” For me , there is something magical about glass . With its sparkling and transparent character , it differs from other materials that I work with . The raw , heavy feel of ceramics and bronze leads to more melancholy narratives , while right now , glass is drawing draws me towards something more romantic , towards happy children ’ s stories — like ice or crystal that you can control .”
Ellen Ehk Åkesson
Ellen Ehk Åkesson studied ceramics at the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg ( HDK ) in the early 2000s . With Småland as a base , Ellen has exhibited all over the world . Her work is represented in museums and galleries in Stockholm , Paris , and elsewhere in Europe , as well as in many collections in Asia .
From Ellen Ehk Åkesson ’ s earliest childhood memories , she has been deeply fascinated by all the patterns , color palettes and brilliant interacting plant systems of the forest . “ Caves , giant boulders and crooked old trees was the scenography of my childhood plays ,” as she puts it . “ Growing up in a small village in the country side , also gave me a close relationship with older generations . — Through them , I had access to the stories and tales of the forest .”
She has always been particularly captivated by mushrooms , which are a continuous source of inspiration in her work — this mystical life form , neither plant nor animal , which is utterly essential to the organization and decomposition of life .
“ It was an amazing opportunity to be able experiment freely , and to do so for a long time . I incorporated elements from ceramics , different finishes and shapes , and explored how the qualities of glass changed the look . At first , I was frustrated by not being able to touch the glass , given how accustomed I was to do everything myself with my hands . Then I found a technique in which I filled wooden molds with clay and sculpted negative forms . This worked well , and enabled me to size up the format and control the shape . I am only just beginning to explore the possibilities of glass .”
Ellen was born in Småland , where she still lives today — now with her family in Nybro , in the heart of the Kingdom of Crystal .
Ellen was awarded the first Ulrica Hydman Vallien scholarship in 2019 . The award included a generous amount of time in the studio at Kosta Glassworks , where she could experiment with glass as a new primary material in her art .
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