About Johanna Forsberg
Photo: Elin Nerpin
Swedish designer & art worker with an eye for innovation and perfection.
With a contrasts of tenderness and strength, delicate hands and rough iron mesh I form, by hand, exclusive artwork, each piece unique.
I live and work in a small village in Sweden, and my passion is to shape sculptures out of steel mesh with my bare hands. I made my first sculpture 2001, only seventeen years old. A few years after that, I started my firm Ateljé Johanna Forsberg and I’ve been working full time as an artist since then. I started off making a sculpture for a friend but today my customers are worldwide. My greatest source of inspiration comes from the people I meet, freedom fighters who has an inner strength. A glow of power, both strong and weak. Hard metal that I shape into smooth curves, is the perfect material to enlighten just that.
I first got in contact with steel mesh when I attended high school and studied arts&design. We got to try out different kinds of materials. Steel mesh was one of them. But we merly used it as a basis to brace up the sculpture you where working on. During my second year at highschool I got a question from one of my friends. They wanted something for their home and they asked me If I could make something. I got 100% freedom to do whatever I wanted. Since I love doing 3-dimensional works I directly started to think how I could make something that could stand out and melt in in their room at the same time. I got to think about that steel mesh. Perhaps I could make something of that?
I went to the hardware store and got myself some steel mesh. I started bending and after a while i realized that this could be something really interesting. My first plan was to use the mesh as I had done before, as a form. Now I stopped in the middle of the process and realized I was finished. The bare mesh was simply enough. And it has proven to be ever since that day in february 2001. 2004 I had my first exhibition and shortley after that I started my firm Studio Johanna Forsberg and I have been workning full time as an artist since then.
FAQ
Not able to get there? I can arrange a skype meeting where you can see, through the screen, my studio up close. Do not hesitate to contact me and we’ll arrange a meeting!
Mail: art@johannaforsberg.se
Phone: +46 640 38 03
Skype username: ateljejohannaforsberg
Mail: art@johannaforsberg.se
Phone:+46 70 640 38 03
Mail: art@johannaforsberg.se
Phone:+46-640 38 03
Honors & Awards
Previous Exhibitions
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Association of Entrepreneurs in Nordmaling
2011
Diploma
Centre Party & Centre Party Women
2010
Motivation:
Johanna Forsberg is a creative and driven entrepreneur. A strong woman who is a model for us all.
Scholarship
Nordmaling Art Association & Lions Scholarship Fund
2008
Motivation:
From a one-dimensional fine wire mesh the artist is capable to release the three-dimensional undulating shapes using only her hands, a hammer and a pair of pliers as tools. The result is mainly torsos where the bodily expression is central. The hard, sharp grid creates an esoteric design that is both expressive tactile and decorative in its timeless simplicity.
Gjeorg & Hjördis Andersson Scholarship Fund
2006
Motivation:
The fund’s purpose is to reward youth who demonstrated great creativity, entrepreneurship and making creative efforts within the business community or cultural life, for the benefit of development and growth in Västerbotten County.
2015
Pop up gallery at Olofsfors iron mill, Västerbotten
2014
“A day for life”, Svenska kyrkan, Manhattan, New York
“Get entangled by art” Pop Up gallery, Stockholm
2013
“Tillit” Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Stockholm
2012
Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Stockholm
2011
Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Stockholm
2010
Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Stockholm
2009
Profil Hotels, Umeå
2008
Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Stockholm
2007
Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Stockholm
Siemens Financial Services, Umeå
2006
Galleri EOS, Gamla stan, Stockholm
”Hermansons 5 stolar”, Hermansons Möbler, Umeå
”Upplyft”, Magasin 8, Sundsvall
”Norrsken”, Umeå höstljus, Umeå
2005
Grubbes bibliotek, Umeå
”Ur askan i elden”, Bodens konstgille, Boden
Optique, Umeå
2004
Vännäs bibliotek, Vännäs
Bodlängan, Olofsfors bruk, Nordmaling