The universal and basic forms have always been important to me in my work. The forms that represent the eternal existence that you never need to question. We all have a relationship to them, we all recognize them, they are closest to archetypes in our subconscious memory and, also physically, in our body memory. They are anonymous, almost neutral, they blend into their surroundings, and we take them easily for granted. But, in their anonymity, we can experience the shapes being noticeably present. The shapes are already there, we don’t really need to create them again, but we keep repeating them, giving them new life and content.
It is precisely these eternal, classical shapes, which we accept as something natural, that have always fascinated me.
We are constantly re-using these neutral forms for our own purposes, no matter what time we live in. In this way, we continue to give them new life.
This basic simplicity has always aroused a sense of satisfaction in me. Something that intuitively comes from a source which I can feel is present. Like the forms as archetypes are a part of me as my natural shape and body memory.
There I find the simplicity, the clarity, the time, the obvious, where you do not need to add or remove anything. Everything is as it should be. When it happens, it is what appears to me to be beautiful. It is something that feels completely natural.This is where I want my Vessels to be.
That is why I continue to build my Vessels, because, somewhere in me, it gives me a great satisfaction and a sense of being part of a larger story in the past, present and future.
Exposed Work
Gunilla Maria Åkesson
Bio
Gunilla Maria Åkesson (b.1963, south Sweden) is graduate with an MA in Ceramic Art from Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Norway in 1992. Where she also lived andworked as a ceramist during 21 years.
Åkesson has exhibited internationally through her whole career. In 2018 she was shortlisted for the international LOEWE Craft Prize, in 2021 she was shortlisted for the Officine Saffi Award, Milano, Italy.
She has been represented at important art fairs like Collect in London, International Fine Art & Antiques Dealers Fair, New York and Collectibles in Brussels.
She is also represented in the Homo Faber Guide since 2020.
Her work is included in National and International collections like The National Museum in Oslo, (N) Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum in Trondheim, (N) KODEin Bergen, (N) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Ystad Art Museum, Ystad (S) and Malmö Art Museum, Malmö (S) and several private collections around the world.
She is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics since 2021.
She now lives and works in Komstad, Österlen, Sweden.
Education
National College of Art and Design, Bergen, Norway 1987 – 92
Solo Exhibitions
2023, Galerie NeC, Paris (Fr)
2022, Galleri Thomas Wallner, Simrishamn (S)
2021, Galleri Sebastian Schildt, Stockholm (S)
2020, Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall, Arendal (N)
2019, Galleri PING PONG, Malmö (S)
Blås & Knåda, Stockholm (S)
2018, Puls Ceramic, Brussels (BE)
Contemporary Ceramic Center, London (UK)
2017, Nääs Konsthantverk, Gothenburg (S)
2017, Plan B Gallery, Växjö, (S)
2016, Kaolin, Stockholm, (S)
2014, Höganäs Keramiska Center, Höganäs, (S)
2011, Bergdala Artgallery, Växjö (S)
2008, Gallery FORMAT, Bergen, (N)
2008, Rörstrands Museum, Lidköping (S)
2008, Bergdala Artgallery, Växjö (S)
2006, Lerverk, Gothenburg, (S)
2005, The Regional Artcenter, Sogn og Fjordane, Førde (N)
2002, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo (N)
Blås & Knåda, Stockholm (S)
1999, The Regional Art center, Kritiansand, (N)
1994, Blås & Knåda, Stockholm (S)
Group Exhibitions / selected
2023, Gallery Velarde, Knightsbridge, (UK)
”Vet ni”(”Do you know”), Galleri Ping Pong, Malmö (S)
“The Blure of Blue” Gallery Sebastian Schildt, Stockholm
2021, ”Cylinders”, Berg Gallery, Stockholm (S)
Shortlisted for Officine Saffi Award 2021, Milano (IT)
”Glaze Test´s”, Galerie Handwerk, Munich (D)
2020 September exhibition 2020, Gallery Thomas Wallner, Simris (N)
”It´s Green”, Galerie Handwerk, Munich (D)
COLLECT, Widell Projects, International Art Fair, London (UK)2019,
Alle Tiders Krukker / All Times Jars” Nordisk – Amerikansk, Ann Linnemann Gallery, Copenhagen (DK)
Modern Masters, Internationalen Handwerksmesse 2019, Munich
COLLECTIBLES, Puls Ceramics, Brussels (Be)
2018, Shortlisted for the LOEWE Craft Prize 2018, London Design Museum, London,UK
Collect 2018, Galleri FORMAT; International Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2017, Collect 2017, Galleri FORMAT, International Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2015, -16 ”UTVALT – SELECTED”, juried exhibition, Craft from the South of Sweden, KHVC in Skåne, Hemslöjden, Form/Design Center, Malmö,(S)
2015, International Fine Art & Antiques Dealers Fair, New York, US (rep. By Brian Haughton Gallery, UK)
COLLECT, 2015, International Art fair, Saatchi Gallery, London
2014, International Fine Art & Antiques Dealers Fair, New York, US (rep. by Brian Haughton Gallery, UK)
COLLECT, 2014, International Art fair, Saatchi Gallery, London
2013, International Fine Art & Antiques Dealers Fair, New York, US, (rep. by Brian Haughton Gallery, London, UK)
COLLECT 2013, International Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London
2012, Annual Craft exhibition 2012, Nasjonalmuseet , Oslo (N)
Shortlisted at European Prize Award 2012, Mons, Belgien
2009, The 5th World ceramic Biennale 2009, Korea (CEBIKO) (Kr)
2007, “Clay without borders”, The National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria
2006, “Sans” Tendenser, Galleri F15, Moss, (N)
2004 – 2007, “Trolls – Figures in Norwegian Contemporary ceramics” exhibition organized by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Curator; Harald Solberg
2003, The 2nd World Ceramic Biennale 2003, Korea (Kr)
2002, “Ceramics from Norway”, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, (D)
“Modern Masters” International Crafts Fair, Munich, (D)
2001, “New Nordic Ceramics”, Galleri Nørby, Copenhagen, (Dk)
2000, Annual Exhibition of Art Crafts – 00, Bergen (N)
Norwegian Contemporary Ceramics, Millenium Ceramic Symposium, Amsterdam (NL)
1999, Annual Exhibition of Art Crafts – 99, Oslo (N)
1998, Annual Exhibition of Art Crafts 98, Trondheim (N)
1997, The 50thInternational Ceramic Art Competition, Faenza (I)
Official Collections
The Swedish Parliament, Stockholm (S)
Malmö Artmuseum, Malmö (S)
Ystad Artmuseum, Ystad (S)
The National Museum of Decorative Art, Trondheim, (N)
Sogn og Fjordane Art Museum, Førde (N)
The Regional Collection of the West Region, (S)
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign affairs (N)
The National Museum Art, Architecture & Design, Oslo (N)
KODE, The West Norway Museum of Applied Art, Bergen (N)
The Art Museum of Sørlandet, Kristiansand, (N)
The Swedish Council of Culture (S)
The Norwegian Council of Culture (N)
The Authorities of Aust – Agder, (N)
The Authorities of Uppvidinge, (S)
Private Collections
H.R.H. Queen Sonja (N)
Ragnhild Smørås, (N)
Handelsbanken Art Association, Stockholm (S)
Publications
2000 / 1 Kunsthandverk; Indre meditative rom” by Øystein Laundal
2001 Catalogue, ”Mentalt og Materielt” by Nina Malterud
2001 / 5 Neue keramik, ”Geist und Materie”, by Nina Malterud
2002 Radioprogram in NRK P2 „Agenda“ by Svein Kjos, broadcast 8.9. 2002
2004 / 1 Keramik Magazine, “ Mandala”, by Ulla Munck Jørgensen
2005 Catalogue, “New works” by Ulla Munck Jørgensen
2006, Catalogue, “Enigmatic Energies” by Grete Huus
2008 / 2 Tidskrift Svenskt Konsthantverk, by Bo Borg
2008 / 06 New Ceramics: “Enigmatic Energies” by Grete Huus
2016, Catalogue, Kärl – Vessels, by Thomas Millroth
2019, FORM Magazine 1/2019, Carolina Söderholm
2022, Catalogue: In i Stillheten / Into the Silence, (Kärl / Vessels 2013-21) Text by: Carolina Söderholm and Anne Britt Ylvisåker
Scholarships
2019,- 21 One year working grant, The Swedish Arts Grants Commitee
2016, Helge Ax:son Johnssons Foundation (S)
2016, Konsthantverkets Vänners Foundation, Stockholm (S)
2013-15, -19, -23 The Arts and Grants Committee, IASPIS, (S)
2013, -19, -22, Estrid Ericsson Foundation (S)
2007, Scandinavia – Japan Sasakawa Foundation
2006, The National Scholarships for artists, travel and study (N)
2005, The County of Sogn og Fjordane, (N)
2001 – 04, The Craftsmen Fund´s 3 year Scholarship for Artists (N)
2000, The Authorities of Bergen Town (N)
1999, The National Scholarships for Artists, material (N)
1998, The Authorities in the County of Hordaland (N)
1997, The National Scholarships for Artists, travel and study (N)
1996, The Authorities of Bergen Town (N)
1992 – 94, The Center of Art, Risør (N)
1986, The Authorities of Uppvidinge (S)
Related Activities
2016, Artist in Residence, AIR, Vallauris, (Fr)
2012-14, Guestmember, Blås & Knåda, Stockholm
2007, Artist in Residence, Shigaraki, Japan
2007, Workshop, Lagos, Nigeria ”Uniting Potters through Cooperation”, Nigeria – Norway – Sweden
2005, Workshop – seminar, exchange with ceramists from the Nordic Countries and Balkan
2002, Illustrated the book “From Healing to wholeness” by Audhild Karlsen
2001, “Process”, Ceramic Symposium, Risør (N)
2000, “Black Ceramics” Ceramic Symposium, Vilnius, Litauen
1998, “Osnabrücker friedensreiter”,Ceramic symposium, IBK, Osnabrück (D)
1997, Work Shop “Pots around the City“, Blås & Knåda and the European City of Culture 1998, Stockholm (S)
Member of
Konsthantverkscentrum, KHVC (S)
Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, KRO (S)
International Academy of Ceramics, IAC