Contemporary Art & Design Presents Mårten Medbo
Mårten Medbo: The Freedom of Sculpture in Ceramic and Glass
Bukowskis is pleased to present a collection of ceramic sculptures created by Mårten Medbo, also including a few objects of glass, at the upcoming live auction Contemporary Art & Design.
The collection features works that reflect large parts of Mårten Medbo’s production, brought together with works from his early years in Gotland, to the later pieces from the early 2020s.
Mårten Medbo, was born in 1964 just outside Stockholm. Medbo is one of our most important contemporary ceramic artists and, notably, the first Swede to earn a PhD in craft at HDK (University of Design and Craft) in Gothenburg in 2016. Mårten Medbo has worked freely in several different genres, although working with ceramics is closest to his heart. Glass, concrete, or stoneware — nothing seems foreign to him. Author and journalist Petter Eklund has aptly described Mårten Medbo’s curiosity and his free-spirited approach to creating and engaging with materials as follows:
"Mårten Medbo is a satellite between the potter’s wheel and the freedom of ceramic art."
From a young age, the clay captured Mårten’s interest. His journey to becoming a fully-fledged ceramist and artist began through several significant encounters, including an internship with the ceramist Anders Hägg, summer work at the Gustavsberg Factory, and meetings with sculptor Jörgen Hammar and ceramicist Kenneth Williamsson.
When Mårten Medbo began his studies at Konstfack- University of Arts, Crafts and Design in 1986, he was faced with the choice between sculpture and the glass and ceramics programme. He chose the glass and ceramics route. At that time, the focus was on functional ware, but Medbo met fellow students with the same curiosity and experimental spirit as him, such as Per B Sundberg and Gunilla Kihlgren, and they came to inspire each other.
During summer internships at the Gustavsberg Factory, Mårten Medbo had the opportunity to work closely with Sven Wejsfelt (1930-2009). Wejsfelt was a master potter who had worked with Stig Lindberg and Wilhelm Kåge before later signing his ceramics in his own name. Wejsfelt became an important teacher and mentor to Mårten in the art of throwing. The Finnish glass artist Oiva Toikka was one of Mårten Medbo’s teachers in glass at Konstfack, and Toikka’s free-thinking approach to glass greatly influenced Mårten’s work.
In 1992, Mårten graduated from Konstfack and moved with his family, artist colleague and wife Hanna Stahle, and their three sons to Gotland. Alongside his artistic work, Mårten Medbo also worked as a part-time firefighter. These experiences have since influenced his artistic expression.
A new chapter began when Mårten and Hanna moved their workshops to an abandoned school in Södermanland. Together, the couple Stahle/Medbo has created several public artworks in materials such as granite, concrete, and steel. Their creative life continues to evolve and take exciting new paths, with curiosity ever-present.
Mårten Medbo’s work is represented in numerous public collections, including:
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg
Smålands Museum, Växjö
Eskilstuna Art Museum
John Michael Kohler Art Center (USA)
Notable solo exhibitions include:
Swedish Institute in Paris (2013)
Galerie NeC, Paris (2009, 2011, 2018, 2022)
Berg Gallery, Stockholm (2021, 2024)
Katrineholm Art Hall (2017)
Ebeling Museum, Eskilstuna (2019)
Examples of international group exhibitions:
Venus over Manhattan, New York
Crafts Council London
Designmuseum Gent
Will be sold at Contemporary Art & Design
Viewing: April 9–14, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Open weekdays 11 AM – 6 PM, weekends 11 AM – 4 PM
Live auction: 15–16 April, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm
Read more about Contemporary Art & Design
All works by Mårten Medbo at Contemporary Art & Design
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40 000 - 50 000 SEK
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6 000 - 8 000 SEK
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15 000 - 20 000 SEK
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5 000 - 6 000 SEK
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15 000 - 20 000 SEK
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60 000 - 80 000 SEK
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8 000 - 10 000 SEK
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12 000 - 15 000 SEK
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20 000 - 25 000 SEK
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30 000 - 40 000 SEK
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12 000 - 15 000 SEK
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10 000 - 12 000 SEK
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20 000 - 30 000 SEK
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20 000 - 30 000 SEK
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8 000 - 10 000 SEK
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20 000 - 25 000 SEK
Requests & condition reports Contact specialist
Stockholm
Camilla Behrer
Head of Design/ Specialist Modern & Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)708 92 19 77
Stockholm
Eva Seeman
Chief Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative art and design
+46 (0)708 92 19 69
Stockholm
Jonatan Jahn
Head Specialist Contemporary and Modern Design
+46 (0)703 92 88 60
Stockholm
Karl Green
Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)700 07 94 25