Karl Holmqvist

Karl Holmqvist is a highly acclaimed contemporary artist known for his diverse body of work spanning various mediums including installation, performance, and poetry.

Biography of Karl Holmqvist

Karl Holmqvist was born in 1964 in Vasteras, Sweden. Currently, he is based in Berlin, Germany. 

Throughout his career, Holmqvist has held numerous solo exhibitions at prestigious galleries and institutions around the world, showcasing his innovative approach to art-making. Some of his notable solo exhibitions include "HERE COMES MY FACE 28 days Karl" at Gladstone 64 in New York, USA (2022), "#SAVEYOURTEARS..." at Galerie Neu in Berlin, Germany (2021), and "Site-specific installation Existential Staircase/Existenzielles Treppenhaus" at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany (2020).

In addition to his solo exhibitions, Holmqvist has participated in numerous group exhibitions worldwide, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in contemporary art. His work has been featured in exhibitions such as "Busan Biennale 2020: Words at an Exhibition–an exhibition in ten chapters and five poems" in Busan, South Korea (2020), "Language and Sound as Sculpture, XXIII CSAV – Artists Research Laboratory" at Fondazione Antonio Ratti in Como, Italy (2017), and "Publishing as an Artistic Toolbox 1989-2017" at Kunsthalle Vienna in Vienna, Austria (2017), among others.

Karl Holmqvist's Art Style

Renowned for his versatility, Karl Holmqvist employs an array of mediums—poetry readings, installations, and sculptures—to illuminate the elemental essence of language. He stands among a cohort of contemporary artists who wield language and text as both sculptural forms and performative elements.

According to Holmqvist, his artistic endeavors aim to ignite the creative imagination of the audience, offering his art and poetry as a translation of the multifaceted intricacies of modern existence.

He merges poetry with the sounds of pop music, crafting texts that consist of anecdotes ranging from widely known to remarkably diverse, all delving into the themes of communication and language.