Mia Hultgren
Swedish fibre artist Mia Hultgren studied at the The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation (BA) in Copenhagen and later at the Royal College of Art (MA) in London. We first came across her work during the summer of 2022 as Mia was one of 12 artists selected to participate in the NAA x Summer Exhibition. The work exhibited, entitled Birds Nest, was a hand-woven wall hanging incorporating texture, form and negative space in a neutral palette. It was brilliantly executed and so began our curiosity….
In the expanded field of textiles, Mia Hultgren’s practice is an exploration of contradictions and transformation - both in material as in the subject. Through an exploratory and experimental process in various textile techniques, and sometimes with material that goes beyond fibers, she works in the field of tension that arises between material, form, and colour. She is very close to the material in the process of making, where both a tactile and physical relationship is created between the artist and the material - where the finished work often also says something about the process. Her work emerges from the inspiration of her surrounding environment and life - a surface, form, or aspects of being a social human. Through the materials and form, and with methods of repetition, layering, and connecting she investigates systems, forms, and feelings.
‘My practice is cross-disciplinary and focused on tactility. It is based on a continuous exploration and experimental “hands-on” approach, where texture, form and colour play a central role. I am driven by immersion in material and techniques, exploring its possibilities and limitations. I work with various textile techniques including, weave, embroidery, needle felting, hand tufting and print, as well as materials such as ceramic, plastic, and metal. ‘
Recurring themes in her work are time, translucence, negative space, deconstruction, and reconstruction. As her work constitutes a tangible form of fragments and memories from places and life one finds secrets, reflections, and a curiosity to keep exploring hidden in the haptic surfaces.
‘Without a surprise in the process of creating, it would be meaningless to me. I need to develop and learn while making.’
Contact the Nordic Art Agency for information about available works by Mia Hultgren
Artist Biography
Education
2016-2018 Royal College of Art (UK) - Masters in Textile and Mixed Media
2012-2015 Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (DK), Schools of Textile Architecture, Design and Conservation (dk) - Bachelor of Textile
2012-2015 Lunds Konst/Designskola (se) 2 year preparation course in art, design and architecture
Exhibitions
2023
Textila illusioner, Cozmo galleri, solo exhibition, Lund (se)
Aspects, Nordic Art Agency, solo exhibition, Malmö (se)
Rum til Ro, Riises Landsted, duo exhibition, Copenhagen (dk)
Going Pro, Southern Sweden Design Days, group exhibition, Malmö (se)
BISE x SSDD, Southern Sweden Design Days, group exhibition, Malmö (se)
SPOTS, Form/Design center, groupexhibition, Malmö (se)
2022
NAA Winter Exhibition, Nordic Art Agency, group exhibition, Malmö (se)
ORUBBLIG OCH SKÖR, Malmö Gallerihelg, duo exhibition, Malmö (se)
Glimpse, Österängens konsthall Studio 476, solo exhibition, Jönköping (se)
NAA Summer Exhibition, Nordic Art Agency, group exhibition, Malmö (se)
Proximity - Adorno, Southern Sweden Design Days, group exhibition, Malmö (se)
2019
WIP - Nordic Indigo Master class, Statens Værksteder for Kunst, group exhibition, Copenhagen (dk)
2018
A thread is only a line, London Design Festival, group exhibition, London (uk)
Graduation Show, Royal College of Art, groupexhibition, London (uk)
Make, Royal College of Art, groupexhibition, London (uk)
2017
Work in progress, Royal College of Art, groupexhibition, London (uk)
Body construction, Malmö Gallerinatt, duo exhibition, Malmö (se) 2013 Work in progress, KADK, groupexhibition, Copenhagen (dk)
2012
Report from a tent, Kulturen, groupexhibition, Lund (se)
Flags, Lunds Botanical Garden, groupexhibition, Lund (se)
Tunnel project, Lunds Kommun, permanent artinstallation, Lund (se)
2010
Spektrum, Lundagård, groupexhibition, Lund (SE)
Grants and Awards
2018 Texprint Appointed top 50 strength of work
2018 Gåslövsstiftelsen Educational scholarship
2017 Jönköpings borgarekasse och bjuggska fonden Educational scholarship
2015 Jönköpings borgarekasse och bjuggska fonden Educational scholarship
Artist Talk / Residence
2023 Malmö Gallerihelg (se) Artist talk
2023 Nordic Art Agency (se) Artist in Residence
2023 Malmö Folkhögskola (se) Artist talk
2022 Nordic Art Agency podcast (se)
2018 Artist talk London Festival of Architecture (uk)
2017 Artist talk Chelsea College of Art (uk)