Fredrik Roos Art Grant 2021: Gabriel Karlsson

Fredrik Roos (1951–1991) was a financier and art collector from Skåne in southern Sweden. In 1988, he founded the Rooseum – Centre for Contemporary Art in Malmö, where international exhibitions were presented alongside his collection of Nordic contemporary art. Upon his passing, his parents, Lill and Axel Roos, acquired three-fifths of his Nordic art collection, which was placed on a long-term loan to Rooseum. In 2006, the 250 works were sold in order to establish the financial foundation for the activities of the Fredrik Roos Foundation.

Recipients of the Fredrik Roos Art Grant are expected to embody “An artist who – in the spirit of Fredrik Roos – is willing to take risks in their artistic practice. Someone who believes in themselves and has a unique expression. The artist should be under 35, come from the Nordic region, and preferably work with painting and sculpture.”

Today, the grant is one of the most prestigious in Sweden and is awarded annually to support emerging artists’ education and artistic development.

Since 2018, the grant has been accompanied by an exhibition at Artipelag.

2020 – Siri Elfhag (exhibition at Artipelag)

2019 – Sara Nielsen Bonde (exhibition at Artipelag)

2018 – Jonas Malmberg (exhibition at Artipelag)

2017 – Oskar Hult, Josefine Östberg Olsson, and Jonas Silfversten Bergman

2016 – Sandra Mujinga, André Talborn, and Karl Patric Näsman

2015 – Martha Ossowska Persson, Ida Persson, and Idun Baltzersen

2014 – Tomas Lundgren

2013 – Paul Fägerskiöld

2011 – Oscar Mörnerud