Exhibitions

In the exhibition Abstract – Reflections from the Collection we explore the abstract – as a concept, a method and as a phenomenon. In a playful approach we turn things on their head, which generates unexpected encounters and combinations that open up for new ways of discovering the museum collection. Much like a kaleidoscope we have stirred up the nonfigurative and the abstract, which has lead to the formation of new patterns and encounters. Abstract art is non-figurative, it doesn’t portray any distinct reality or story. Abstract art may represent that which we can only experience but never understand. It can be approached through mathematics, philosophy and geometry, rather than through figuration. Abstract art can be an object in its own right, or a result of the artist’s desire to create or specify ideas or emotions. The exhibition Abstract – Reflections from the Collection features objects, sculptures, paintings and prints from the Våsterås konstmuseum collection.

The summer of 2014 was marked by the largest forest fire in Sweden’s modern history. The fire in the province of Västmanland affected numerous people both at the site and elsewhere in Sweden as well as internationally. In the autumn of 2018 Västerås konstmuseum will mount an exhibition showing various ways in which art has reacted to this massive forest fire. Out of the Ashes is produced in collaboration with Konstfrämjandet Västmanland. The participating artists are domiciled or professionally active in Västmanland. The participating artists are Johanna Byström Sims, Anna Eilert, Jennifer Espling, Henrik Haukeland, Patrik Karlström, Helen Ekholm, Gunnar Forsman, Lilian Granqvist Fransson, Martin Holm, Marcus Ivarsson, Sari Jacobson, Maria Koolen Hellmin, Susanne Torstensson, Mitchell Ward and Dan Wid.

The Municipality of Västerås awards cultural grants each year. This exhibition shows grant-holders from the last two years. In 2017 the grantholders were Johanna Ehde, Frida Lundén and Jakob Ojanen. In 2018 they were Björn Camenius and Lisa Juntunen Roos.