Kristoffer Axén

Kristoffer Axén [b. 1984, Stockholm, Sweden] is a visual artist whose practice spans both painting and photography. Through these mediums he creates images that seem to emerge from the shadows, fragments of faded memories and half-remembered dreams. Figures appear like gold sifted from a gently flowing stream, shimmering reflections of moments from another life. Atmospheric and enigmatic, his works capture scenes suspended at the edges of a narrative that always remains just out of reach.

Having studied photography at the International Center of Photography in New York, where he lived and worked for five years, and later developing as a self-taught painter, Axén has established an idiosyncratic practice that bridges mediums. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Munch Gallery [New York], Galerie Pi, [Copenhagen], and Gallery Domeij [Stockholm], and included in major group shows at Aperture Gallery [New York], Musée de l’Elysée [Lausanne], Liljevalchs Konsthall [Stockholm], Galerie Hors Champs [Paris], and Photo London fair, 2025.

Axén’s trajectory marks him as a significant voice in contemporary image-making. Recent highlights include a solo presentation at the InCadaqués Festival, 2024 thanks to OD Photo Prize, 2024, and a shortlisting for the Nikon Emerging Photographer Award at Photo London, 2025. His works are held in notable collections such as the International Center of Photography, [New York], the Tasmanian Museum of Old and New Art [MONA], and the Musée de l’Elysée [Lausanne]. Featured in leading publications including Frieze, The Guardian, British Journal of Photography, and The New York Times, Axén is entering a defining moment in his career, one that underscores his position as an artist of international importance.

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@axenkristoffer [Photography]
@kristofferaxen [Painting]
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Interview | Behind the Artist

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