©Lucia Engstrom, Baltic Blue 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 30 x 22 inches (76.2 x 55.9 cm) Edition of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 23 1

©Lucia Engstrom, DETAIL Baltic Blue 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 30 x 22 inches (76.2 x 55.9 cm) Edition of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 23 1

Some months ago, I visited one of my favorite galleries and happened upon a remarkable hand-embroidered photograph by Lucia Engstrom.  Gallerist Tarrah Von Lintel let me know there was an exhibition of her work on the horizon.The exhibition Lovers & Dreamers opens at the Von Lintel Gallery in Santa Monica, CA on February 3rd and runs through March 23, 2024, with an opening on February 3, from 4 – 7 pm.

Photography keeps expanding into new realms, using additional methodolgies and materials to elevate ideas and imagery. Many photographers are intervening with their photographs through the use of embroidery and sewing. Engstrom goes further by using organic threads like silk, mohair, and wool. Her interventions are more gestural and emotional, turning the photograph into a sculptural expression.

Von Lintel shares, “Lovers & Dreamers is a collection of light-filled and poetic images, from messy, wild, and tangled florals to hazy and dreamlike treescapes. Nature is alive, existing and thriving beyond the frame of a photograph. The needlework adds layers of depth and emotion to each image, creating works of art that demand to be felt as well as seen.

Lovers & Dreamers is a study of ethereal landscapes that integrate hand embroidered details to push the traditional boundaries of photography. Her lifelong passion for storytelling is palpable in each frame through her skillful use of light, color, and texture. The combination of her Scandinavian heritage, global travels, and an unyielding adoration for the environment instills a distinct narrative into Engstrom’s work. Her compositions exceed representational photography, weaving a visual diary that tells of her exploration of artistic mediums and natural wonders.”

©Lucia Engstrom, Echo (Burnt Orange) 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 29 x 23 inches (73.7 x 58.4 cm) Edition of 3/3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 23

©Lucia Engstrom, DETAIL Echo (Burnt Orange) 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 29 x 23 inches (73.7 x 58.4 cm) Edition of 3/3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 23

©Lucia Engstrom, Home: Blue/Yellow 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 25.62 x 44.62 inches (65.1 x 113.3 cm) Edition of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 25

©Lucia Engstrom, DETAIL Home: Blue/Yellow 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 25.62 x 44.62 inches (65.1 x 113.3 cm) Edition of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 25

©Lucia Engstrom Dafne’s Song 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 37 x 31.88 inches (94 x 81 cm) Edition 1 of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 26

©Lucia Engstrom DETAIL Dafne’s Song 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 37 x 31.88 inches (94 x 81 cm) Edition 1 of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 26

©Lucia Engstrom, Cumulus 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 27.62 x 42 inches (70.2 x 106.7 cm) Edition 1 of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 27

©Lucia Engstrom, DETAIL Cumulus 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 27.62 x 42 inches (70.2 x 106.7 cm) Edition 1 of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 27

©Lucia Engstrom, Glass Horizon 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 26 x 44 inches (66.0 x 111.8 cm) Edition of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 29

©Lucia Engstrom, DETAIL Glass Horizon 2023 Hand Embroidered with Organic Wool, Silk and Mohair; Cotton Rag Paper 26 x 44 inches (66.0 x 111.8 cm) Edition of 3 + 1AP, each unique ENG 24 29

Born to Scandinavian parents and raised amid the vibrant Scandinavian textiles and folk art of Russia and China during the late 1980s and 90s, the artist and photographer Lucia Engstrom has been immersed in a world of visual wonder from a young age. Drawing inspiration from her nomadic upbringing, her work embodies the cross-cultural connections that define her unique vision. Engstrom’s artistic journey has been profoundly influenced by her exposure to the captivating landscapes, intricate patterns, and rich cultural heritage of the places she has called home. Lucia’s work is characterized by a strong sense of composition and a deep respect for the natural world. Her images are imbued with an undeniable creative energy, capturing the essence of her subjects while transcending the mere representation of form. Through her lens, Lucia’s images act as a visual diary, documenting her ongoing exploration of the world, weaving a compelling narrative through her photography, meticulously embroidering each image to break free from the confines of a two-dimensional plane. With an innate desire to create sculptural masterpieces, her work encapsulates a harmonious marriage of traditional art forms and innovative techniques. Engstrom’s lifelong passion for storytelling is palpable in each frame through her skillful use of light, color, and texture, as she invites the viewer to explore a world informed by her Scandinavian heritage and the diverse cultures that have shaped her artistic vision, all while nurturing an unwavering connection to nature.

Instagram @lucia_engstrom_art

Founded by Tarrah von Lintel almost 30 years ago, Von Lintel Gallery has continually developed its discerning curatorial point of view. The gallery predominantly features painting, photography and unique works on paper that are forward-thinking and challenging while maintaining a strong sense of aesthetic tradition. Focusing on a selective roster of artists who quietly push the boundaries of medium and materiality, the gallery exhibits art that will continue to engage the viewer over time.

Tarrah von Lintel began her career in Paris, working first with Galerie Claire Burrus and then Thaddeus Ropac before opening her own gallery in Munich in 1993. Her gallery featured many NY artists, some of whom she continues to represent today, leading to her move to NYC’s growing Chelsea district in 1999. After 15 successful years in NY, the gallery relocated to Los Angeles, in recognition of LA’s growing importance on the international art scene.

Von Lintel artists have shown or placed work in important public collections, among them The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Modern Art; The Whitney Museum of American Art; The Getty Museum; The International Center of Photography; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the High Museum; The Getty; the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art; and Londonʼs National Gallery of Art.

The gallery is a member of the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) of which Tarrah von Lintel is currently also a board member.

Instagram: @vonlintelgallery