Helena Wikestam is an artist, born (1972) and raised on Öland, where she has also been active since 2007. She is educated at the Malmö Art Academy (MFA). For many years, she has worked with the theme of earth, where she collects soil and stones from various locations and processes them into pigments which are then used in paintings. These works bear traces of the places’ changes, character, soil, or history. She is represented in collections such as Moderna Museet.
Selected commissions, exhibitions, grants and education
2025
Participates in digital portfolio reviews, 8–9 December 2025, organized by Regionsamverkan Sydsverige (Regional Collaboration South Sweden) and the Swedish Curators’ Association. I was one of five selected from the Kalmar region.
Sketch Walk on the Animals’ Trails – performance together with Sofia Sundberg for Den kollektiva hjärnan (The Collective Brain).
Panel participant in a discussion on drawing at Kalmar Art Museum.
Participating in the exhibition Between Drawing at Kalmar Art Museum with the work What Once Was Seabed. Curated by Sara Hemingsson.
2024
Sketch walk on the animals’ paths – workshop and exhibition in collaboration with Sofia Sundberg and guest artist Linda Bergman. Open call Konstfrämjandet, the Peoples Movements for Art Promotion and Smålandstriennalen.
2023
Art in a specific place – Initiated and conducted several workshops for elementary school students, in collaboration with artist Sofia Sundberg and naturum Trollskogen. Funded by the Swedish Arts Council and Region Kalmar.
Artist Talk – Participated in a panel discussion related to the exhibition Omloppstider.
Omloppstider – Group exhibition at naturum Trollskogen, Öland. Curator: Past and present. Displayed the project Jag är mer mark än människa (”I am more earth than human”).
Sketch assignment for Nya Åkerboskolan – Presented a proposal for decoration in three parts. On behalf of Borgholm Municipality.
Work Grant – Two-year work grant from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee 2023-2024.
2022
Sketch assignment Varberg – Presented a proposal for public commission in Varberg, together with artist Sofia Sundberg. On behalf of the Public Art Agency, Varberg Municipality, and the Swedish Transport Administration.
Sketch assignment for Nya Åkerboskolan – Received the assignment. On behalf of Borgholm Municipality.
2021
Levande död veds tid (”Living Dead woods time”) – Participated in a group exhibition at Borgholm Center for Contemporary Art.
Havet (”The Sea”) – Led a workshop with a sea theme. On behalf of Kalmar Art Museum. For elementary school students.
Balansare med naturen (”Balancing with Nature”) – Produced and conducted a community art workshop with artist Sofia Sundberg at naturum Trollskogen. Organizer: The County Administrative Board of Kalmar County.
Ölands södra udde (”Southern Tip of Öland”) – Solo exhibition together with artist Sofia Sundberg at naturum Ottenby, Öland. Showed the work Berättelser med havet (”Stories with the Sea”).
2020
Under rådande omständigheter (”Under Current Circumstances”) – Group exhibition at Vandalorum, Värnamo.
Interaktioner med skogen (”Interactions with the Forest”) – Showed the photo series Interaktioner med skogen during the group exhibition at Kalmar Art Museum. Curator: Bettina Pehrsson.
Den konstnärliga processen, skogen och vi (”The Artistic Process, the Forest, and us”) – Produced and conducted a workshop together with artist Sofia Sundberg and naturum Trollskogen. On behalf of Kalmar Art Museum.
Under ekens bark höjer sig havet (”Under the Oak’s Bark, the Sea Rises”) – Solo exhibition with artist Sofia Sundberg at naturum Trollskogen, Öland.
Grant – Crisis stipend 1 and 2, Swedish Arts Grants Committee.
Grant – Crisis stipend, Region Kalmar.
Körverk – Contributed to the publication Körverk för 136 röster (”Choral Work for 136 Voices”), Basebo Publishing, with a text on Markens karaktär (”The Character of the Earth”).
Kalmar Theater – Read my text Markens karaktär from the publication Körverk för 136 röster.
Skapande skola (”Creative School”) – Produced and conducted workshops for youth and children together with artist Sofia Sundberg. In collaboration with naturum Trollskogen and naturum Ottenby. Funded by the Swedish Arts Council
2018
Vårsalongen, group exhibition, Ölands museer, Öland
2017
Handrörelser, solo exhibition, g13, Borgholm
Leran i våra hjärtan, solo exhibition, Teatergalleriet, Kalmar
2016
Flätverk, group exhibition, Näsby, Öland
2015
Historien genom groparna och breven, solo exhibition, Ölands museer, Öland
Salong, group exhibition, Nässjö Konsthall
2010
Du får inte blunda nu, solo exhibition, Rotundan, Kalmar
Ny kul ö, group exhibition, Supermarket, Stockholm
2009
Group exhibition, Teatergalleriet, Kalmar
SIK, spridd isolerad konst, group exhibition, Kalmar Konstmuseum, curator: Martin Schibli
2008
Yellow Box, group exhibition, Sättra
To Square Light, group exhibition, Signal, Malmö
Work Grant – one-year work grant from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2007
Cirkulationscentralen, group exhibition, Alt cph, Copenhagen
Earthworks, workshop and group exhibition, Kultivator, Öland
Ren vård, art project and exhibition, Umas Malmö
2006
Omlopp, solo exhibition, Cirkulationscentralen, Malmö
2005
Du får inte blunda nu, solo exhibition, Mors Mössa, Göteborg
Konsthögskolan i Malmö 10 år, group exhibition, Rooseum, Malmö
2004
Drömmen om det vertikala, solo exhibition, galleri Mittbrodt, Borgholm
Skyltfönsterutställning, group exhibition, Galleri 21, Malmö
Helge Ax:son Johnson, travel grant
2003
Där snö faller kan det hända att den lägger sig i ansiktet, solo exhibition (MFA) Galleri Peep, Malmö
Go! Liquidación Total, group exhibition, Madrid, Spain
KI.5 release party, group exhibition, MUU, Helsingfors, Finland
Frekvens Malmö, group exhibition, Elastic Projects, Sthlm Art Fair
Birgit Rausing’s Major Scholarship for a Graduating Student, Malmö Art Academy
2002
Patriothall Gallery WASPS, Edinburgh, Skottland
Porträttet, group exhibition, khm, Malmö
Regionförbundet i Kalmar Län, kulturstipendium
2001
Utflykt, Gyllins trädgård, group exhibition, Malmö
Liket lever, group exhibition, Annies art gallery, Malmö
2000
Liedbergsfonden, grant
1997
Unga tecknare, group exhibition and grant, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Education
Malmö Art Academy (MFA) 1998-2003
Edinburgh College of Art 2001
Uppsala University, Art History 1996
Helena Wikestam 