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Artist and designer, Charlotte Swiden

BIOGRAPHY

Charlotte Swiden (b. 1980, Sweden) moved to Australia in 2005, settling in Melbourne/Naarm.

With a background in art, she transitioned into the field of design. Following a ten-year hiatus and
the birth of her second child, Swiden returned to her painting practice with an undeniable urge to reconnect with her artistic roots.

Drawing on personal reflections of her Scandinavian upbringing and her new home, Swiden’s work has been shaped by the interplay of two identities, two cultures, and the tensions that lie between them.

In the soft discord of existence between two worlds, Swiden weaves themes of rituals, folklore, and modern life. Playing with ambiguity, she allows objects and figures to break and layer over one another – symbolically destabilising boundaries and reshaping them in their new environments. With a wistful and empathetic approach, Swiden’s artworks eloquently depict the intricacies of the human experience.

Charlotte Swiden currently lives and works on Boon wurrung (Bunurong) land in Australia.
She is represented by Saint Cloche Gallery in Sydney. And yes, Swiden is her actual birth name.

ARTIST STATEMENT & ETHOS

When I started Swiden Design in 2010, I wanted to create a collection of beautiful, high-quality designs that you would keep forever.
A unique aesthetic, quality materials and an ethical means of production has always been at the forefront of this process.
I also feel that the most important ethics are the ones we practice outside of our work hours and I always try and live my life as close to my values as possible.

In 2015 I had my second child which led me to shift focus. I started collaging and painting again and I took my practice back to my foundations. Time became so precious, I needed to simplify and become more minimalistic in what I chose to do.

Once I started painting again it was all so clear and easy. It was like I had an 800 page novel waiting inside, burning to escape. Painting is just who I am at my very core.

Some of the ways in which I seek to limit my impact on mother earth include:

· My paintings are original and made with time, love and utter care to last a life time
· The frames for my paintings are made with local, sustainable timber and craftsmanship
· I only use local crafts people to help my work come to life
· The designs I’ve created are all limited editions or one of pieces
· I use vegetable based inks which don’t harm the environment
· The paper I use for my prints are 100% cotton rag acid-free paper which is designed to meet gallery and museum longevity requirements
· The wall hangings are printed onto linen, one of the most sustainable fabrics we have available
· Non-toxic, water based dyes are used on printed fabrics

This is all good, but I truly believe that we can all do a little bit better than what we are currently doing so I constantly challenge my practice to be more sustainable for the long term.

EXHIBITIONS / COLLABORATIONS

Lander-Se | Group Show

Scape 2024

Saint Cloche | Exhibition with Natalie Synnott

Wonder Machine 2024

Collingwood Public Housing Fundraiser | Group Show

Retain, Repair, Reinvest 2024

Saint Cloche Gallery | Group Show

Escapade 2023

Modern Times | Group Show

Tracing Change 2023

Saint Cloche Gallery × Tiffany & Co | Group Show

Etherium 2023

Saint Cloche Gallery × The Design Files | Group Show

Point To Point 2023

Saint Cloche Gallery | Solo Exhibition

Affect 2023

Modern Times | Group Exhibition

A Gentle Unwinding 2022

Saint Kevin’s Omnia Arts Prize | Shortlisted

Painting ‘Stiltje’ 2022

Saint Cloche Gallery | Fundraising Exhibition & Auction

Coast to Coast 2022

No Vacancy Gallery | Exhibition with Bec Smith

Lores 2022

Modern Times | Group Exhibition

Chromatic Retreat 2021

The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation

Me and UooUoo: The RCH150 Anniversary Art Trail  2021

Modern Times | Group Exhibition

Talismans, Rafts, Mementos 2020

Modern Times | Solo Exhibition

Foundations 2020

Swiden Coast x Linus Dean Rugs

Coast Rugs 2014

Frankie Book | A little bit crafty

Holding Candles 2014

Craft Victoria | Coco Flip x Swiden

Winter Fruits 2013

La Vida De Los Objectos | Barcelona

Tivolivat Wooden Objects 2013

A small space

Sprattelgubbar 2012—2013

The Design Files Open House

Tivolivat 2012

The Design Files Open House

Tivolivat 2011

In the Press

Affect Exhibition | The Design Files 2023
The Makers | Bedthreads 2022
Lores Exhibition | The Design Files 2022
Lores Exhibition | Hunter and Folk 2022
On Motherhood and Creativity | Coco Flip 2021
RCH Art Trail Me and UooUoo | Broadsheet 2021
Talismans, Rafts, Mementos | Modern Times 2020
Charlotte Swiden | Modern Times 2020
Charlotte Swiden | The Design Chaser 2020
Swiden Design | Craft Vic 2014
Charlotte Swiden | Book A Little Bit Crafty 2014
Lukas prints | Inside Out 2014
Sprattelgubbar | Arquitectura & Diseno 2014
Coast | Frankie 2014
Coast | Homestyle Nz 2014
Coast Rugs | The Design Files 2014

Swiden x Linus Dean Rug | Green Magazine 2014
Sprattelgubbe | House Garden 2013
Coast | Herald Sun 2013
Swiden Design | Print & Pattern Book 2013
Coast | The Design Files 2013
Tivolivat | Inside Out 2013
Tivolivat | Green Magazine 2013
Charlotte Swiden | Femina Sweden 2013
Majbritt | Home Beautiful 2011
Tivolivat | B-Guided Barcelona 2012
Swiden Design | Craft Vic 2012
Majbritt | Herald Sun Weekend 2012
Fruit Salad | Inside Out 2012
Swiden Design | Home Ideas 2012
Charlotte Swiden | The Age 2012
Tivolivat | Home Ideas 2012

Charlotte Swiden | Frankie 2012
Swiden Design | Herald Sun 2012
Tivolivat | Real Living 2011
Swiden Design | Daily Imprint 2011
Tivolivat | Inside Out 2011
Swiden Home | Bloesem 2011
Swiden Design | Bloesem 2011
Swiden Design | The Design Files 2011
Tivolivat | Herald Sun 2011
Swiden Design | The Design Sponge 2011
Charlotte Swiden Home | Herald Sun 2011
Swiden Design Home | The Design Sponge 2011
Swiden Design | Herald Sun 2011
Swiden Design | Herald Sun 2012
Tivolivat | Real Living 2011

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