PG Thelander – Summa summarum

Stockholms Auktionsverk presents PG Thelander – Summa summarum, a tribute to one of the most distinctive artistic voices in Swedish post-war art. The exhibition was originally planned together with the artist himself to mark his 90th birthday and comprises 90 works spanning more than six decades. Following his death this summer, it is now presented as a commemorative exhibition culminating in a live auction.

The selection reflects the breadth of Thelander’s oeuvre, from experimental works on Plexiglas from the 1960s to later paintings, prints and sculpture. In his immediately recognisable visual world, ostriches, penguins and other animals appear alongside everyday objects, often placed in unexpected and displaced contexts. These motifs became recurring figures in Thelander’s visual universe, where logic meets absurdity, precision meets playfulness, and the familiar suddenly appears in a new light.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Thelander established himself as a significant Swedish artist, developing an independent visual language beyond passing artistic trends. His work is characterised by balanced compositions, clear colours and subtle irony – images that may initially appear orderly, but gradually reveal something more enigmatic and associative.

Summa summarum offers an opportunity to follow this consistent yet multifaceted artistic practice through 90 works. The exhibition concludes with a live auction.