Ester Eriksson

Ester Eriksson is a contemporary Swedish artist based in Stockholm, whose practice showcases her own, highly personal, perspective on contemporary society and everyday life.

Eriksson works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting and sculpture. The starting point for Eriksson’s work has long been to ‘dig where she stands’ (building on her own personal experiences), and with a keen interest in autobiography, psychology and dreams, Eriksson tries to create imaginary worlds where she can be completely free. But being free is not easy; it takes courage to be true to oneself.

After studying at Serieskolan (founded in 1999 by Kvarnby Folk High School) in Malmö, Sweden, Eriksson continued her studies at Gerlesborgsskolan in Stockholm before graduating from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm in 2024, where her MFA exhibition included paintings and sculpture.

Eriksson made her debut in 2016 with the graphic novel Det finns ingenstans att fly (There’s Nowhere to Run), published by Kartago Förlag. In 2017, she published the book that heralded her breakthrough, Esters rester (Ester’s Leftovers). The story revolves around Ester, who, in the guise of Walt Disney’s Goofy, encounters various situations, often accompanied by her Minnie Mouse-like friend My. They drink, tell bad jokes, talk about life and flirt on Tinder. In addition, Eriksson/Goofy goes to a psychologist, creates drawings and generally messes up. Through all this, however, she manages (in a somewhat backwards way) to maintain her dignity. What’s more, whether consciously or not, she not only endures but is also incredibly funny in the process and always has a quick comeback.

In 2020, Eriksson and Kristina Sigunsdotter (born 1981, Swedish author and artist) were awarded the prestigious August Prize (an annual Swedish literary prize awarded each year since 1989 by the Swedish Publishers’ Association) in the category Swedish Children’s and Young Adult Book of the Year for Humlan Hansson. The book was published by Natur & Kultur, which also published the sequels Hola Humlan Hansson and Hejdå Humlan Hansson (Goodbye Humlan Hansson).

Eriksson has participated in group exhibitions at Liljevalchs konsthall (Liljevalchs Public Art Gallery) and CFHILL in Stockholm, among others, and in the summer of 2024, Eriksson’s exhibition Bless Bless was displayed at Odenplan underground station in Stockholm.