Biography
Hanna Hedman

My work of the past 15 years has centered around adornment, objects and public environments. Making has been a part of my life since I was a small child.  In my objects and jewelry, fantasy landscapes are mixed with reality, art and function, often with a focus on an inner world constructed of different layers of materials, patterns and information.  I am heavily infuenced by my surroundings and my reflections on the natural world.  I draw inspiration from organic forms such as plants, flowers and other natural elements, which I transform into elaborate and often surreal compositions.  My work reflects a fascination with the human condition, particularly the themes of life, death and decay.

Hanna Hedman (born 1980) is a Swedish visual maker born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden.Hanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Silversmithing and Jewellery from Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden (2002-2005), a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Silversmithing and Jewellery from Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand (2005-2006), and a Master of Fine Arts in Silversmithing and Jewellery from Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden (2006-2008). She also studied at the Art Department of Western State College in Colorado, USA (1999-2001).

 

Hedman is renowned for her intricate and evocative works  blending art, craft and design. She first gained international recognition for her unique approach to jewelry, where she pushes the boundaries of traditional adornment, creating large scale works- complex multi-layered sculptural, organic forms showcasing her detailed craftsmanship. Using a wide range of materials including metal, wood, textile, and paints, Hedman creates pieces that explore themes of nature, the body, and the relationship between the two. 

Hedman’s signature technique employs the layering of different materials, textures and patterns creating a sense of depth and complexity imbued with emotional and symbolic significance, evoking melancholy, the fragility of life and the passage of time, while the tactile and visual qualities draw the viewer into the artwork.

 

Represented by Ornamentum since 2007, Hanna Hedman’s work has been exhibited extensively internationally. Her pieces have been shown in galleries and museums and fairs across the United States, Europe and Asia. Her works have been also exhibited in numerous shows, including prestigious venues such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, USA, the City of Paris Museum of Modern Art in Paris, France, The Dowse Art Museum in Wellington, New Zealand, Die Neue Sammlung - The Design Museum in Munich, Germany, the Katonah Museum of Art in Katonah, USA, Cooper Hewitt in New York, USA, CODA museum in Apeldoorn, Holland, Nationalmuseum Design in Stockholm, Sweden, and The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, Norway. Her works are highly sought after and can be found in private collections and in the collection of several institutions and worldwide such as Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York,MAD museum, New York,Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden, Röhsska museet, Gothenburg, Trondheim Kommune, Trondheim, Marzee collection, Njmegen, Gallery of Art, Legnica, Poland, Konstfack, Stockholm, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin. Hanna has also received several awards for her work. Since 2014, Hanna's artistic practice has expanded to include public art installations and large spatial objects. Her larger sculptural works are closely related to her jewelry designs and can be found across Sweden and the USA.

Works
Exhibitions