5 Things You Should Know About Karin Mamma Andersson

Inspired by Northern Heritage

Born in the town of Luleå in northern Sweden in 1962 and raised in a creative home close to nature, Karin Mamma Andersson’s artistry is influenced by everyday life as well as the stunning Nordic landscape – with snow-covered mountains, secluded forest roads, bubbling streams, and bushes adorned with red and yellow leaves. In Mamma Andersson’s work, birch trees from her northern homeland are a recurring motif, featured in pieces such as the 2021 oil painting “A Birch Was Standing on The Meadow”.

Karin Mamma Andersson herself has said that for her, it’s the colours and the act of painting itself that are paramount; that’s where creativity begins and ultimately emerges in different paintings. Among her own influences, she has listed landscape painters such as Carl Fredrik Hill and Camille Corot, as well as artists like Ernst Josephson, Lucas Cranach, and Dick Bengtsson.

"Troll Man", Colour lithograph, 1999.

An International Star

Few Swedish artists have achieved as much global recognition as Karin Mamma Andersson. Her breakthrough came in the early 2000s when, in 2003, she represented Sweden at the prestigious Venice Biennale. Following this, she quickly established herself as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary art and was soon signed by the leading galleries Stephen Friedman Gallery in London and David Zwirner in New York. In 2005, she received the Carnegie Art Award.

Her works are included in the collections of museums such as MoMA in New York, MoCA in Los Angeles, The National Museum in Oslo, Moderna Museet in her home city of Stockholm, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, where she became the first living Swede to hold a solo exhibition with “Humdrum Days” in 2013. In 2018, she participated in the São Paulo Biennial as both artist and curator.

Besides being displayed in museums, her work can also be found in the home of the Swedish Crown Princess couple and with Hollywood stars such as Adam Driver and Daniel Radcliffe.

“Only the nights are new”, Lithograph in colors, diptych, on wove paper, signed in pencil.

The Name "Mamma" is a Pseudonym

Born Anna Karin Eriksson, a combination of three of Sweden’s most common names, she adopted the name “Mamma” in 1992 to stand out among the thousands of Karins and Anderssons and to have a unique name in the competitive art world. She first used “Mamma” as a playful nickname during a student exhibition at the Royal Institute of Art in the same year, and it has since become an integral part of her artistic identity.

"Funny hour", colour lithograph.

A Moody and Mysterious World

Karin Mamma Andersson’s paintings are often described as atmospheric and dreamlike, in a “Nordic noir” style. Swedish nature, folktales, and myths are recurring themes in her vibrant works, as is ordinary life. She herself describes them as “lightning bolts in everyday life” – perhaps we see a chaotic family dinner on a Friday night? Or a solitary bedroom on an early weekday morning?

She draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including film, theatre, literature, and art history. Her paintings often resemble small scenes from a film or a book, where the viewer is invited to create their own story using details such as a half-full coffee cup, tyre tracks in freshly fallen snow, or reflections in a mirror-like lake. Mamma Andersson rarely plans her works to become narratives; instead, the story often takes shape in the process of creation.

Record-Breaking Prices

In addition to critical acclaim, Mamma Andersson’s work is highly sought after in the art market. Her paintings frequently fetch millions at auction, and she has a devoted following among collectors. When her acrylic and oil painting “On Tenterhooks” (2005) was auctioned last year, it more than tripled the estimated price (180,000–250,000 GBP) and sold for 756,000 GBP, setting a new auction record for the Swedish artist.

Karin Mamma Andersson is known for her discomfort in discussing money. It has never interested her, whether as a struggling novice or a successful global star. In interviews, she has described the subject as uncomfortable and has mentioned that she grew up in a modest environment where people simply didn’t talk about money.