Lisa Larson

Not to be confused with the photographer Lisa Larsen.

Lisa Larson
Larson in 1969
Born	(1931-09-09)9 September 1931 Gothenburg, Sweden
Died	11 March 2024(2024-03-11) (aged 92) Nacka, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation(s)	Ceramicist and designer

Lisa Larson (9 September 1931 – 11 March 2024) aged 92 was a Swedish ceramicist and designer. She is best known for her sculptures Small Zoo (1955), ABC-girls (1958), Africa (1964) and Children of the World (1974–1975).

About Her Life

Ceramicist and artist Lisa Larson (1931-2024) passed away on March 11, 2024 after a prolonged illness. Throughout her 70-year career, she crafted series like Little Zoo, ABC Girls, and All the Children of the World, which have earned their place as cherished classics.

Larson's passion for ceramics was ignited during her time at the Slöjdföreningens skola (now HDK) in Gothenburg. Five years later, she entered an art competition where Stig Lindberg, the artistic director of Gustavsberg's porcelain factory at the time, discovered her talent. He was greatly impressed by her brown stoneware vase and offered to her a one-year trial position at the factory. This opportunity turned into a permanent role, propelling Larson to prominence as one of Gustavsberg's leading designers.

Throughout her tenure at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory (1954-1980), Lisa Larson designed an array of figures and ceramic pieces, spanning from human forms and animals to wall tiles and candle lanterns. Characterized by soft, rounded shapes, her creations featured decorations that varied from painted motifs to intricate carvings.

It was during her time at Gustavsberg that she perfected the clay she predominantly employed: stoneware clay infused with chamotte, a finely crushed fired clay. This clay imparted a textured, rustic appearance to her creations, becoming one of the hallmark features of her ceramic pieces.

Lisa Larson sketched numerous series that revolved around recurring themes of sisterhood, motherhood, and family life. Her oeuvre encompassed various themes, with the most notable series presenting a distinct feminist perspective.

One of her most beloved series is the ABC Girls. This collection features five girls, each corresponding to a letter from A to E: Amalia, Beata, Charlotta, Dora, and Emma. Created between 1958 and 1973, these figures are crafted from stoneware clay infused with chamotte. Among the quintet, Dora stands out as the sole figure not engaged in reading a book. Originally intended as bookends, they proved too lightweight for this purpose. Larson's early artistic vision was influenced by ancient fertility goddesses, evident in the rounded forms of the ABC Girls, which diverged from the slender beauty ideals prevalent in the 1950s.

Another well-received series is Africa (1968-1980), comprising six animal figures, with three of them depicting lions. Throughout her tenure at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory, Lisa Larson designed a total of six lion figurines and nearly thirty cat figurines, including Mia, Måns, and Moses. Remarkably, Moses is the only figurine inspired by one of Larson's own cats.

In 1958, she crafted a series of sculptures featuring three human figures, among which was the Japanese woman, produced from 1958 to 1973. Lisa Larson's fascination with Japanese art was sparked during her visits to the H55 exhibition in Helsingborg and the collections of the Ethnographic and Röhsska museums. Subsequently, she embarked on multiple trips to Japan throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her creations enjoy significant popularity in Japan, evidenced by a retrospective exhibition held in eight Japanese cities during 2014-2015.

In 1958, she crafted a series of sculptures featuring three human figures, among which was the Japanese woman, produced from 1958 to 1973. Lisa Larson's fascination with Japanese art was sparked during her visits to the H55 exhibition in Helsingborg and the collections of the Ethnographic and Röhsska museums. Subsequently, she embarked on multiple trips to Japan throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her creations enjoy significant popularity in Japan, evidenced by a retrospective exhibition held in eight Japanese cities during 2014-2015.

From 1981 onwards, Lisa Larson operated as a freelance artist, collaborating with various entities including Rosenthal, Höganäs, Skrufs Glasbruk, and Åhléns. In 1992, she assumed the role of artistic director at Keramikstudion in Gustavsberg, an establishment she founded in the same year.

Larson's creative repertoire extended beyond stoneware figures to encompass public artifacts and illustrations. Her collaborations included partnerships with notable organizations such as Unicef, WWF World Wildlife Fund, Bookbinders Design, Arket, and Skultuna, among others.

Lisa Larson's distinctive creations enjoy widespread popularity both in Sweden and internationally, establishing them as sought-after collector's items across the globe. With her enduring appeal, Lisa Larson has remained one of the most coveted names on platforms like Barnebys, a trend that is likely to persist into the future.

Biography

Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larson (1967)

Larson was born in 1931 in the Härlunda borough in Älmhult, birthplace of IKEA. She studied at College of Crafts and Design in Gothenburg between 1949 and 1954.

Larson is well known for her ceramic work which depicts animals and figures. After she finished her education, she competed in a Scandinavian art competition where she was approached by Stig Lindberg who offered her a one year trial position at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory. Larson eventually left Gustavsberg in 1980 to do freelance work for a number of Swedish companies including Duka, Kooperativa Förbundet and Åhléns.

Larson died on 11 March 2024, at the age of 92.

Work

In 1992, Larson founded the Gustavsberg Ceramic Studio with a few of her former colleagues. The studio continues to produce new designs and small scale production still takes place there.

Gallery

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External links

• Official website