Martin Wickström is a Swedish painter known for his visually striking works that blend photorealism, pop art and political commentary. Educated at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Wickström has developed a signature style that often incorporates nostalgic elements, media imagery and symbols from global politics. His paintings act as layered narratives, inviting viewers to decode personal and collective memories.
“Place de la Bastille”, clubbed for 23 338 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Painting as Time Capsule
Wickström’s work captures fragments of the 20th and 21st centuries — film stills, advertisements, childhood photographs — recontextualised with painterly finesse. Neon signage, panels and reflective surfaces are common elements in his large-scale works. His use of seriality and repetition adds rhythm and tension, offering both critique and homage to consumer culture.
“Bad Moon Rising”, oil on canvas.
Presence in Contemporary Art
He has exhibited extensively in Sweden and abroad, and his works are held in major public and private collections, including Skövde Konstmuseum, Norrköpings Konstmuseum, Göteborgs Konstmuseum and Moderna Museet in Stockholm. Martin Wickström continues to be recognized as one of Sweden’s most innovative contemporary artists, celebrated for his ability to fuse visual storytelling with painterly craftsmanship.