Jonas Nilsson (b. 1968) is a Swedish artist residing and practising in Uppsala. Mastering oil as well as watercolour, his works have been exhibited on numerous occasions both in Sweden and abroad. Early on, Nilsson was noticed for his depictions of Swedish nature and its inhabitants. At fifteen, he made his debut with a small exhibition in his hometown. Two years later, his first solo show followed and at the age of twenty-one he participated in the prestigious Birds in Art exhibition in the USA, being the youngest participant ever. In 1989, Nilsson completed his education at Konstskolan in Stockholm. His first presentation at Åmells in the spring of 2018 marked his breakthrough to a wider audience. Throughout his career, Nilsson has remained committed to his expression and depictions of nature, executing his motifs of birds and other members of the Nordic fauna in a highly contemporary style with an impressionistic touch.

Bevingade bilder, which translates to “winged pictures”, marks Jonas Nilsson’s sixth solo presentation at the gallery, providing excellent opportunities for deeper and further insights into his imagery. Like an adventurer of old, he sets out into the forest and fields equipped with sketchpads and binoculars to capture the immediate moments. In the present exhibition, the artist’s eye is set on the birds and their world. With his convincing animal portraits, depicted with as much empathy as respect for nature, Nilsson can be regarded as Sweden’s foremost contemporary representative of this classical art form.

Nilsson’s excursions form the basis for his paintings. During these, he gathers the subjects, ambiances and motifs that are later refined in his studio. However, the paintings are rarely direct depictions of his impressions. Rather, they are a synthesis of feelings, visual evocations and events experienced in nature. Nilsson has gained a natural place among the great animal painters who have preceded him, not least Bruno Liljefors, and with his own striking pictures of Swedish nature, he breathes new life into the genre. Welcome to the world of puffins, mallards and finches in an exhibition that asserts that the power of painting in the depiction of animals is by no means abated.