Looking for something beyond the usual museum experience? Lundagård’s Jana Denisiuk guides you through alternative art venues in Lund and Malmö – from medieval settings to industrial spaces.
In the art world, large institutions and museums are usually seen as the pillars of cultural heritage. However, it is often the private galleries that take us into the future, by playing a vital, and often more daring, role in the contemporary art scene. In cities like Malmö and Lund, these smaller spaces offer a refreshing contrast to the grand halls of established museums, providing an intimate platform for experimentation, innovation, and a deeper connection between the artist and the viewer. Because of their non-profit nature, these hidden gems may sometimes be harder to find. To make it easier, here is a selection of a few of places to visit, now in the beginning of 2025.
Krognoshuset, Mårtenstorget 3, Lund
A charming building that you may have passed by on the Mårtenstorget, but perhaps did not pay much attention to, comes from the 13th century and is one of Lunds best-kept medieval treasures. Today its historical walls give space to contemporary art, thanks to the Aura Art Association. The current exhibition “Let the grass grow in the softest part of you [”Låt gräset växa i den mjukaste delen av mig”],” is a solo show by Alice Máselníková, a visual artist based in Edsbruk, Sweden, with roots in the Czech Republic. Her works resonate perfectly with the Krognohuset’s unique setting, with some of them created especially for it. Inspired by the nature of Småland, the canvases’ subdued shades, coming from the mix of watercolour and oil paint, play into the mysterious, symbolic character of the paintings, and tell fables of nature, folklore, myths and magic. Subjects that in the future may be seen more often in art, due to a cultural shift we’re experiencing as a society towards authenticity and romanticism. The exhibition is on show until the 2nd of March.
Digitaliseum, Lodgatan 1, Malmö
In the old industrial harbour area, just a short stroll away from the center of Malmö, there’s the non profit, artist-run gallery Digitaliseum. It presents both Swedish and international contemporary artists working mostly within the digital format. Apart from giving space to visual art, Digitaliseum also organises concerts, DJ sets and multi-sensory performances. Right now, the exhibition on show is a politically engaged, photojournalistic story called “A Dream of Europe”. Presenting works of three different artists, working in different mediums —Jacob Ehrbahn (DK), Noelle Mason (USA) and Eva Gottfridsson (SE) — the show creates a heartbreaking installation of a true human story, expanding into the fields of symbolism and institutional power. The space consists of two separate rooms with video works and sculptures, and a corridor with photographs. Such setup allows the viewer to take a breath between transitioning from one story to another. The exhibition is open everyday by booking until the 15th of March. To visit, book an appointment by contacting the facility.
Galleri Rostrum, Västergatan 21, Malmö
Recently opened exhibition “Hand i Jord” (Hand in Earth) by a Berlin/Uppsala based artist Linnéa Sjöberg consists of works within a traditional, graceful craft of weaving — a technique that stretches back to the artist’s childhood and family history. By using old clothes, including her own ones, Linnéa Sjöberg moves carefully among lost memories, personal fears and hopes. The audience may see some of her latest work, but also some older weavings, which were connected to the artist’s performance piece, when she took up the persona of a business-woman for a whole year. Due to that, an artistic transition can be traced. Even though her tapestries may seem dark and related to trauma, they also present a meaningful story of new beginnings and recycling the past into a brighter future. Furthermore, through the duration of the show, Linnéa Sjöberg will be working in the MalmöVÄV weaving workshop and will end with a final show on the 22nd of February at Lantmannagatan 7.
Galleri Cozmo, Karl XII Gatan 8B, Lund
Galleri Cozmo is a cosy, private art space in Lund, with a unique character, non-reminiscent of the white cube (a generic white walled room-setting used in most art galleries). Thanks to this friendly atmosphere, it brings together artists and audience, as well as provokes conversations between them. Currently on show is Martin Nilsson, primarily a graphic artist, but now working in a multi-disciplinary field. Being interested in nature, this time Nilsson’s gaze was turned underground, to patterns created by roots, worms and mycelium. The “Underground Network” at Cozmo presents a continuation of his experiments in crochet materials, two-dimensional works created in a mezzotint technique, which is the first method of printmaking that allowed production of a range of grey shades, additional to black and white. Furthermore the show presents the artists’s new ways of creating organic installations, with the use of wires and glass beads. Right now, the exhibition is available for visits by booking an appointment with the gallery.
Galleri Redan, Amiralsgatan 9, Malmö
By working with mostly young artists, the shows at Galleri Redan are full of fresh artistic approaches, that fall into the newest art world tendencies and flows. While operating within a rather small space, it maintains to show works in a wide media spectrum, including objects and performances. The current show “Save Point” by Lisa Broms and Vanja Ivarsson will have a vernissage today (7th of February) at 6:30 PM. Both artists are based in Malmö and operate within a similar post-internet aesthetic, often using acidic colours, fluid lines and not refraining from video game references. This time they come together to work with the liberating and dizzying idea of the digital world as an expansion of the physical. The name “Save Point” refers to a kind of safe place in games, where the player is given a moment of devotion and can save progress and glittering finds before new challenges loom.
Galleri 21, Rådmansgatan 5, Malmö
Started by artists and cultural workers in 1985, in a farmhouse in the Gamla väster neighbourhood of Malmö, Galleri 21 is celebrating its 40 years anniversary this year. Up to this day, the art space is run by several non-profit forces, who make its activity possible. Thanks to their commitment, the association maintains to keep on working with Nordic and European contemporary artists. The current group show gathers works from 21 Malmö based artists, whose various works have been exposed in the gallery’s exhibitions before, and marks the beginning of more retrospective events to come this year. Since the space is quite big, the works exhibit a range of mediums and sizes. There’s a rotating sculpture “Arv och Miljö” (the Swedish version of the term ”nature and nurture”, lit. ”heritage and environment”), made by Peter Johansson, which draws attention with its uncanny but somehow humorous character, there are also paintings of two artists, who have been involved with the gallery since the start, but have passed away in recent years: Karl Adrian and Bo Hylander. Moreover there’s textile illustrations by Eva Björkstrand and a more minimalist, toned down but standing out, work of Aleksandra Kucharska. “21 Malmökonstnärer på Galleri 21 — en återblick” is available to visit until the 23rd of February.
