Hillström, Katrin Källeskog, and Ruth Anna Eriksson, has become one of Scandinavia's leading contemporary galleries.
25. Joanna Sandell, head of Liljevalchs Konsthall Joanna Sandell, with a background in various art institutions, now heads Liljevalchs Konsthall, aiming to focus more on Sami art and broadening the gallery's appeal.
26. Birgitta Rubin, journalist and art critic Dagens Nyheter is one of the few newspapers offering continuous coverage of the art scene. While digital magazines play a role, few match the relevance of Birgitta Rubin's sharp insights.
27. Joanna Sundström, founder of Stockholm Art Week and Part Projects Joanna Sundström, the industry's PR guru, connects the art world with business, creating synergies others overlook. Stockholm Art Week has become the year's largest art event, far beyond Market Art Fair and Stockholm's gallery scene.
28. Karin Mamma Andersson, artist Karin Mamma Andersson is one of Sweden's greatest contemporary artists, represented internationally by David Zwirner and in Sweden by Magnus Karlsson. Her work is displayed in institutions like MoMA in New York and Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
29. Andreas Rydén & Louise Arén, vice president and CEO Combining Andreas' extensive art experience and Louise's business acumen has proven effective. Louise also recently became CEO of Denmark's leading auction house, Bruun Rasmussen, and Nordic CEO of Bonhams.
30. Carsten Höller, artist Carsten Höller, known for his distinctive upside-down mushrooms, is one of Sweden's most acclaimed contemporary artists globally, represented by Gagosian.
31. David Neuman & Tessa Praun, chairman and museum director of Magasin III Magasin III continues to deliver excellent exhibitions, picking up artists like Sixten Sandra Österberg and Fatima Moallim. Even during renovations, their ambition remains high.
32. Peder Isacson & Sofia Ekeroth de Almeida, CEO and head of Sotheby's Scandinavia Sotheby's Stockholm office is highly successful, with confidentiality being a key principle. It is one of Sotheby's most profitable offices, handling works that have set international auction records.
33. Daniel Birnbaum, artistic director Daniel Birnbaum constantly seeks the next big "aha" art experience. As the artistic director of Acute Art, he provides contemporary artists with access to cutting-edge technologies in NFTs and virtual art, while also serving as the artistic director for Hilma af Klint's catalogue raisonné.
34. Stefan Andersson, gallery owner Stefan Andersson, a heavyweight on the Swedish gallery scene, represents international artists like Tony Cragg and Sean Henry while discovering new talents. He is a leading gallerist in sculptural art.
35. Milena Høgsberg, artistic director of Wanås Konst Wanås Konst, Sweden's largest sculpture park, continues to be a top art destination under Milena Høgsberg's leadership. The Danish-American curator creates relevant exhibitions, like Ocean in the Forest.
36. Bo Nilsson, head of Artipelag Bo Nilsson continues to deliver transformative art experiences at Artipelag, one of Sweden's most beautiful art halls, attracting international art tourists.
37. Magnus Bexhed & Sofie Bexhed, CEO and sales director of Uppsala Auktionskammare Despite economic challenges, Uppsala Auktionskammare attracts high-value works and achieves record results, taking over Stockholm's auction market with a focus on customer experience and brand expansion.
38. Sara Berner Bengtsson, CEO of Market Art Fair & team Market Art Fair remains the most established and high-quality contemporary art fair in the Nordics, improving every year. The fair gets better and better every year and is a must-see for all art lovers.
39. Kirsten MacDonald, head of Phillips Scandinavia Kirsten MacDonald brings vitality to the Swedish and Nordic art scene with her approachable manner and collaboration with Phillips' experts, elevating the competition among local auction houses.
40. Jeanette Steinsland & Jacob Kampp Berliner, gallery owners Gallery Steinsland Berliner is a go-to for contemporary art, featuring artists like Mattias Nordéus and Malin Gabriella Nordin.
41. Elisabeth Millqvist, museum director As the director of Moderna Museet in Malmö, Elisabeth Millqvist continues to deliver an engaging exhibition program, aiming to make Malmö and the region a cultural hub.
42. Saskia Neuman, gallery owner Since opening her gallery, Saskia Neuman has presented exciting new artists and high-quality exhibitions, making it a central meeting point in the city.
43. Filip Zięciak & Jeanette Gunnarsson, gallery owners Coulisse Gallery Coulisse Gallery, one of Stockholm's youngest and most exciting galleries, attracts a new generation of art buyers with its mix of emerging and established artists.
44. Dragana Kusoffsky Maksimović, museum director Dragana Kusoffsky Maksimović showcases a diverse range of art, from sculptural fashion to contemporary Sápmi art, at Sven-Harrys, steering it toward media success and record attendance.
45. Joanna Nordin, artistic director Joanna Nordin continues to challenge and transform Bonnier Konsthall with thought-provoking exhibitions, bringing a sense of faith in art during turbulent times.
46. Erika Hellman, collector Erika Hellman transformed a neglected mental hospital into a dynamic art scene, hosting Kostyál's Swedish exhibitions and Gullringsbo Art Collection, shining brightly despite preferring being outside of the spotlight.
47. Irina & Peter Gerdman, gallery owners Irina and Peter Gerdman bring global ambition to Stockholm's art scene; Peter welcomes new art buyers at Public Service and Irina creates innovative exhibitions at Wetterling Gallery.
48. Theodor Dalenson, gallery owner and chairman Theodor Dalenson, an art collector and gallerist, has established Carling Dalenson Art Advisory & Gallery as a leading venue for international artists, supporting Swedish art life and Moderna Museet for nearly 25 years.
49. Sara Arrhenius, director Sara Arrhenius is the 11th director of the Swedish Institute in Paris. She has transitioned from journalist and art hall director to showcasing contemporary Swedish artists in the French capital.
50. Ashik Zaman & Koshik Zaman, journalists and curators, C-print C-print, founded by the Zaman brothers, has evolved from a digital magazine to a physical platform for contemporary art, curating exhibitions and leading art discussions.
51. PG Nilsson & Calle Carboni, restaurateurs and curators, Svenska Brasserier PG Nilsson and Calle Carboni enhance dining experiences with curated art exhibitions at Stockholm's major venues, playing a significant role in Stockholm Art Week by elevating the intellectual magic of art.
![Britta Marakatt-Labba, Mátki II, 1989/2021 [Färden II /The Journey II] Embroidery and appliqué on cotton/Sákkaldagat ja applikašuvnnat bumbolullu nalde/Embroidery and appliqué on cotton 41,5 × 70 cm Moderna Museet, Stockholm © Britta Marakatt-Labba/Picture copyright 2025 Photo/Photo: Tobias Fischer/Moderna Museet (detail)](https://images.prismic.io/barnebys/aCbw1SdWJ-7kSMzl_Untitleddesign-1-.png?auto=format,compress)
