Sven Fristedt is one of the most prolific and appreciated textile designers of our time. For decades, he has designed fabrics for Borås Wäfveri AB and IKEA – among several others – as well as for Katja of Sweden’s fashion collections. Many would say that his patterns evoke a sense of familiarity. His original and characteristic designs have adorned curtains, sofas, tablecloths and bed linen in countless homes. Opening Saturday 1 April 13.00.
In the 1960s, 70s and 80s – the golden age of the Swedish textile and fashion industry – Sven Fristedt’s fabrics were exported to every corner of the world. Today, there is a growing interest in retro fabrics, and industrially manufactured fabrics have developed into a modern cultural textile heritage.
Sven Fristedt was born in 1940 and has been practising his art in Skåne since he was in his twenties. Kulturen in Lund presents a retrospective exhibition about his long and comprehensive artistry, from his first prints for the textile industry at the end of the 1950s up to the present day. Its content has been selected in close collaboration with the artist. In addition to several industrially manufactured prints, the exhibition displays unique objects and sculptures as well as brand new, hand-made prints created at Konstnärernas kollektivverkstad in Malmö. Sketches and materials that have inspired Sven Fristedt provide insight into the artistic process.
Everyday design is an important part of people’s lives. The exhibition highlights the central role of artist in shaping the products we use every day, and presents a history of the Swedish textile and fashion industry.
Thanks to a collaboration between Kulturen and Borås Cotton, some of Sven Fristedt’s fabrics have been reprinted especially for this exhibition. During the exhibition period, these fabrics will be available for purchase exclusively in Kulturen’s museum shop and at the Design Archive in Nybro.
Exhibition period: 1 April 2023–28 January 2024
Exhibition texts in English
Scan the QR-code next to each English headline in the exhibiton, to read the English translation on your smartphone. You can also reach the exhibition texts in English through the menu to the right on this page.
There are also a few printed copies of the English translation in the exhibition, that you can borrow.