art tips on Öland

Öland is a vibrant meeting place for art, design and literature, where the unique light and magnificent nature have long inspired creative expression. Here, established artists mingle with new talents, and all around the island you will find open studios, local galleries and genuine crafts. In the artist village Vickleby, the legacy of the so-called Vickleby School lives on, while education and exhibitions help shape the art scene of the future.

10 art tips

Below are five local artist groups, spread across Öland, that regularly arrange exhibitions and art tours. These include painters, graphic artists, textile artists, ceramists, sculptors, blacksmiths, photographers and glass artists.

Here are additional tips on places to experience local, national and international art and design, from north to south:

Vida Museum & Art Gallery
Experience a unique art center with a view of Kalmarsund. Both national and international artists are shown here.
Öland Museum Himmelsberga
Various exhibitions by both local and national artists are shown in the large art gallery and in the museum's galleries, which are located in an idyllic setting.
The Paradise Workshop
Large, bright exhibition areas with open ceramics workshop and inspiring shop.
Gallery Tinnert, Arontorp
There is both a gallery and an art shop here. During the year, exhibitions with different themes are shown.
Capellagården
Every summer, the students show off their creations in the furniture, ceramics and textile education.

art on Öland

Öland has a long tradition as a base for artists, writers and designers. Over time, this valuable cultural heritage has been consolidated and preserved, and around the island there are a large number of active artists, craftspeople and writers. it is easy to understand that the artists are inspired by the unique and talked about light that can be experienced on Öland. Most circumscribed in the context of art is Vickleby, which during the Second World War became the center for several of Sweden's most important artists at that time. The travel ban out of Europe limited the opportunities to travel to Paris and be inspired by world artists such as Matisse or Cézanne. Instead, a number of artists and cultural figures gathered in the South Öland village around what came to be known as the Vickleby School, founded by Arthur Percy and William Nording.

Open studios can be found all over the island and several art tours are organized by local artist collectives and other cultural associations. At local booksellers and country merchants you will find novels, poetry collections, children's books and non-fiction books, published by current Öland authors. Local design is mainly felt in the potters who are active around the island. Here you can find everything from small-scale production to internationally established brands.

A common denominator is that Öland's nature often inspires form, color and function. Maybe that is why educations in design and art are established at Capellagården in Vickleby and Öland Folkhögskola in Skogsby? The many students obviously leave their mark and contribute to art and design continuing to develop here. Student exhibitions are arranged regularly and maybe you will meet tomorrow's world artist here? Or why not give yourself a spin course this summer?