Karl-Joel Larsson's jubilant, art-historical drawings take references to new heights

Date
19 July 2016

Artist and multi-disciplinary designer Karl-Joel Larsson is the essence of a modern day Renaissance man; working between painting, furniture design, graphic design and drawing. While studying at Gothenburg’s Academy of Design and Crafts he developed a practice that combines his many areas of expertise, drawing the furniture and paintings that inspire him.

A step on from his series Some Matisses, which arose from re-painting Matisse’s when he didn’t know what to paint, Karl-Joel’s new drawings depict Donald Judd furniture, palms, pools, bouquets, more Matisse paintings and Frida Kahlo in front of a Picasso. Drawn in bright hues with minimal details, the poppy series manages to strike the difficult balance of historical know-how and light heartedness; which sits well in Karl-Joel’s portfolio, that also includes a “post-practical table” with a textile top and hidden layer of elastic string.

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Karl-Joel Larsson: Untitled

Right

Karl-Joel Larsson: Kahlo, Kelly, Picasso

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Karl-Joel Larsson: Kahlo, Kelly, Picasso

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Left

Karl-Joel Larsson: (Avery & Kelly) By the Pool

Right

Karl-Joel Larsson: Flowers in front of a Judd

Above

Karl-Joel Larsson: Flowers in front of a Judd

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Karl-Joel Larsson: Still Life with Dance and Judd Table Cloth

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Karl-Joel Larsson: Painters Family

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Karl-Joel Larsson: Interior III

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About the Author

Billie Muraben

Billie studied illustration at Camberwell College of Art before completing an MA in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art. She joined It’s Nice That as a Freelance Editorial Assistant back in January 2015 and continues to work with us on a freelance basis.

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