17.01.2025

Journal Talks with Anna Nordström

Quilting as Art: Yes or No?

Quilting occupies a fascinating space where art, craft, design, slöjd (a Scandinavian term for handmade crafts), and domestic work converge. It’s this fluidity, this ability to move seamlessly between contexts, that makes me love quilting and quilts so much.

Quilting is deeply tied to the home, to the intimacy of the bed, to femininity, and to undervalued labor. A quilt can be art if you want it to be, but it’s never just that. Quilts are also diaries, emotional surfaces, and carriers of personal history. They are stitched expressions of ourselves.

How did you choose the pieces on display for the gallery?

For the exhibition at Riddargatan, I focused on works that explore femininity and value. I wanted to showcase the full range of techniques I use embroidery, patchwork, and quilting allowing each piece to speak its own language. I titled the show Botched Female. The word “botched” references plastic surgery, while “female” reflects the show’s focus on depictions of women.

Each work in the collection features imagery inspired by Greek Archaic sculptures statues over 2,000 years old, known for their distinctive “archaic smile.” Through stitching and screen printing, I connect this ancient sculptural tradition with modern pop culture, Virginia Woolf’s writings, and even the language of skincare advertisements. It’s a dialogue between history and the contemporary, all stitched together.

How do you choose the materials you work with?

Over the years, I’ve accumulated a wide variety of materials, so these days, I mostly work with what I already have in my studio. I’m particularly drawn to “weird” fabrics those that might be considered ugly, cheap, or unconventional. Many of my favorite finds come from sales racks. My material selection process is intuitive, sometimes impulsive, and, honestly, it doesn’t always work out. But the experimentation keeps things exciting.

What does scent mean to you?

Scent feels deeply personal and intimate wearing it is like sharing a part of yourself. There’s something vulnerable about letting your scent speak for you, especially since it’s a sense tied so closely to memory and emotion. Personally, I gravitate toward men’s perfumes. I often wear my husband’s colognes, and his Axe deodorant spray has become part of my daily routine. For me, scent is less about traditional femininity and more about how it makes me feel bold, familiar, and a little unexpected.