Liljevalchs

I finally ticked Liljevalchs off my Stockholm bucket list, and honestly, I’m kicking myself for waiting this long. Located on the beautiful island of Djurgården, this gallery is an absolute must-visit, especially during the “Spring Season” when the whole place feels like it’s waking up.

I originally headed over to check out the famous Spring Salon (Vårsalongen). For my Aussie friends, this is basically Sweden’s answer to the Archibald Prize—a massive, juried annual event that’s been a local tradition for over a century. What makes it so cool is the “everyone is welcome” vibe; the jury selects works from thousands of anonymous applications, so you get this wild mix of established pros and total amateurs. The Ung Vårsalong (Young Spring Salon) section was a real highlight for me—the raw talent and fresh perspectives coming out of Scandinavia right now are seriously impressive.

While the local art was great, the real showstopper was waiting on the top floors. I walked into a world-class exhibition called “When We See Us,” and it was easily one of the most moving art experiences I’ve had in years. It’s a huge collection of Black figurative painting from the last 100 years, featuring artists from across the African continent—from South Africa to Ethiopia—as well as the diaspora in the United States.

What really struck me was the focus of the show. Instead of the usual historical tropes, it is a pure celebration of Black joy, daily life, and sensuality

The vibrant colours, the massive scale of the canvases, and the sheer soul in the room were incredible. The “Joy and Revelry” section was an absolute mood lifter.