Axel Theofron Sandberg's Watercolor Prize, 2026

februari 16, 2026

Axel Theofron Sandberg's Watercolor Prize, 2026

"Teardrop", 2025, watercolor on paper. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Béranger.

Axel Theofron Sandberg's Watercolor Prize- The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Art. 13.2 2026 Stockholm

The Art Academy's Prize Committee has decided to award Axel Theofron Sandberg's Watercolor Prize to Ylva Westerlund on the ground:

"Ylva Westerlund uses watercolor as a feeler towards the environment she wants to have skin contact with: the fragile biospheres between air, water, animals and vegetation. By letting the color sometimes bleed into abstraction, sometimes striving for precision, she establishes an empathetic and symbiotic relationship to the greatest question of our time. That of our survival."

Pristagare 2026

Övre raden från vänster: Ylva Westerlund, Fredrik Strid, Julia Peirone, Ständig sekreterare Lena From, Vice preses Klara Kristalova, Preses Helena Tallius Myhrman, Kronprinsessan, Sofie Josefsson, Nathalie Djurberg, Hans Berg

Främre raden från vänster: Theresa Traore Dahlberg, Birgitta Wikland, Ksenia Pedan, Diana Andersson, Eva Maria Ern, Annie Winblad Jakubowski, Sophie Tottie, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Sven-Olov Wallenstein, Hanni Kamaly

SELCTED EXHIBITIONS

2025, The Wish Machine, Slipvillan Stockholm. Galina Davydtchenko and Ylva Westerlund.
2025, Dream Wasteland- A walk on Järvafältet with artists Mats Adelman and Ylva Westerlund arranged by Tensta konsthall as a part of "Peace with Earth".
2025, Det Stora Oväsendet/ The Great Noise- Triennalen Västernorrland. Artists: Afrang Nordlöf Malekian, Anna Norvell, Björn Ola Lind, Elin Berge, Elme Ämting, Ida Idaida, Joanna Lombard, Josefine Östberg Olsson, Jyoti Mistry, Katarina Pirak Sikku, Kayo Mpoyi, Kerstin Lindström, Laia Abril, Linnéa Falck, Lisa W Carlson & Jim Hoult, Maja Daniels, Maria Mäki, Marte Aas, Monica Sjöö, Nadine Byrne, Olivia Plender, Rebecca Sharp, Rut Karin Zettergren & Olando Whyte, Sam Hultin, Sigrid Holmwood, Simon Ferner, Tai Shani, Trinidad Carrillo, Ylva Westerlund och Zafira Vrba Woodski. Curators: Helena Byström and Karolina Aastrup.
2025, Den avsvimmade betraktaren/ The passed out viewer, Slipvillan Stockholm. Mats Adelman, Beata Fransson, Viktor Kopp and Ylva Westerlund.
2025, Blånagla 2.0, Husum. Artists: Gideonsson/Londré, Nina Svensson, Ylva Westerlund and Mats Adelman, Per Hasselberg, Jenny Vinterqvist, Helena Byström, Anna Källblad and Lisa Ullén.
2025 Fred med jorden/ Peace with Earth, Tensta Konsthall- Campus Tensta, Stockholm. Artists: Ann Lislegaard, CATPC, Enno Hallek, Hira Nabi, Ingela Ihrman, Mats Adelman, Mona Monasar, Tom Bogaard, Aqui Thami och Ylva Westerlund.
2024, Stockholm Konst gästar Liljevalchs+, Stockholm. Medverkande konstnärer: Falah Alani, Dan Almqvist, Fabian Bergmark Näsman, Coyote, Lin de Mol, Emmy Dijkstra, Jeannette Ehlers, Mary Furniss, Tommy Hilding, Niklas Holmgren, Peter Köhler, Liva Isakson Lundin, Emma Jönsson, Susanne Larsson, Esko Männikkö och Pekka Turunen, Isabelle Nilsson, Elin Odentia, Britt-Ingrid Persson, Nicklas Randau, Pontus Raud, Ruben Risholm, Mariana Silva Varela, Ebba Svensson, Theresa Traore Dahlberg, Ylva Westerlund och Amalia Årfelt.
2024, Inseparable Distance, Swedish pavilion Gwangju Biennale 2024. Artists: Eric Magassa, James Webb, Jenni Laiti, Johannes Heldén, Leif Holmstrand, Paola Torres Núñez del Prado, Runo Lagomarsino, Sara Nilsson, Ylva Westerlund. Curator: Ulrika Flink
2024, Blånagla Artfest, Orrviken, 3.8-4.8 2024 arr Konstfrämjandet Västernorrland. Medverkande: Konst: Håkan Bring Huczkowski, Ylva Westerlund, Mats Adelman, Nina Svensson, Sonia Hedstrand, Robert Nyberg, Mattias Andersson, Gideonsson Londre, Per Hasselberg, Niklas Östholm, Moa Brännström Ott, Mats Wikström, Sven Teglund, Jenny Vinterqvist, Olle Hiort, Helena Byström, Maria Sundström. Musik: Lisa Ullén, Johan Arrias, Henrik Olsson, Henning Ullén, Niklas Barnö, Alice Ullén Dans: Anna Källblad, Elin Kristoffersson, Conny Jansson.
2024, "Under jorden minns vi himlen", Tensta tunnebanestation. Konstverk som en del av Helga Henschens gestaltning. Projekt tillsammans med Askebyskolan, Tensta konsthall, SL och Eggeby Gårds Naturskola.
2024, "Skuggvatten- Entropins död!", Mats Adelman & Ylva Westerlund. Visioner Region Västernorrland, Kulturmagasinet, Sundsvall.
2024, "Observatoriet: konst och liv i den kritiska zonen", Kin- museum för samtidskonst, Kiruna. 15.02- 15.09 2024. Med Alexander Ravskyj, Alexandra Ravskaja, Alma Heikkilä, Anastasia Bogomolova, Anastasya Kizilova Apolonija Šušteršič, Bernd KrauB, Carin Ellberg, Erik Sjödin, Fernando Garcia- Dory, Fredrik Prost, Ilmira Bolotjan & Olga Sjirokostup, Inga-Wiktoria Påve, Ingela Ihrman, Ivan Novikov, Joar Nango & Ken Are Bongo, Katarina Pirak Sikku, Kirill Agafonov & Natalja Peredvigina Kultivator, Mats Adelman & Ylva Westerlund, Nina Svensson, Pia Rönicke, Tjudia Zjeni, Åsa Sonjasdotter
2023, "Wander Wonder", Varvsberget Örnsköldsvik. Arranged by Konstfrämjandet Västernorrland and Västernorrland museum, curated by Helena Byström and Karolina Aastrup. Artists: Dimen Hama Abdulla, Mattias Andersson, Oscar Kaleva Karlsson, Jenny Lundgren, Malin Lin Nordström, Lena Stenberg och Ylva Westerlund. .
2023, "Peace/ Fred", Eggeby gård/ Järva Folkets park. Artists: Alexander Ravskyi, Markku Huovila, Pia Sandström, Mats Adelman och Ylva Westerlund.
2023, "Observatories- Art and Life in Critical Zones", Södertälje Konsthall. Curated by Maria Lind. Artists: Alexander Ravskyi, Alexandra Ravskaya, Alma Heikkilä, Anastasia Bogomolova, Anastasia Kizilova, Apolonija Sustersic, Åsa Sonjasdotter, Bernd Krauss, Carin Ellberg, Chudia Zheni, Erik Sjödin, Fernando Garcia Dory, Ilmira Bolotyan & Olga Shirokostup, Ingela Ihrman, Ivan Novikov, Joar Nango & Ken Are Bongo, Katarina Pirak Sikku, Kirill Agafonov and Natalia Peredvigina, Kultivator, Mats Adelman & Ylva Westerlund, Nina Svensson, Zoya Lebedeva
2023, "Nature Scribbles and Flesh Reads", R21 PRAKSIS book release at INDEX Stockholm. Artists: Kajsa Dahlberg, Miriam Döring, Annike Flo, Sive Hamilton Helle, Eli Maria Lundgaard, malatsion, Lexie Owen, Rebekka Sæter, and Ylva Westerlund.
2023, "Blånagla Artfest 2023", Orrviken. Arranged by Konstfrämjandet Västernorrland. Artists: Mats Adelman, Johan Arrias, Minna Bergenheim, Hampus Bergenheim, Moa Ott Brännström, Helena Byström, Nina Svensson, Sonia Hedstrand, Anna Källblad, Robert Nyberg, Henrik Olsson, Lisa Ullén, Jenny Vinterqvist och Ylva Westerlund..
2023, "20 meters of mist between me and an abandoned bunker and other notes from the area between Stäket and Skogsvaktarkärret", Spånga Konstförening, Stockholm. Ylva Westerlund.
2022, R21- "Nature Scribbles and Flesh Reads", a collective investigation and research residency at Praksis Oslo. Arranged by artist Kajsa Dahlberg, Index Stockholm, KKH and Praksis Oslo.
2022, "Triennalen Västernorrland", Apotekshuset, Sollefteå. Curated by Björn Norberg, arr. Konstfrämjandet Västernorrland. Artists: Mats Adelman, Andreas Brännlund, Annikka Kronlid Arvidsson, Birgitta Ricklund, Cecilia Björk, Cecilia Hultman, Cecilia Ömalm, Christian Bjärgö, David Larsson, Elin Kristoffersson, Elin Maria Johansson, Elme Ämting-Selja, Emilia Bergmark, Emma Löfström, Fredrik Nordin, Ida Rödén, Ina Palm, Ingvar Sjöberg, Jenny Berg, Jenny Lundgren, Josefin Östberg Olsson, Linda Lasson, Linnéa Therese Dimitriou, Lisa W Carlson, Margareta Klingberg, Maria Mäki, Maria Sundström, Max Book, Nina Svensson, Oscar Kaleva Karlsson, Sonia Hedstrand, Ulla-Carin Winter, Ylva Westerlund.
2022, "Heterotopia 1" Oxbrons banvaktarstuga, Tomasbo. Exhibiting artists: Mats Adelman, Bas Jan Ader, CM Lundberg, Elisabeth Peyton, Viktor Rosdahl and Ylva Westerlund.
2022, "Dream Wasteland", Ylva Westerlund/ Mats Adelman. Moscow Museum of Modern Art. Education Center. Curated by Anastasia Nefedova. A part of the exhibition series Northern Travelogues.
2022, "Blånagla Artfest 2022", Orrviken/Husum, Västernorrland. Curated by Helena Byström, Konstfrämjandet Västernorrland.
2021, "Phantoms of the Commons", Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm. Curated by Susanne Ewerlöf.
2021, "It´s a Mind Field- a suggestion in 5 chapters", Ylva Westerlund. Instagram 52proposalsforthe20s, curated by Maria Lind.
2021, "Blånagla Artfest 2021", Orrviken, Västernorrland. Curated by Helena Byström.
2020, "Exo migratory movements", Ylva Westerlund. TITANIC Stockholm, curated by Tova Mozard. titanic.nu
2019/ 2020, "Unexpected Encounters - an exhibition dedicated to science fiction" Arsenāls Exhibition Hall of the Latvian National Museum of Art, curated by Inga Lāce, Andra Silapētere and Solvita Krese, Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art. Artists: Māris Ārgalis, Ieva Balode, Auseklis Baušķenieks, Maija Dragūne, Aleksandrs Dembo, Kristaps Epners, Dzidra Ezergaile, Pēteris Džigurs, Nash Glynn, Alberts Goltjakovs, Inārs Helmūts, Ann Lislegaard, Zenta Logina, Malda Muižule, Deimantas Narkevičius, Bahar Noorizadeh, Artūrs Ņikitins, Pakui Hardware, Ivars Poikāns, Māra Rikmane, Artūrs Riņķis, Vladislav Shapovalov, Genādijs Suhanovs, Kirils Šmeļkovs, Viktor Timofeev, Anton Vidokle, Artūrs Virtmanis, Sif Itona Westerberg, Ylva Westerlund, Driant Zeneli, Zheng Bo..
2019, "Bäckvandring", med Sössa Jörgenssen och Geir Tore Holm, medvandrare Ylva Westerlund och Mats Adelman, Tensta Konsthall.
2018, Edstrandska stiftelsen, KHM 1, Malmö. Elinor Lager, Ingela Irman, Joana Pereira, Joakim Sandqvist, John Skoog, Ylva Westerlund.
2018, "Walks at Järvafältet", Stockholm. Ylva Westerlund/Mats Adelman. Arr. ArkDes/Tensta Konsthall.
2018, "Public Luxury", ArkDes/ Tensta Museum Filial.
2018, "Konstskatten: Guldkorn från Tenstas kommunala skolor", tillfälligt offentlig konstprojekt på Spånga Gymnasium och Tensta Gymnasium
2018, "Eftervärlden- det postindustriella landskapets naturgeografiska förutsättningar", Gerlesborgs Konsthall, Bohuslän, Ylva Westerlund och Mats Adelman.
2017, "Transparent borders", Center Red/Krasny, Moscow, Russia. Curated by Oxana Polyakova.
2017, "En studieplats i skogskanten/ Dream Wasteland", Ylva Westerlund. Public art piece and guided walks in Järvafältet, Stockholm, Tensta konsthall/ Stockholm konst,
2017, "Den Nya Hjorden/The New Hird", Ylva Westerlund. Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm
2017, "Alienation" Momentum 9 - Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art: Alienation, Moss, Norway. Artists: Abigail deVille (US), Atelier Cyberspace (Denmark), Búi Aðalsteinsson (Iceland), H.R. Giger (Switzerland), Johannes Heldén (Sweden), John Duncan (US), Jone Kvie (Norway), Jussi  Kivi (Finland), Jenna Sutela (Finland), Kapwani Kiwanga (Canada), Kjersti Vetterstad (Norway), Levi van Veluw (Netherlands), Linda Persson (Sweden), Mediated Matter (US), Museum of Nonhumanity (Finland), Olga Bergmann & Anna Hallin (Iceland), Patricia Piccinini  (Australia), Patrick Jackson (US), Pinar Yoldas (Turkey), Public Dreaming (New Zealand), Ragnar Þórisson (Iceland), Rana Hamadeh (Lebanon), Rolf Nowotny (Denmark), Serina Erfjord (Norway), Sonja Bäumel (Austria), Stathis Tsemberlidis (Greece), Third Ear (Denmark/US), Trollkrem (Norway), Tuomas Kortteinen & Heikki Lotvonen (Finland), Wael Shawky (Egypt), Ylva Westerlund (Sweden)
2016, "Samhällsmaskinen-Industriåldern ur konstens perspektiv/ The Society Machine- The Industrial Age from the Perspective of Art", Malmö Konstmuseum, Malmö, Sweden. Curated by Lisa Rosendahl. Artists: Meira Ahmemulic, Henrik Andersson, Kalle Brolin, Nina Canell, Hans Carlsson, Edward Clydesdale Thomson, Jonas Dahlberg, Kajsa Dahlberg, Leif Elggren, Cecilia Grönberg & Jonas (J) Magnusson, Erik Mikael Gudrunsson, Gustav Hillbom & Erik Viklund, Saskia Holmkvist, Ellen Nyman & Corina Oprea, Erik Holmstedt, Sofia Hultén, Alfredo Jaar, Sara Jordenö, Susanne Kriemann, David Larsson, Anna Ling, Björn Lövin, Caroline Mårtensson, Jesper Nordahl, Karin Ohlin, Pratchaya Phinthong, Katarina Pirak Sikku, Jan Svenungsson, The non existent Center, Pär Thörn, Ylva Westerlund.
2016, "Invisible dreams and streams", Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius, Lithuania. Curated by Maija Rudovska
2016, "Ateljé för Implosiv design", Ylva Westerlund och Mats Adelman, exhibition and publication,Eggeby gård, Stockholm.
2015, "Swedish wood", Galleri Utås. Mats Adelman and Ylva Westerlund.
2014, "We hate in order to survive", IAC, Malmö, Sweden. Curated by Woodpecker projects.
2014, "Swedish wood", Galleri Ping Pong, Malmö, Sweden. Mats Adelman and Ylva Westerlund.
2014, "Fältövning #1- Dream Wasteland", Eggeby gård, Stockholm. Works by Karlotta Blöndal, Tilda Lovell, Fredrik Hofwander, Rolf Schurmaans och Lisa Jeannin, Jenny Crisp, Ylva Westerlund, Andreas Korsár och Mats Adelman. Curated by Mats Adelman and Ylva Westerlund.
2013, "Tensta Museum- rapporter från nya Sverige", Tensta Salong at Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm.
2012, "Letters from the field", publication and exhibition at Atelierhof Kreuzberg, Berlin. Curated by NODE.
2012, "Home Cinema", videoscreening at Cinema Moviemento, Berlin, Germany.
2012, "Evolutionary throwback", Ylva Westerlund. Künstlerhaus Bethanien, IASPIS Berlin.
2012, "Evolutionary throwback", Krognoshuset, Lund, Sweden.
2011, "Randi Fisher- 1947 års kvinna", Skissernas Museum, Lund, Sweden.
2011, "En ömsesidig sak", Konsthall C, Stockholm. Works by Kajsa Dahlberg, Ewa Einhorn & Jeuno JE Kim, Iratxe Jaio, Ingela Johansson, Runo Lagomarsino, Ylva Westerlund, Sameh Zoabi och The Atlas Group/Walid Raad. Curated by Petra Bauer and Kim Einarsson.
2010, "Monkey see, Monkey do", Centro Cultural Montehermoso, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Curated by Anna Johansson, Emma Reichert, Elena Tzotzi. Artists: Christian Andersson / Maja Borg / Tamar Guimarães / Emma Kay / Runo Lagomarsino / Laibach / Ilias Papailiakis / Juan Pérez Agirregoikoa / Magnus Thierfelder / Ylva Westerlund
2009, "The technique of Growl", shown at the international conference "Metal and Gender", University of Music Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
2009, "Notes from the Living Dead Museum", at The Living Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland. Lecture and works by Runo Lagomarsino, Olivia Plender and Ylva Westerlund.
2009, "Manipulation!", MFK c/o Gallery Signal, Malmö, Sweden. Lecture and works by Beata Fransson, Saskia Holmqvist, Ana Mendieta and Ylva Westerlund.
2008, IASPIS Open studio, Stockholm. Participants: Malin Arnell, Kader Attia, Victoria Brännström, Kerstin Ergenzinger, Róza El Hassan, Emma Hedditch, Andreas Johansson, Gülsün Karamustafa, Metahaven, Warren Neidich, Suela Qoshja, Laercio Redondo, Emily Roysdon and Ylva Westerlund. Three films by filmmaker and theoretician Boris Groys screened by invitation of Ylva Westerlund.