Ernst Billgren is one of the most well-known and appreciated artistin Sweden. It's no exaggeration to claim that he is an institution within the Swedish art scene. His art explores different techniques and media, he works in a variety of media: painting, sculpture, mosaic, photography, film and set design, architecture, and literature. For some, Billgren's art has been described as "kitsch" and "art for the masses", but by freely mixing that what may be called for "good" or "bad taste" he challenges narrow opinions not only on art, but also on life and the world we live in.


EDUCATION

1982-87
Konsthögskolan Valand, Gothenburg, Sweden

1979-81
Birkagården, Stockholm, Sweden

Member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Sweden


SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014
Market Art Fair, Liljevalchs, Stockholm, Sweden
Galleri Underlandet, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden

2012
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden

2011
A Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden

2010
Galleri Anhava, Helsinki, Finland
Saltarvet, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden

2009
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Varbergs Konsthall, Billgrens II, with Helene Billgren, Sweden

2008
Galleri Erik Steen, Oslo, Norway
Färgfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden
Vida Museum Halltorp, Borgholm, Sweden
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden

2007
Läckö Slott, Lidköping, Sweden

2006
Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden

2003
Galleri Wang, Oslo, Norway
Gallerie Anhava, Helsinki, Finland

2002
Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden

2001
Centre Culturel Suedois, Paris, France
Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden
Galleri Östra Karup, Sweden,

2000
Jönköpings konstmuseum, Jönköping, Sweden
Linköpings konstmuseum, Linköping, Sweden
Kristinehamns konstmuseum, kristinehamn, Sweden
Liljevalchs konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden

1999
Nödskott och hembesök, Lunds konsthall, Lund, Sweden
Bohusläns konstmuseum, Sweden
Kalmars konstmuseum, Kalmar, Sweden
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden

1998
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
Galleri Anhava, Helsinki, Finland
Galleri Wang, Oslo, Norway
Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden
Kontakt, Färgfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden

1996
Helsingfors konsthall, Helsinki, Finland

1994
Galleri Wang, Oslo, Norway
Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, Finland

1993
Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden

1992
Nordiskt konstcentrum, Helsinki, Finland
Bror Hjorts hus, Uppsala, Sweden

1991
Göteborgs konstmuseum, Gothenburg, Sweden
Anders Tornberg Gallery, Lund, Sweden

1990
Galleri Krister Fahl, Stockholm, Sweden

1989
Norrköpings konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden

1987
Galleri I, Gothenburg, Sweden
Galleri Bernhardsson, Malmö, Sweden

1986
Galleri Krister Fahl, Stockholm, Sweden
Galleri ETS, Umeå, Sweden

1985
Galleri Rotor, Gothenburg, Sweden
Galleri Bernhardsson, Malmö, Sweden


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015
Fondazione Berengo, Venice Biennale

2014
Artipelag Museum, Stockholm

2013
Lars Bohman Gallery

2012
Varbergs Konsthall, Varberg, Sweden

2011
Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg, Sweden
Saltarvet, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
Galerie Proarta, Zürich, Switzerland
Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Millesgården, Stockholm, Sweden
Galleri Arnstedt, Östra Karup, Sweden
The Venice Biennale, Venice, Sweden

2010
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden

2009
Galleri Erik Steen, Oslo, Norway
Swanljung möter Malmö Konstmuseum, Malmö Konstmuseum, Malmö, Sweden
Märta Flyger Igen, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden

2008
Galleri Arnstedt & Kullgren, Båstad, Sweden
Färgfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden

2007
Norrköpings Konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
Sørlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristiansand, Norway

2006
Kristinehamns Konstmuseum, Kristinehamn, Sweden

2005
The Wanås Foundation, Knislinge, Sweden
Galerie Proarta, Zürich, Switzerland
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
Drammens Museum, Drammen, Norway

2004
Kabyss Konsthall, Ystad, Sweden
Falskt & Äkta, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden

2003
The Collection - Focusing on Contemporary Art, Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg, Sweden

2001
Wanås, Knislinge, Sweden

1999
Bomuldsfabrikken, Oslo, Norway

1998
Färgfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden
Eyes of Reality, Nordens Hus, Reykjavik, Iceland

1996
Interpol, Färgfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden

1995
Museum National, Rio de Janerio, Brazil

1994
Musée Diego Rivera, Mexico City, Mexico

1993
Sundsvalls Museum, Sundsvall, Sweden
Parafraser, Umeå, Sweden
Musée Rath, Geneve, Switzerland
Källemo Collection, Stockholm, Sweden
Galleri Riis, Oslo, Norway

1992
Wanås slott, Knislinge, Sweden
Svenska Paviljongen, Seville, Spain,
Waldemarsudde, Stockholm, Sweden
141:an, Gothenburg, Sweden
Galleri F 15, Moss, Norway
East goes West, Stockholm, Sweden

1991
Uusi Suomi Projekt, Helsinki, Finland
Nordisk konst, Aahus
Kampnagelfabrik, Hamburg, Germany
Basel Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland

1990
Sydney Bienniale, Sydney, Australia
Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Spegel, Bornholm, Sweden
Rauma Biennale Balticum, Rauma
Galleri F 15, Moss, Norway
Berlinische Galleri, Berlin, Germany
Aurora 3, Konstens hus, Reykjavik, Iceland

1989
Aurora 3, Nordiskt konstcentrum, Helsinki, Finland
Anders Tornberg Gallery, Lund, Sweden

1988
Paper Pool Int, Gothenburg, Sweden
Landskapet i nytt ljus, Riksutställningar, Sweden
Galleri Leger, Malmö, Sweden

1987
Triennale di Grado, Grado, Italy
Berlins Akademi, Berlin, Germany

1986
Åmåls Konsthall, Sweden
Galleri Leger, Malmö, Sweden

1985
UNK, Stockholm, Sweden

1983
Lundabiennalen, Lunds konsthall, Lund, Sweden


SELECTED PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

2013
"Eget hem", Norrköping, Sweden

2010
"Grävlingen som hade allt", Uppsala konstmuseum, Uppsala

2009
Nacka Forum, Nacka, Sweden
"Diana" Kungsparken, Malmö, Sweden

2003
Lerum, Gothenburg, Sweden
Biografen Sture, Stockholm, Sweden

2002
Danske Securitas, Stockholm, Sweden

2001
Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
Trondheim Airport, Værnes, Norway

2000
Telenor, Bergen, Norway
Johnson&Johnson huset, Racine, USA

1998
Kamptorget, Helsinki, Finland
Kiasma, Helsingfors, Finland

1996
Solna centrum, Solna, Sweden

1995
Westmanska palatset, Stockholm, Sweden
Sahlgrenska Sjukhuset, Gothenburg, Sweden

1994
Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Heathrow Airport, London, England

1993
Sky city, Arlanda, Sweden
Umeå Universitet, Umeå, Sweden

1992
Wasa försäkringar, Solna, Sweden
Gustav Adolfskolan, Norrköping, Sweden
MKB, Malmö, Sweden

1991
Örnsköldsvik kommun, Sweden
Svenljunga kommunhus, Sweden
Medicinska fakulteten, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg

1990
Falköpings sjukhus, Falköping, Sweden


PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Kiasma, Helsingfors, Finland
Museet för samtida konst , Oslo, Norway
Malmö Konsthall, Malmö, Sweden
Göteborgs konstmuseum, Gothenburg, Sweden
Norrköpings konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
Gävle konstmuseum, Gävle, Sweden
Sundsvalls konstmuseum, Sundsvall, Sweden
Uppsala konstmuseum, Uppsala, Sweden