Johan Wahlstrom Swedish, b. 1959

Johan Wahlström, a Stockholm-born artist, is dedicated to capturing the socio-political landscape of our contemporary world. His ironic series, Social Life, brilliantly encapsulates the estrangement we experience today, both conceptually and formally. A keen observer of our social dynamics, Wahlström presents a unique lens through which to view our collective existence.

As a fifth-generation artist on his mother’s side, Wahlström’s creative journey began in the world of rock and roll. He enjoyed a successful career as a musician, touring with iconic artists like Ian Hunter, Graham Parker, and Mick Ronson, as well as numerous Scandinavian musicians. After 18 years in the music industry, Wahlström sought a new path, relocating to a small village in France. There, he immersed himself in painting for seven years, studying under Swedish artist Lennart Nystrom.

Wahlstrom’s dark narrative paintings, featuring heads and torsos, draw inspiration from cryptic and often ironic social critiques he collects on scraps of paper in his studio. Now based in Jersey City, NJ, his work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across Europe and the USA since 1998, sharing space with luminaries like Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, and Salvador Dalí.