Torsten Renqvist - A Private Collection

It is with great pleasure that Stockholms Auktionsverk presents the second installment of Torsten Renqvist – A Private Collection. Just over a year ago, around forty works were offered, and now an additional thirty pieces by this beloved artist are presented.

The collection was formed through KG Ljungdahl’s longstanding engagement with Renqvist’s oeuvre, stemming from a friendship that began in the early 1950s within Stockholm’s gallery scene. In parallel with supporting the artist at exhibitions, documenting his work, and closely following his development, Ljungdahl built a rich and nuanced collection over decades. It encompasses paintings from several of Renqvist’s most important periods, from his early expressive works to later, more symbolically charged compositions. The collection also includes some of his first sculptures from the 1960s.

Torsten Renqvist was born in 1924 in Ludvika, Sweden. After studying at Otte Sköld’s painting school in Stockholm, he continued his education at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, before returning to Sweden for further studies at the Royal University College of Fine Arts in Stockholm. This was followed by a period of international study trips across Europe, which had a profound influence on his artistic development.

Renqvist debuted at an early age and quickly gained recognition as an artist with a distinctive expression, often described as neo-expressionist for his intense and direct painting style. In the 1950s, he underwent a significant stylistic shift toward a more abstract visual language. By the 1960s, his work became darker and more symbolic, and by the end of the decade, he had transitioned entirely to sculpture.

Wood became his primary material—a choice that allowed him to create works with both playfulness and depth, where simple forms carried clear symbolic meaning. Later, he also worked in bronze, a material that enabled his works to reach a wider public while retaining the tactile, living quality of worked wood.

The works in this part of the collection provide a coherent overview of several of Renqvist’s artistic phases, reflecting his ability to remain independent of contemporary trends while developing a personal and powerful visual language. His art has long been recognized as an original and vital alternative to the movements of his time, characterized by precision, integrity, and a strong individual voice.

Interest in Renqvist’s oeuvre has been renewed through recent exhibitions and presentations, highlighting both his painting and sculpture. His works are represented in numerous important institutions in Sweden and abroad.

We warmly invite you to explore this further fascinating segment of a significant collection, showcasing the breadth and depth of Torsten Renqvist’s creative achievements!

If you want, I can also create a shorter, punchier auction-style English version suitable for a catalog blurb that keeps all the highlights but reads more like a professional auction description. Do you want me to do that?