Artists

Born in Stockholm and raised in Linköping, Hjortzberg learned watercolor painting from his father. In 1886, he moved to Stockholm and met architect Agi Lindegren, who introduced him to ornamental art. He studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts from 1892. After marrying in 1898, he traveled with his wife to Paris, Italy, Syria, and Palestine—regions that deeply influenced his art. He also visited London and studied Byzantine art in Ravenna.

Returning to Sweden in 1905, Hjortzberg focused on Christian art, designing stained glass for Katarina Church and painting murals in Klara Church and Uppenbarelsekyrkan, blending Byzantine and Assyrian styles. He later created murals and altarpieces for other Swedish churches.

As an illustrator, he contributed to the Gustav V Bible (1925), designed the 1912 Stockholm Olympics poster, and created stamps. He taught at the academy from 1911 to 1937 and served as its director until 1941.

Eric Cederberg, born in Helsingborg in 1897, was a self-taught artist who began exhibiting in his mid-twenties. Initially an impressionist, his travels exposed him to Modern French art, leading him to embrace Cubism and later Surrealism. After World War II, his work focused on Cubist still lifes and Surreal landscapes. In later years, he often repeated motifs such as Surreal beaches with seashells or buildings. This distinctive style has gained renewed attention amid the current interest in mid-century Swedish art. His work is held in several Swedish museum collections, including those in Kristianstad, Västerås, Lund, and Helsingborg.

Gunnar Nylund, son of a Danish artist Fernanda Jacobsen-Nylund and a Finnish sculptor Felix Nylund, was born in Paris and raised in Copenhagen and Helsinki. He studied architecture in Copenhagen and gained early experience in ceramics and sculpture, including work at Bing & Grøndahl, where he produced over 2,000 unique pieces. In 1928, he co-founded the Saxbo , pioneering matte feldspar-glazed stoneware. His modern, minimalist designs were considered groundbreaking and brought Nylund to the attention of Rörstrand, where he began working in 1931.

At Rörstrand, Nylund became a central figure, serving as artistic director and introducing Sweden’s first matte feldspar-glazed stoneware. He developed celebrated glazes like “Oxblod” and produced both kitchenware and large sculptural works. His influence extended to other designers, and from the 1940s, he also worked with Ifö-verken on bathroom design. In later years, he returned to Copenhagen to work with Nymölle and eventually returned to Rörstrand as a freelancer. His work during this period included large-scale public pieces like the monumental fountain Scanisarius in Bromölla.

Nylund also created numerous public artworks, including reliefs, sculptures, and fountains for churches, public buildings, and hotels across Sweden. Highlights include Djungeln vaknar, Sankt Göran och Draken, and the restored mermaid fountain now at Rörstrand Museum. He was a prolific and versatile artist, shaping Swedish ceramics and public art for much of the 20th century.