Rita Lundqvist, born in Hässleholm, Sweden in 1953 and now based in Stockholm, is one of Sweden’s most distinctive contemporary painters. She studied at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm (Kungliga Konsthögskolan) and has developed a highly recognisable style that masterfully blends minimalism, geometric precision and enigmatic narrative.
“White dresses”, clubbed for 3 893 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Girls and a subtle Nordic melancholy
Lundqvist’s paintings are characterised by their flat, geometric compositions, subdued earthy tones and a striking horizon line that often divides the picture plane. Her figures – frequently girls or groups engaged in mysterious, ritualistic activities – stand out against spare landscapes that suggest both timelessness and a subtle Nordic melancholy. The figures seem to share secrets or witness events beyond the viewer’s grasp, creating an atmosphere of quiet mystery and introspection.
“Undergrounders”, oil on masonite.
Recognition and Legacy
Rita Lundqvist has exhibited extensively in Sweden and internationally, with solo shows at institutions such as Malmö Konsthall, Liljevalchs Konsthall and Norrköpings Konstmuseum. Her work has been included in important group exhibitions such as The Carnegie Art Award and The Edstrand Foundation Art Prize. She is represented in major public collections, including Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Malmö Konstmuseum and Borås Konstmuseum. Lundqvist has received several prestigious awards, such as the Barbro & Holger Bäckström’s Art Scholarship and the Edstrand Foundation Art Prize.