Biography
Born in Finspång, Sweden, in 1957, Martin Wickström is a Stockholm-based artist renowned for his intricate installations that seamlessly blend photorealistic painting, found imagery, and sculptural elements. His work delves into themes of memory, identity, and the interplay between personal narratives and collective history.
Educated at Gerlesborgsskolan (1977–1981) and the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm (1982–1987), Wickström has developed a distinctive visual language that contrasts elements from popular culture, such as vintage advertisements, film stills, and comic fragments, with personal photographs and objects. This fusion creates multilayered compositions that moves between the intimate and the universal.
A recurring motif in his work is the depiction of architectural façades from various global locales. These structures, rendered with meticulous detail and reflective surfaces, evoke a sense of stillness and mystery, inviting viewers to contemplate the unseen narratives within.
Wickström's installations often incorporate light and sound, enhancing the immersive quality of his exhibitions. Notable solo shows include "Perfume River" at Mike Weiss Gallery, New York (2014), "Paradiso (Out of the Red)" at Galerie Forsblom, Stockholm (2018), and “Mount Florida – Retrospective” at Galerie Leu, Munich (2022–2023). His works are part of several esteemed public collections, including Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, and Norrköpings Konstmuseum.
