High Valley Blues

In Sweden he has been called Mr Art. His name is Jockum Nordström and last year he was named artist of the year at the prestigious Armory Show in New York.

His work consists of drawings and collages made with great attention to detail. He is a storyteller, but the stories are both open ended and closed at the same time. Half frozen in time, half in motion, though the direction isn’t always forward.

Nordström started his career as an illustrator, and continues to work both fields. But after his massive breakthrough on the international art scene he is hardly driven by the need for cash. In fact, he explained in a recent interview that he often makes illustrations for free or very cheap, and makes his money on the art.

And, he lives just a few blocks from me, in the suburb of Högdalen just outside of Stockholm.

Sorry about that last remark, but sometimes we all have to show off a little, don’t we?