Sonja Dahlgren art

Motivated by colour and play

Sonja Dahlgren (b 1973) is a contemporary abstract painter based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

My work is primarily about my love for colour and a desire to play, which is what I always come back to for motivation to paint. Central to my work is also the pursuit of finding a balance between vibrant expression and minimalist simplicity, and between playfulness and sophistication. With the use of bold colours and brushstrokes, I intentionally focus on the expression of playfulness and effortlessness. For the viewer I want my work to feel welcoming and engaging, and most of all I want the colors, shapes, marks and the intentional playfulness to affect the viewer in some way and to spark their curiosity and imaginative power. My preferred mediums are acrylic paint, wax pencils and collage, but I occasionally use oil pastels, oil and oil sticks.

While creativity, design, photography and art have always been important parts of my life (I worked as a food photographer and stylist between 2009-2019), they have come back into focus during the last two years when I focused a lot of my time, energy and passion on exploring my artistic voice through painting. With intensified energy on the process during spring and summer 2025, I realized I was leaning more and more towards an expressive painting style with elements of abstraction, which has for me been a way to let go of perfectionism and control. In addition, it has been a way of having fun, play and practice “drawing outside the lines”. Things that I believe many adults (including myself) have forgotten how to do, and that we all need more of.

My work is fueled by everyday objects, events and emotions, as well as the way I want to view life: with more playfulness, curiosity and colour. And I find most of my visual references and inspiration to paint in everyday objects and events, such as; flowers in the garden and in the wild, the human experience (personal + general human struggles and joys), art history and colour combinations that I notice in ordinary things, for example in nature, in a product design or in a successfully styled outfit. In addition to mentioned inspirations, I often find that I unintentionally draw reference from my previous work experience as an Early years teacher, Photographer & Stylist and Couple’s Therapist, with themes like “play” and “relationships” often recurring.

As a painter I am mainly self taught, but I do have several courses in graphic design, photography and visual communication, as well as an art course via St Ives School of Painting on my CV. I also have a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and ten years experience of working with children + a One-Year Master Degree in Psychology and three years experience as a Couple’s Therapist.