In a world flooded with visual stimuli, the inspiring work of Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm (b. 1977) seems like a well-deserved break for the eyes. Living and working in Copenhagen and the forests of Småland, Sweden, the artist’s mission is to explore the beauty of simplicity and the subtle power of embroidery.
Halstrøm’s minimalist, hand-embroidered pieces are true masterpieces of restraint. With an appreciation for monochromatic color palettes and textured surfaces, she creates artworks that invite the viewer to take time and appreciate the details and craft process behind her seemingly simple compositions.
After graduating from the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen and studying in Stockholm and Berlin, Halstrøm established her own studio in 2007. She is also part of the creative duo INCLUDED MIDDLE, which she co-founded with textile designer Margrethe Odgaard.
With her works, Halstrøm skillfully plays with the viewer’s perception – from a distance, her square and rectangular compositions appear as solid shapes while up close, individual stitches and the technique of embroidery become visible.
The time-intensive nature of her work is a key aspect of Halstrøm’s artistic output. Through the painstaking stitches and dedication to the process of embroidery, she asks the viewer to pause and consider the emotions evoked by these contemplative works. In this way, she powerfully demonstrates that simplicity and reduction do not imply limitation, but rather offer an opportunity to look beyond the obvious. Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm is represented by Francis Gallery.
I find it interesting to work with familiarity, openness and anonymity as topics in order to create new expressions and purposes for my objects.
Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm
