Ian Rusth

Ian Rusth is one of Sweden’s best-known naïve artists. As a self-taught artist, he has developed a distinctive visual language of his own – colourful, playful and rich in detail, humour and imagination.

In Rusth’s paintings, we encounter a world of grand turn-of-the-century houses, garden pavilions, cafés, flowers, animals and people. There is often a distinctly French and Parisian atmosphere to his settings, but these are not faithful depictions of Paris or Gothenburg. Rusth draws inspiration from old books and newspapers, then transforms reality into his own settings and stories.

A defining feature of his work is its bold use of colour, together with his handmade frames, which are often made from old door architraves salvaged from buildings that have been demolished. In this way, the frame becomes an integral part of the artwork, reflecting his fascination with historic architecture.