Photo: Mira Wickman

Interview with Siri Carlén - Artist and Illustrator

Her expression is described as heartfelt, dynamic, colourful and fun-filled, all traits that also clearly reflect her personality. In all her works you can see traces of the production itself and the human hand. Siri is close to the tactile and artisanal and often works with living materials such as pastels, liquid cloth, paint and brush.

Since graduating from Konstfack 2015, Siri works as an artist and illustrator full time and her assignments and customers comes with great variety. Her ornate designs adorn everything from storefronts and clothing for well-known Swedish fashion brands to trays and decorations. The artwork consists of colourful figures, portraits and still life.

Siri's work is about pleasure. Curiosity and inspiration are what drives, and she marvels at the tension between the ordinary and imagination, utensils and decoration, the real and the naivistic. She works intuitively. The path between thought and action is short.

What inspires you and your work?

I like visual experiences, materials and the tactile. I love crafts and folklore. Traditional folk art and crafts from all countries usually get to me emotionally. I am drawn to color, textiles, painting, still life and patterns. I try to look at a lot, be objective as the child. I struggle to avoid distinguishing nice and ugly.

Where can we see your most recent work?

Right now my designs are on Svenskt Tenn's Easter decorations. It is mouth-blown hand-painted glass eggs. A great product. A dream job for a craftsman mad with slow production. The designs are a homage to Frank and to make him company there feels so powerful.

What are your plans for Easter Eve?

My husband celebrates years on Easter Eve so it becomes a prestige loose mix of birthday, Easter and Passover. We don't really have any particular traditions and that is quite liberating. Especially this year when everything is set to end. It will be an evening of lamb roast and hopefully a cake, and maybe we will look at the Prince of Egypt and cook popcorn.

What I wish for in my Easter egg

Explore Siri Carléns curated Easter egg wishes below