Bert-Johnny Nilsson

Bert Johnny Nilsson, born in 1934 in Kristianstad, was one of Sweden’s most distinctive surrealists – an artist whose work both provoked and captivated audiences for several decades. He studied at Grafikskolan Forum in Malmö under the direction of Bertil Lundberg and was based in Åhus, where he had both his home and studio. Nilsson’s early work is deeply rooted in the surrealist tradition, but with a unique and darkly erotic undertone. With virtuosic technique, he created imagery with a color palette and framing that evoke the charged aesthetic of horror theatre. These paintings garnered attention and strong reactions, earning him international recognition as a renewer of surrealism.

In his later artistic career, the perspective shifted outward into the cosmos – to visions of a future Earth under the threat of catastrophe. Here, existential solitude merges with an almost apocalyptic calm. The result is imagery that is both unsettling and mesmerizing – where technical perfection hovers over a charged, quiet darkness. Nilsson has held solo exhibitions at, among other venues, Malmö Museum, Lunds Konsthall, and in Stockholm, as well as internationally in Paris, Brussels, Washington, Varde, and Aarhus in Denmark. He is represented in several major institutions, including Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Malmö Museum, Västerås Art Museum, Norrköping Art Museum, and Ystad Art Museum.