Tom Cullberg

Tom Cullberg is an artist born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972. He currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa.

Swedish born South African artist Tom Cullberg came to South Africa in 1993 to study towards his BA(FA) at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, graduating in 1997. He has been working prolifically ever since, with seventeen solo exhibitions to his name as well as inclusion in many significant group exhibitions. His work has been shown both locally and internationally at galleries such as Galleri Flach, Stockholm, (2016) BRUNDYN + GONSALVES, Cape Town (2012), SCOPE Art Show, New York City (2012), the Joburg Art Fair in Johannesburg (2011), Stevenson in Cape Town (2009), the Goodman Gallery in Cape Town, Magrorocca Galleria d'arte in Milan (2007) and Galleri Svenska Bilder in Stockholm (2003). His work is held in private, public and corporate collections including Swedish Parliament, Hollard, Karolinska Sjukhuset, Sasol, Spier, Nandos (UK) and the South African National Gallery.

The paintings of Cullberg are at once familiar and foreign, pensive and playful. Charting territories between seemingly tangible and intangible worlds, the artist presents us with collections of represented objects that explore both fictitious story telling as well as real or recorded histories. These signifiers or symbols, appearing as though from dreams, hover or float over abstract grounds that, like the mechanics of memory appear in a state of flux. With humour and seriousness his paintings consider processes of association and recognition in the reading of both private and public narratives.

Solo Exhibitions

• 2018Finding New Life in an Old Form, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
• 2016Good Advice, M Contemporary, Sydney, Australia
• 2016Whatever Happens, Galleri Flach, Stockholm, Sweden
• 2014Tower, Brundyn, Cape Town
• 2013KKNK, Oudtshoorn
• 2013 Tom Cullberg: New Paintings, Candyland, Stockholm, Sweden
• 2012 SCOPE New York, New York, USA
• 2012 Periphery, BRUNDYN + GONSALVES, Cape Town
• 2008Small Moments, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
• 2007Tom Cullberg, Magrorocca, Milan, Italy
• 2006House, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
• 2006 House, KZNSA, Durban
• 2005The Judge and other stories, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
• 2004There is so much to say, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
• 2003Galleri Svenska Bilder, Stockholm, Sweden
• 2002Principles of Flight, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
• 2000In Between North and South, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town

Selected Group Exhibitions

• 2018Barnard Collective, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
• 2018AKAA Art Fair, Paris, France
• 2018Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
• 2017Barnard Collective, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
• 2016Summer Exhibition, Circa, London, United Kingdom
• 2015Homage, Everard Read, Cape Town
• 2014Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town
• 2013Paint+, NIROX, Johannesburg
• 2013FNB Joburg Artfair, Johannesburg
• 2013More Than Words, Spier Manor House, Stellenbosch
• 2013 Material/Representation, BRUNDYN + GONSALVES, Cape Town
• 2012 Contemporary mosaic works, Spier, Cape Town
• 2011 FNB Joburg Art Fair, BRUNDYN + GONSALVES, Cape Town
• 2010Open End, Goodman Gallery Cape, Cape Town
• 2009Summer 2009/10: Projects, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town
• 2009 Sing Into My Mouth, What if the World, Cape Town
• 2009 FNB Joburg Art Fair, Johannesburg
• 2009 Printing Money, The South African Print Gallery, Cape Town
• 2009 Big Wednesday’, What if the World, Cape Town
• 2008Warren Editions, Blank Projects, Cape Town
• 2008 Joburg Art Fair, Johannesburg
• 2006New Painting, curated by Storm Janse van Rensburg; KZNSA, Durban; UNISA Gallery, Pretoria; Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg
• 1998Dreams and Clouds,Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden and Goteborgs Konst Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 1998 Transposition Workshop Residency, Robben Island, hosted by South African National Gallery, Cape Town ; Moderna Museet, Sweden
• 1997/8 The 2nd Johannesburg Biennale (with the Sluice Group), The South African National Gallery, Cape Town
• 1996Sluice: an Installation and Performance Event, Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town