PG Thelander (Pär Gunnar Thelander) is a versatile Swedish artist whose practice spans painting, printmaking, sculpture, and medal art. Born in 1936, Thelander has developed a unique visual language that blends figurative and abstract elements, often exploring the boundaries between perception, reality and imagination. His work is characterized by enigmatic motifs, layered narratives and a playful yet profound engagement with art history and symbolism. He studied at Konstfack and the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, where he developed a rigorous foundation in both craft and conceptual thinking.
"Rodin with the dog", clubbed for 5 068 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
PG Thelander is internationally acclaimed, particularly for his mastery of copper engraving (etching). His works are represented in major museums across Sweden, the Nordic countries and globally.
A Unique Visual Language
Thelander’s work is instantly recognisable for its playful, enigmatic and often humorous style. He effortlessly blends motifs from classical art with his own imaginative inventions, creating compositions that surprise and delight viewers. His paintings, prints, and sculptures are populated by unexpected objects – nuts, bolts, patches, ribbons, and everyday items – placed in seemingly ordinary scenes featuring animals such as penguins, turtles, ostriches and frogs. Occasionally, these are joined by abstract elements like blue cubes, orange carrots or polka-dotted mushrooms, all contributing to a sense of whimsy and visual intrigue.
Oil on canvas, clubbed for 2 339 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Recognition
PG Thelander’s work is represented in public and private collections, and he is recognized as an artist whose innovative approach and poetic sensibility continue to inspire and challenge audiences.