Maria Miesenberger is perhaps best known for her series of manipulated photographs, Sverige/Schweden (1993-2000). The body of work Sverige/Schweden is derived from family snapshots from her childhood in Austria and Sweden. She rearticulates these images in soft focus and renders family members as blackened silhouettes. These forms serve as emotional Rorschach tests upon which we can project our own memories and dreams as well as our own notions of family and identity. Irene Berggren states that the Sverige/Schweden series "addresses the sense of being a stranger, neither at home or away from home, neither a child or a grownup. Everyday situations offer their own readings. The strength of this work is in its transferral of what is strange and distinct into something recognizable. A process that takes place in the beholder through the pictures that the artist has gleaned from the family album. Speaking of her artistic process, Maria Miesenberger makes the following statement : "I take on certain questions which I find important and interesting. Questions about being a child, about the role of a child in the family drama, about being formed as an individual, about liberation, about discovering and experiencing one s sexuality both as a child and as an adult. Then I enter my own self and search around in order to understand and to remember. A large part of my work with my art is about finding a language. A medium in which I can express myself and above all communicate. A medium which I haven t found in the spoken or written language."
CV
Born 1965 in Svalöv, Sweden. Lives and works in Stockholm.
EDUCATION
1995-96
Student at MFA Sculpture Program, Parsons School of Design, New York, USA
1994-95
Special Student, Painting Department, The University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack), Stockholm, Sweden
1991-94
Post Graduate Degree, Academy of Photography, The University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack), Stockholm, Sweden
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Inside and out, Läckö slott, Lidköping, Sweden
2014
Rörelse och reflektion, Märsta Konsthall, Märsta, Sweden
Moment: Maria Miesenberger, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
2013
Lars Bohman Gallery, Sweden
Strandverket, Marstrand, Sweden
Fotograficentrum, Konstfrämjandet Örebro, Sweden
2012
Konst i Gryt, Stjärnhov, Sweden
2011
Bror Hjorths hus, Uppsala, Sweden
Konsthallen/Hamnmagasinet, Varberg, Sweden
Vida Konsthall, Borgholm, Sweden
2010
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Kristianstad Konsthall, Kristianstad, Sweden
Anna Norlander Museet, Skellefteå, Sweden
2009
Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden
2008
Skissernas Museum, Lund, Sweden
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
2007
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2006
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2005
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Skövde konsthall, Skövde, Sweden
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2004
Tracing the Inside, Passagen, Linköping, Sweden
2003
Robert Mann Gallery, New York, USA
Anstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2002
Uncut, Lunds Konsthall, Lund, Sweden
2001
Uncut, Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Maria Miesenberger, Jönköpings Läns Museum, Sweden
2000
Robert Mann Gallery, New York, USA
Swedish Consulate in Los Angeles, USA
1999
Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, Finland
William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, USA (L.A. International Biennial Art Inviational 1999)
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
Project Room, Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden
Norrköpings Konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
1998
Hasselblad Center at Konstmuseet, Gothenburg, Sweden
It´s all in your head, Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden
1997
Silverstein Gallery, New York, USA
1996
The Meffan Museum & Art Gallery, Forfar, Scotland
1995
Arbroath Library Gallery (Fotofeis 95), Arbroath, Scotland
1993
Galleri Adlercreutz-Björkholmen, Stockholm, Sweden
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
Pilane, Tjörn, Sweden
Konsthallen Hishult, Skulpturparken, Sweden
Norrköping Konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
Körsbärsgården, Gotland, Sweden
2015
Asylum, Galleri 3, Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm, Sweden
Pilane, Tjörn, Sweden
Konst på Hög, Kumla, Sweden
2014
Drotten International Art Project, 5-year project, Visby Gotland, Sweden
Samlarens blick - konst ur samtida samlingar, Bohusläns museum, Uddevalla, Sweden
The Visible. Swedish Contemporary Photography, Artipelag, Gustavsberg, Sweden
2012
Artipelag, Stockholm, Sweden
Konsthallen Hishult, Sweden
2011
Helvete, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Solidens skulpturutställning, Vida Museum, Öland, Sweden
Arnstedt Galleri, Östra Karup, Sweden
Sporten i konsten, touring exhibition, Mellby Konsthall och Konstmuseum, Skövde Konsthall, Kristianstad Konsthall, Sweden
Moderna museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Galerie Proarta, Zürich, Switzerland
WIP Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Momentum Biennalen, Moss, Norway
Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany
2010
Tjörnedala Konsthall, Baskemölla, Sweden
Hasselblad Center, Gothenburg, Sweden
Borås Konstmuseum, Borås, Sweden
Ljungberg Museet, Ljungberg, Sweden
2009
Eskilstuna Konstmuseum, Eskilstuna, Sweden
Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Solidens Skulpturutställning, Vida Museum, Borgholm, Sweden
Arnstedt Galleri, Östra Karup, Sweden
2008
Auto Memorized - en utställning om minne och historia i ett utvidgat fotografiskt fält, CFF - Centrum För Fotografi, Stockholm, Sweden
2007
Auto Memorized - en utställning om minne och historia i ett utvidgat fotografiskt fält, CFF - Centrum För Fotografi, Stockholm, Sweden
CFF-Centrum för Fotografi, Stockholm, Sweden
Borås Internationella Skulpturfestival, Borås, Sweden
Passagen Linköpings Konsthall, Linköping, Sweden
Galleri Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
Vasamuseet, Stockholm, Sweden
SAK, Stockholm, Sweden
2006
Konstfeminism, touring exhibition: Liljevalchs konsthall, Dunkers Kulturhus, Hälsinglands Museum, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Sweden
Sollidens skulpturutställning, Öland, Sweden
Umedalen Skulptur 2006, Umeå, Sweden
2005
Contemporary Nordic Sculpture 1980-2005, The Wanås Foundation, Knislinge, Sweden
Scandinavian Photography 1:Sweden, Faulconer Gallery, Davenport, USA
Manipulationer, Luna kulturhus, Södertälje, Sweden
2004
Sculpture Quadrennial, Riga, Latvia
Instabilt, Nya riktningar inom svensk fotografi, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Memento, Bror Hjorths Hus, Uppsala, Sweden
Tusenfryd, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Drammen, Norway
2002
History Now: The Presence of the Past in Contemporary Photography, Liljevalchs konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden. Travelling 2003-2004 to: Arbetets museum, Norrköping, Sweden; Passagen, Linköping, Sweden; Dunkers kulturhus, Helsingborg, Sweden; Sörlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristianstad, Norway; Midlanda konsthall, Timrå, Sweden; Konsthallen Rönneby, Rönneby, Sweden
Thought flies - an art and science exhibition, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2001
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
396 Fotografiska förälskelser, Karin & Lars Halls samling, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Repar på en slätt yta, Hasselblad Center at Konstmuseet, Gothenburg, Sweden
Attitude of Mind and Imagination, M.K. Ciurlions National Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
Swedish Contemporary Art Collection, M.K. Ciurlions National Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
As If You Mean What You Say, part of Nordic-Japanese Contemporary Art Symposium in Tokyo, Embassy of Sweden, Tokyo, Japan
Hypnosis, Seven Swedish Stories, Art Moscow, Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
Material 10 år, Art Node, Minbyrån, Stockholm, Sweden
New York State of Mind, Swedish Artists in New York, Embassy of Sweden Washington, USA
2000
This Boy Could Be Me, Replica Theater & Art Center, Stockholm, Sweden
Together and Apart, Kleipeda Art Exhibition Hall and Baroti Gallery, Kleipeda, Lithuania
Syndrome/Disappear: International Group Exhibition, IASPIS Galleriet, Stockholm, Sweden
Family Tree, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, USA
DAK ART 2000;ART Biennal 2000, Dakar, Senegal
Open Studio, IASPIS ; International Artists, Studio Program in Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
Telenor Headquarters, Oslo, Norway
Engelska Parken, Varberg, Sweden
Enskede Gård Metro Station, Stockholm, Sweden
Vida Museum, Öland, Sweden
Växjö University, Sweden
GRANTS
Märta Måås-Fjätterström Award
Swedish Photo book Award
Lengertz kulturpris
CV
Born 1965 in Svalöv, Sweden. Lives and works in Stockholm.
EDUCATION
1995-96
Student at MFA Sculpture Program, Parsons School of Design, New York, USA
1994-95
Special Student, Painting Department, The University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack), Stockholm, Sweden
1991-94
Post Graduate Degree, Academy of Photography, The University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack), Stockholm, Sweden
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Inside and out, Läckö slott, Lidköping, Sweden
2014
Rörelse och reflektion, Märsta Konsthall, Märsta, Sweden
Moment: Maria Miesenberger, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
2013
Lars Bohman Gallery, Sweden
Strandverket, Marstrand, Sweden
Fotograficentrum, Konstfrämjandet Örebro, Sweden
2012
Konst i Gryt, Stjärnhov, Sweden
2011
Bror Hjorths hus, Uppsala, Sweden
Konsthallen/Hamnmagasinet, Varberg, Sweden
Vida Konsthall, Borgholm, Sweden
2010
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Kristianstad Konsthall, Kristianstad, Sweden
Anna Norlander Museet, Skellefteå, Sweden
2009
Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden
2008
Skissernas Museum, Lund, Sweden
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
2007
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2006
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2005
Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Skövde konsthall, Skövde, Sweden
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2004
Tracing the Inside, Passagen, Linköping, Sweden
2003
Robert Mann Gallery, New York, USA
Anstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
2002
Uncut, Lunds Konsthall, Lund, Sweden
2001
Uncut, Lars Bohman Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Maria Miesenberger, Jönköpings Läns Museum, Sweden
2000
Robert Mann Gallery, New York, USA
Swedish Consulate in Los Angeles, USA
1999
Galerie Anhava, Helsinki, Finland
William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, USA (L.A. International Biennial Art Inviational 1999)
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
Project Room, Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden
Norrköpings Konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
1998
Hasselblad Center at Konstmuseet, Gothenburg, Sweden
It´s all in your head, Galleri Lars Bohman, Stockholm, Sweden
1997
Silverstein Gallery, New York, USA
1996
The Meffan Museum & Art Gallery, Forfar, Scotland
1995
Arbroath Library Gallery (Fotofeis 95), Arbroath, Scotland
1993
Galleri Adlercreutz-Björkholmen, Stockholm, Sweden
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
Pilane, Tjörn, Sweden
Konsthallen Hishult, Skulpturparken, Sweden
Norrköping Konstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
Körsbärsgården, Gotland, Sweden
2015
Asylum, Galleri 3, Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm, Sweden
Pilane, Tjörn, Sweden
Konst på Hög, Kumla, Sweden
2014
Drotten International Art Project, 5-year project, Visby Gotland, Sweden
Samlarens blick - konst ur samtida samlingar, Bohusläns museum, Uddevalla, Sweden
The Visible. Swedish Contemporary Photography, Artipelag, Gustavsberg, Sweden
2012
Artipelag, Stockholm, Sweden
Konsthallen Hishult, Sweden
2011
Helvete, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Solidens skulpturutställning, Vida Museum, Öland, Sweden
Arnstedt Galleri, Östra Karup, Sweden
Sporten i konsten, touring exhibition, Mellby Konsthall och Konstmuseum, Skövde Konsthall, Kristianstad Konsthall, Sweden
Moderna museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Galerie Proarta, Zürich, Switzerland
WIP Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Momentum Biennalen, Moss, Norway
Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany
2010
Tjörnedala Konsthall, Baskemölla, Sweden
Hasselblad Center, Gothenburg, Sweden
Borås Konstmuseum, Borås, Sweden
Ljungberg Museet, Ljungberg, Sweden
2009
Eskilstuna Konstmuseum, Eskilstuna, Sweden
Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Solidens Skulpturutställning, Vida Museum, Borgholm, Sweden
Arnstedt Galleri, Östra Karup, Sweden
2008
Auto Memorized - en utställning om minne och historia i ett utvidgat fotografiskt fält, CFF - Centrum För Fotografi, Stockholm, Sweden
2007
Auto Memorized - en utställning om minne och historia i ett utvidgat fotografiskt fält, CFF - Centrum För Fotografi, Stockholm, Sweden
CFF-Centrum för Fotografi, Stockholm, Sweden
Borås Internationella Skulpturfestival, Borås, Sweden
Passagen Linköpings Konsthall, Linköping, Sweden
Galleri Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
Vasamuseet, Stockholm, Sweden
SAK, Stockholm, Sweden
2006
Konstfeminism, touring exhibition: Liljevalchs konsthall, Dunkers Kulturhus, Hälsinglands Museum, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Sweden
Sollidens skulpturutställning, Öland, Sweden
Umedalen Skulptur 2006, Umeå, Sweden
2005
Contemporary Nordic Sculpture 1980-2005, The Wanås Foundation, Knislinge, Sweden
Scandinavian Photography 1:Sweden, Faulconer Gallery, Davenport, USA
Manipulationer, Luna kulturhus, Södertälje, Sweden
2004
Sculpture Quadrennial, Riga, Latvia
Instabilt, Nya riktningar inom svensk fotografi, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Memento, Bror Hjorths Hus, Uppsala, Sweden
Tusenfryd, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Drammen, Norway
2002
History Now: The Presence of the Past in Contemporary Photography, Liljevalchs konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden. Travelling 2003-2004 to: Arbetets museum, Norrköping, Sweden; Passagen, Linköping, Sweden; Dunkers kulturhus, Helsingborg, Sweden; Sörlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristianstad, Norway; Midlanda konsthall, Timrå, Sweden; Konsthallen Rönneby, Rönneby, Sweden
Thought flies - an art and science exhibition, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2001
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup, Sweden
396 Fotografiska förälskelser, Karin & Lars Halls samling, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Repar på en slätt yta, Hasselblad Center at Konstmuseet, Gothenburg, Sweden
Attitude of Mind and Imagination, M.K. Ciurlions National Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
Swedish Contemporary Art Collection, M.K. Ciurlions National Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
As If You Mean What You Say, part of Nordic-Japanese Contemporary Art Symposium in Tokyo, Embassy of Sweden, Tokyo, Japan
Hypnosis, Seven Swedish Stories, Art Moscow, Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
Material 10 år, Art Node, Minbyrån, Stockholm, Sweden
New York State of Mind, Swedish Artists in New York, Embassy of Sweden Washington, USA
2000
This Boy Could Be Me, Replica Theater & Art Center, Stockholm, Sweden
Together and Apart, Kleipeda Art Exhibition Hall and Baroti Gallery, Kleipeda, Lithuania
Syndrome/Disappear: International Group Exhibition, IASPIS Galleriet, Stockholm, Sweden
Family Tree, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, USA
DAK ART 2000;ART Biennal 2000, Dakar, Senegal
Open Studio, IASPIS ; International Artists, Studio Program in Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
Telenor Headquarters, Oslo, Norway
Engelska Parken, Varberg, Sweden
Enskede Gård Metro Station, Stockholm, Sweden
Vida Museum, Öland, Sweden
Växjö University, Sweden
GRANTS
Märta Måås-Fjätterström Award
Swedish Photo book Award
Lengertz kulturpris