The FLD Art Award 2022 is awarded to the Gothenburg-based art embroiderist, weaver and textile artist Emma Holmgren. Her work fuse organic qualities with unique textile pictures and patterns in energetic color palettes. The textile and color master combines a modern imagery with the traditional practice of embroidery, sewing and weaving, resulting in mesmerizing textile artworks and wild, inviting combinations.
"We are smitten by Emma Holmgren’s attitude, playfulness and aesthetics. Therefore we give her the FLD Art Award for 2022. We want to highlight her ability / work and encourage Emma to keep walking this inspiring road".
The jury: Elisabeth Dunker, co-founder and creative director.
Ulrika E. Engberg, co-founder and CEO.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you grow up, and when did you realize you were a creative person?
A: I grew up in a small town in Småland (in the South of Sweden). When I was young I was very shy and insecure and had a feeling that I was a creative person but I didn't have the courage to express it. But in my early twenties I decided to start an art education at Folkhögskolan and there I started to bloom, I found the textile crafts and just kept on going.
My main craft education I got at my three year studies at Handarbetets Vänner School in Stockholm.
Q: Who or what inspires you right now? Is there anything in particular that speaks to you at the moment?
A: Lately I’ve been very inspired by everyday life. I became a mother a year and half ago and I guess I've had the need to process that experience. About the same time I discovered the modernist American painter Milton Avery’s (1889-1965) work and got so inspired by his vision of the world through glowing colors and simplified forms and how he painted his family and everyday life. So in my latest project I’m weaving tapestries in rags illustrating my life with my baby.
Q: How do you prefer to work?
A: With color! Combining colors and patterns is the most fun part of the work. And I mostly work withtextile crafts like hand weaving and embroidery so I guess I like a slower process. I love the repetition of my hands and watching my work slowly grow. My favorite place to be is in the process.
Q: What drives you to create?
A: It just feels so good! Of course creating also generates a lot of feelings of doubt and insecuritybut nothing beats the feeling of being in a flow.
Q: If you had a couple of years with unlimited resources, time and money — what would you do with it?
A: I’m not a big dreamer, all I really want to do is weave and embroider so I think I would spend asmuch time in my studio as possible. Work, explore ideas, experiment and see what comes out of it and not worrying about how to pay the rent.
"To be chosen to receive this year's Fine Little Day Art Award is such an honor. It feels like getting a big hug. Keeping up with my art and my craft is the best I know and that my work is noticed in this way makes me extremely happy. I am really excited and I will continue to weave!"
– Emma Holmgren
