Charlotte Johannesson

Charlotte Johannesson is a self-taught artist and a trailblazer in the field of digital graphics as an artistic medium.

Biography of Charlotte Johannesson

Charlotte Johannesson was born in Malmö, Sweden, in 1943. In 1966, she and her husband, artist Sture Johannesson, opened Cannabis, a gallery and studio in Malmö that became a focal point for the Swedish counterculture scene.

Trained as a weaver, she began producing tapestries as art in the 1970s, often using her work to satirize mainstream politics. 

In 1978, she traded her loom for an Apple II Plus, one of the early personal computers available on the market. Having already connected with the founders of Apple in California, Charlotte and Sture, established Digitalteatern (Digital Theatre) in Malmö when the first screen-equipped computers became available. Running from 1981 to 1985, this platform was dedicated to technical and visual experimentation. The absence of specialized software for creating digital images led Charlotte to once again teach herself computer programming.

During her career, Johannesson received several awards and accolades, including the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts scholarship (1976, and 1986–1989), the Aase & Richard Björklunds Fund (2016), and the Malmö City Culture Prize (2022).

Her recent solo exhibitions include "Charlotte Johannesson: Save as art?" at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg (2023), "Charlotte Johannesson" at Nottingham Contemporary (2023), and "ALL LINED UP" at  Badischer Kunstverein in Karlsruhe (2022).

Additionally, Johannesson's works have been featured in numerous group shows held at various galleries and museums worldwide, including Kaufmann Repetto in New York and Milan, Emanuel Layr in Vienna, Galerie Nordenhake in Stockholm, Malmö Konstmuseum in Malmö, Petra Lilja design-galleri in Malmö, Trapholt Museum in Kolding, among others. 

Currently, she lives and works in  Skanör, Sweden.

Charlotte Johannesson's Famous Works

The artist's famous rextile works include "I'm No Angel" (1972-3/2017), "No Choice Amongst Stinking Fish" (1970/2016), "Chile eko i skallen" (1973/2016), "Terror" (1970/2016), and many more. 

Notable among her digital graphic art pieces are "Faces of the 1980s," featuring portraits of popular culture icons like Boy George, Björn Borg, Ronald Reagan, and David Bowie; "Me and My Computer"; and "Human med Satellite" (1981–1985), which integrates images of hyperspace, self-portraits, mythological figures, and technological references.

Charlotte Johannesson's Art Style 

Charlotte Johannesson exemplifies the early conceptual synergy between artistic languages and techniques involving computer programming and weaving. The binary nature of images created by both technologies—through zeros and ones as well as weft and warp—enabled her seamless transition from weaving to computer-based art.

Her work with the vertical loom was influenced by Swedish-born Norwegian artist Hanna Ryggen, known for her politically charged folk art, as well as the social and political protests of the 1970s. In her tapestries, Johannesson challenges the prevailing artistic canon by using a material and technique traditionally linked to female craftsmanship. By incorporating images from comic books and the media, she adds a satirical edge, transforming her work into a medium of social critique.

A pixelated figure appears repeatedly in her work, including in the tapestry "Terror" (1970), various plotted prints, 3D print installations, and the painting "Human" (2018). This recurring figure reflects Johannesson’s deep interest in the ongoing human quest for knowledge.

In the 1990s, the artist began a series of caravan paintings, each featuring a camel and a palm tree. She views the caravan as the ancient equivalent of the internet, facilitating communication across vast deserts. Johannesson is also captivated by the camel's singularity, its endurance, and its mystical qualities.