Kunstenaars

Hjort Tolstoy I am a Sälen resident born in '62, a sports and art teacher at Sälen's school, full of ideas where no day is like the other. Painting, whether in watercolor or acrylic, is my greatest interest besides sports. I am more or less self-taught and have been creating in various techniques for as long as I can remember. When I was just 3 years old, I painted a horse and a girl with very long legs. This picture was framed at my grandmother's, and when friends asked why the girl's legs were so long, I naturally replied: - how else would she get up on the horse. I won several drawing competitions during my upbringing. During a year of study in the USA, I delved into drawing and painting as well as ceramics. I mostly paint in acrylic and watercolor/gouache. Since I live in Dalarna, the Dala horse has become a motif I have specialized in, but with my own style. I paint large, colorful horses in acrylic and horses doing all sorts of things, like skiing, playing the violin, etc. Welcome!

I use acrylic paint as a base in my paintings and add details with oil paint. The art is both realistic and abstract, but the subjects are clearly recognizable. Among the subjects are street scenes, buildings, animals, people, and portraits, often depicted in more or less distorted perspectives. I draw inspiration from everyday subjects in reality and capture much of this on the canvas.

I am an artist and illustrator based in Falun, Dalarna. My art is rooted in the mystique of nature—the forest, the landscape, and the beings of folklore are recurring motifs and sources of inspiration in my creations. Through my paintings, I aim to bring old stories to life while highlighting the magic, power, and beauty that exist in the nature around us. For me, painting is a way to remind both myself and others of our origins and our place in the living landscape. It is a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, remember, and perhaps also cherish what still remains.

My artistic journey began as a quest for a visual language that can express emotions, memories, and atmosphere beyond words. Through abstract expressionism, I explore the relationship between color, texture, and gesture. My paintings are built on layers, intuition, and presence, inviting personal interpretation and emotional experience.

My paintings rarely start with a finished answer. They often begin with a feeling, a question, or an image that lingers in the mind. During the process, the work is allowed to develop freely and find its own direction. I am fascinated by the inner world of humans—by memories, relationships, dreams, conflicts, and the traces life leaves behind. Through figurative painting and symbolic elements, I try to create images that provoke thought and leave room for the viewer's own interpretation.

My name is Anna Alex. I am searching for my identity, while also being proud of my Swedish identity. I am also searching for my professional identity and love to explore, learn, and experiment. I started writing free verse as a teenager, amidst experiences of love, depression, and disappointment, and I have yet to publish a book. Since a young age, I have been passionate about exploring and experimenting with colors. I did not study art at university, but I took courses and read books about art and its various directions. When I started photographing, I took several courses in camera techniques and photography, some online and some with the photographer Leon Parson. I also attended a course in Stockholm called "The Art of Light in Hollywood," led by the renowned master photographer Ebrahim Katto. Art exhibitions in painting and photography. Exhibitions Solo Exhibitions: Skärholmen Art Gallery, 2025 Galleri Sven, 2020 Galleri Bellman, Stockholm, 2015 Katto 7 Art Festival, Stockholm, 2012 Galleri Q, Stockholm, 2010 Kunsgalerie, Stockholm, 2010 Katto Gallery, Södertälje, 2008 Katto Gallery, Stockholm, 2006 Group and Solo Exhibitions: More than 20 group exhibitions in Sweden Exhibitions at cafes, restaurants, hotels, art galleries, and cultural clubs. Upcoming Exhibitions: This year, I will participate in an art exhibition with Swedish artists in Spain, sponsored by the Swedish Church. In 2027, I will also participate in an exhibition with a group of EU artists, under the direction of the exhibition manager at Ebrahim Katto's cultural foundation in Stockholm.

I have always created. But I haven't always understood why. For many years, art was a part of me – something that was there in the background, like a language I returned to when words weren't enough. But life went on, and creating sometimes had to take a back seat. Until the day everything came to a head. When life suddenly can no longer be taken for granted, something changes deeply. Perspectives shift. What once seemed important fades – and what truly matters emerges with full force. For me, that became creating. Not as a choice. But as a necessity. Today, every piece carries traces of that insight. Of presence. Of gratitude. Of a strong desire to express what is felt – for real. My art is not just something I do. It is a way of living. Of understanding. Of remembering that every moment counts. This is where my journey continues. In every brushstroke. In every new piece.

My artistic approach is a continuous exploration of the human condition, centered on themes of resilience and silent narratives. I bridge the gap between classical realism and contemporary expression, using my work as a medium to amplify voices that have been historically marginalized. By transitioning between the raw, monochromatic intensity of charcoal and the rich, layered textures of oil paint, I capture the duality of struggle and hope. My focus remains on the emotive power of the human form, aiming to transform personal stories of resistance into a universal language of freedom and empathy. • The Resilience of Women: Exploring the hidden strength, courage, and rightful stature of women through emotive portraiture. • The Grace of Movement (Ballerinas): Capturing the fluid elegance and disciplined beauty of dancers using a fusion of charcoal and acrylic. • Hyper-realistic Portraits: A deep dive into human emotions and personal narratives through meticulous detail and anatomical precision. • Cultural Identity and Freedom: Bridging ancient heritage with contemporary struggles for expression and visibility. • Technical Precision vs. Emotional Fluidity: The intersection of my engineering background with the spontaneous expression of fine arts.

I work in watercolor and oil with motifs from the sea and Old Town, where light, movement, and architecture unite in a sophisticated and timeless visual language. Each piece is a study in atmosphere and presence, with a subtle balance between Nordic tranquility and the Mediterranean's luster. At Skeppar Karls Gallery Art & Design in Old Town, I offer private viewings and a carefully curated art experience in an intimate studio environment.

I am a contemporary artist working in the expanded field between painting, relief, and sculptural elements. My art is based on the idea of a multi-layered reality—both physical and emotional. By combining materials such as oil, acrylic, fabric, wood, clay, and structural media, I create works that are not only seen but also felt. In my artistic expression, abstraction and figuration meet. Color, light, and form become tools to portray inner states and create atmospheres. Many works break out of the canvas plane and move towards the viewer, offering a bodily, direct experience. My art provides no ready answers—it opens spaces for reflection, presence, and feeling. It speaks to those seeking something more than decoration: an art experience where multiple layers of materiality and meaning interact. Each work is a unique original, where fragments of memories, the presence of nature, and human corporeality form a living whole. Today, my artistic language is built on a combination of figurative realism and geometric shapes. I unite realistic painting with triangular planes inspired by the aesthetics of polyart. Through layers of color and structural media, I build a relief-like surface where the geometric shapes take on a mosaic-like character. For me, the geometric form is not just an aesthetic approach but also a symbol of inner strength and character.