YLVA CARLGREN
Born in 1984 in Luleå (Sweden).
Lives and works in Stockholm (Sweden).
Ylva Carlgren's work stands out for its abstract and minimalist watercolour technique. With great mastery of graphic technique based on the multiplication of thin layers of pigment on paper, the artist composes using subtle colour nuances applied in a precise order, creating a vibrant light that brings her work closer to photography. This unique work, which plays on the fine line between appearance and erasure, has been partly influenced by her studies and travels, mainly in Japan.
Ylva Carlgren is known for her elegantly minimalist watercolor paintings created with skillful control by many fine layers of applied pigment. Carlgren is drawn to the in-between, the grandness of ambiguity where something can be nothing and everything all at once. The oftentimes monochrome gradients are applied to bring back or forth light, creating delicate shifts that suggest figure but rarely do.
Initially the artist explored a more photorealist style, one that quickly gave way to abstraction once realizing that the resulting attention payed to the painting’s motive was not to her interest. Carlgren’s paintings are abstract to the point of recognition and so undeniably flawless that they are oftentimes mistaken as photographs or prints.
Characteristic of her practice is a greatly informed interest in material and technique. The techniques, tools and sensibilities which have become central to Carlgren’s practice are in part influenced by study and travels in chiefly Japan.
FRANCE
Ylva Carlgren & Dori Deng
December 4, 2025 - February 7, 2026
CV
Born in 1984 in Luleå (Sweden).
Lives and works in Stockholm (Sweden).
EXPOSITIONS PERSONNELLES / SOLO SHOWS
2024
A Frame Within | 界 内, Space of Time Gallery, Beijing, China
Nothing but, Tom Reichstein Contemporary, Hamburg, Germany
Repetitions and Reversals, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
Förskjutningar, Duo show at Västerås Konstmuseum, Västerås, Sweden
Light Compositions, Koki Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2023
Accelerating Frame, The Royal Swedish Academy of Art, Stockholm, Sweden
Light Implies Shadows, Galerie Leu, Munich, Germany
2021
The Elsewhere Condition, Norrtälje Konsthall, Norrtälje, Sweden
2020
From a Material Point of View, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
2018
300 Layers, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
2017
In light of absence, Market art fair, Färgfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden
2016
The Shadows’ Call, Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
2014
Self-destruct, Galleri Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
EXPOSITIONS COLLECTIVES / GROUP SHOWS
2025
Mirrored Centre, Galerie Bacqueville, Lille, France
Chromatic Frequencies, Galerie Leu, Munich, Germany
Our Winter Show, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
Chart Art Fair, Steinsland Berliner Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Market Art Fair, Steinsland Berliner Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Art Brussels, Tom Reichstein Contemporary, Brussels, Belgium
2024
Förskjutningar, Västerås Konstmuseum, Västerås, Sweden
Our winter show, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
Enter Art Fair, Tom Reichstein Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark
Glass Tableware in Still Life. The Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto, Japan
Metier, Mitsukoshi Contemporary, Tokyo, Japan
Glass Tableware in Still Life, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Japan
2023
Glass Tableware in Still Life, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Japan
3 Utställningar #8, 3e Våningen, Göteborg, Sweden
2022
Our Winter Show, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
Unfolding Image, Embassy of Sweden Tokyo, Japan
Life Eternal, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
ESPACE, 236 rue saint Martin, Paris, France
2021
Market Art Fair, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Unfolding Image – The Japanese folding screen, Östasiatiska museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Unfolding image, Konstnärshuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Chart Art Fair, Charlottenborg Kunsthal, Copenhagen, Denmark
Glass Tableware in Still Life, Olle Nymans ateljéer, Saltsjö-Duvnäs, Sweden
2020
Repetitions, Loko Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Photons, from the sky to the sea. Galeria e Bregdetit, Vlorë, Albania
Chart Art Fair, Stockholm, Sweden
2019
The family show, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
2018
Our winter show, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
2017
Autumn Sweater, Alma, Stockholm, Sweden
2016
Our winter show, Galleri Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm, Sweden
GIFC, Galerie Agnès B, Paris, David Risley Gallery Copenhagen, Denmark
Market projects, Market art fair, Stockholm, Sweden
Vårutställning, Galleri Thomassen, Göteborg, Sweden
Ellipsis, duo show with Tomas Lundgren, Galleri Box, Göteborg, Sweden
Fade to Grey, Liljevalchs Hubb, Stockholm, Sweden
2012
Anna-Lisa Thomson till minne, Uppsala konstmuseum, Sweden
Bomp Bomp. Chik, Chik-a-Chika, Göteborgs Konsthall, Sweden
Painting for real, Östergötlands Länsmuseum, Sweden
2010
Momentum Design, Momentum konsthall, Moss, Norway
2010: Zwölf, Kandidatutställning, Konsthögskolan Valand, Göteborg, Sweden
2010: Vårsalongen, Liljevalchs konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
2009
Drawing so far, Teckningsmuseet Laholm, Sweden
2008
Ya, Priroda, First Moscow Biennale for Young Art, Moscow, Russia
PRIX & BOURSES / AWARDS
2025
Axel Theofron Sandbergs Watercolor Prize, Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts
2024
Helge Ax:son Johnsons stiftelse
Cultural exchange grant, Beijing, Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2023
Two year working grant, Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2022
Cultural exchange grant, Tokyo, Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2021
Exhibition grant, Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts
2019
Two year working grant, Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2018
IASPIS Residency, Arts Initiative Tokyo (AIT) Tokyo (JP)
2017
Travel grant, Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts
2016
One year working grant, Swedish Arts Grants Committee
2015
Helge Ax:son Johnson Stiftelse
2012
Anna-Lisa Thomson till minne
Stiftelsen Eric Ericsson
Eva & Hugo Bergmans minnesfond