Eva Lange & Liss Eriksson - two sculptors

High up in Södermalm, behind a rather unassuming door, lies a magical place. Inside, a space unfolds—an inner courtyard—where lush greenery forms an embracing frame for the sculptures that have found their place there. In one corner of the courtyard stands the studio house that sculptor Christian Eriksson built for himself with the help of his good friend Ragnar Östberg. Completed in 1906, the house has since been home to numerous sculptors and painters, including Nils Kreuger, Vera Nilsson, and Sven X:et Erixson. Even today, the house remains a space dedicated to artistic freedom. It was in this house that Liss Eriksson worked, and in the same studio, Eva Lange continues to create today.
Stockholms Auktionsverk is proud to present a selection of works by these two outstanding sculptors.
Liss Eriksson was the youngest son of Christian Eriksson. Growing up in the courtyard in Södermalm, the choice to become an artist may seem natural, even inevitable, yet his parents discouraged him, hoping he would pursue a different path. But his artistic passion prevailed, and in 1939, he began his studies at the Royal Institute of Art. In 1947, he participated in the Young Art exhibition at Färg och Form, alongside artists such as Arne Jones. This marked the beginning of the artist collective The Men of 1947. After spending four years in Paris, Eriksson returned to Sweden in 1951 and took over his father’s studio in Södermalm.
A significant influence on Eriksson was his encounter with French sculptor Henri Laurens. In Laurens' work, Eriksson found a balance between abstraction and representation that deeply resonated with him, allowing him to fully express his focus on humanity. Eriksson himself described his art as an attempt to portray human emotions and states of being through the human figure.
Liss Eriksson’s sculptures can be found in many public spaces. His work La Mano (a monument honoring the Swedes who fought and fell in the Spanish Civil War) stands at Katarinavägen, while Fågelmannen (The Bird Man) is located in the square in Arvika. Both of these sculptures are included in this exhibition and auction.
When Liss Eriksson passed away in 2000, Christian Eriksson’s old studio stood empty. Eva Lange, an artist whom Eriksson held in great esteem, was offered the opportunity to take over the space. She has spoken of her joy at working in a room designed specifically for a sculptor, describing the unique light that fills the space.
Today, the floor of the airy studio is covered in a fine layer of plaster, and everywhere, Lange’s delicate yet powerful sculptures are carefully arranged in what seems to be a perpetually shifting still life. At first glance, her sculptures appear abstract and pure in their expression. However, Lange does not seek abstraction but rather the essence of each form she sculpts. Through reduction, she introduces small asymmetries and imperfections that capture the inherent character of each object. As she herself has stated, her works are representational but not naturalistic.
Her pieces bear straightforward titles such as The Poppy, The Tree, and The Great Rain, often infused with a subtle sense of humor. She masterfully harnesses the intrinsic qualities of her materials to create subtle effects, making surfaces seem to vibrate with light.
The works presented in this exhibition beautifully demonstrate Lange’s approach to materials—plaster, alabaster, terracotta, glass, and bronze. The large-scale plaster sculptures, where form and light take center stage, stand alongside the almost miniature bronze pieces, resembling unearthed artifacts. In her pared-down shapes—such as the bowl—the material itself becomes the focal point, whether through the way light reflects on the plaster surface, glows through the alabaster, or gleams in the blown glass. In Eva Lange’s hands, these materials come to life.
Eva Lange studied at Konstfack and the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm between 1959 and 1964. Since 1998, she has been a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and in 2015, she became the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Sergel Prize. She has also been honored with the Prince Eugen Medal for her contributions as an artist.
We warmly invite you to explore this rich and beautiful exhibition!