Lars Nilsson: Botanical Stripes

Growing up in a small town in Sweden, Lars Nilsson was always curious about music and visual arts and early on he knew he wanted to do something creative and with his hands. After high-school, he decided to leave aside ideas of studying science and to dedicate his life to learning how to make things, how to construct things, particularly around tailoring. He did an internship at the opera house in Stockholm in tailoring and then went on to study at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris.

Nilsson went on to have a long and important career in haute couture, craft and design for fashion houses including Chanel, Christian Lacroix, for whom he worked for ten years as the right hand for the couture department, as well as Dior, Nina Ricci and Bill Blass. After 35-years in the fashion industry, Nilsson returned home to Rattvik, a small town in Dalarna, Sweden. Today, Nilsson is devoting his time to making art and interior objects, including collage, watercolours and sculpture that weaves in his experience and passion for textile patterns, textures, ceramics, glass and stripes. “Stripes have been following me for 35-years,” he says. His exhibition, “Botanical Stripes,” took as inspiration the artist’s fascination with the tactile beauty of topiary gardens, particularly the historic Levens Hall in Cumbria, England. He notes, “What I find interesting about English gardens is their organized chaos. It looks spontaneous, but there’s an underlying structure – a mix of skill and chance. You have to experiment, and many of these gardens have evolved over a long time. Levens Hall is fantastic; it dates back to the 17th century, it has been passed down through generations – often to women. I think that has influenced how the garden developed.”

17th century Dutch still-life painting is another source for the artist. In one stand out piece, soft and subtle gradations of pale pinks, yellows, blues and greens emerge against a flat black background suggesting painterly chiarascurro. Other watercolour collages feel more modern, playing with patterning and textures, perhaps with references to Swedish folk art in its graphic shapes, simplicity and beauty. Another collage, The Pottery Floor, was inspired by the stone floors at the Ville San Michele on Capri. Working there on a residency, Nilsson photographed the floors and played around with different patterns to create his collage. This piece is currently being translated into a weaved tapestry

In addition to the watercolour collages, Nilsson has created a collection of sculptural candleholders that were handmade in the local ceramic workshop of Nittsjö. The collection mixes colours and materials including ceramic, hand-shaped oak, felted wool from sheep near his home, porphyry, quartzite from Wasaten, and bronze cast onsite at Morell’s Metal Foundry. He has also included glass for the first time, collaborating with Bergdala glasswork’s in southern Sweden. “Since the beginning”, Nilsson says, “my inspiration has been from nature.”

Nilsson’s passion for craft and how things are made continues. As he says, “I want to explore new materials including copper and ironwork. There are so many more things that I want to explore and learn about. It’s an endless journey.”

“Botanical Strips” was presented at Carling Dalenson Gallery through December 17th, 2025.

Carling Dalenson Gallery

@mrlarsparis