Storm Philippa Clarén
WAY gallery Sthlm is a dynamic and innovative art gallery located in the heart of Stockholm. Founded with the vision of promoting contemporary art and creating a platform for both emerging and promising artists. Our gallery strives to offer an inspiring and inclusive environment where art and culture can thrive. Through carefully curated exhibitions, events, and collaborations, we are committed to presenting artworks that not only challenge and inspire but also provoke discussion and reflection.
WAY gallery welcome you for an artist talk with Storm Philippa Clarén, where she will share insights into her creative process and the mythological, symbol-laden universe that informs her work in SYND.
For the past three years, Philippa has explored a world where the line between utopia and dystopia is blurred—drawing inspiration from the Louise Bourgeois quote: “I have been to hell and back. And let me tell you, it was wonderful.” Her sculptures conjure a universe where demons are mischievous rather than menacing, and bunnies carry layered meanings—from innocence and fear to sexuality and mortality.
Many of her works take the form of busts—a historically male-dominated format—now inhabited by wide-eyed rabbits, sassy devils, and fantastical creatures. This playful inversion replaces the philosopher’s marble with something far more subversive: court jesters in leopard print, Bridget Jones in bunny ears, and hybrid beings born from clay and fantasy literature.
Philippa’s work draws heavily on storytelling. With audiobooks as a constant studio companion, her recent sculptures have been shaped by the world of Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings—filled with sea serpents, prophets, and queer-coded jesters. Echoes of Tove Jansson’s Moomins and pop-cultural icons like Powerpuff Girls’ Him, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and David Bowie can also be found in her vibrant, ambiguous characters.
Is this a dream or a nightmare? A utopia or a hellish playpen? In her artist talk, Philippa invites us into this ambivalent terrain—where sculpting becomes a form of storytelling, mythmaking, and maybe even a little world-building of her own.
Extended opening hours:
13 –16 May: 12:00–19:00
17 May: 11:00–17:00