Barbro Nilsson1899 - 1983
Barbro Nilsson was one of Sweden’s most distinguished textile artists of the twentieth century. Celebrated for her exceptional tapestry and rug designs, she played a defining role in shaping the identity of Scandinavian textile art. Nilsson first gained national recognition for the monumental tapestry she created in collaboration with the painter Sven Erixson for the Gothenburg Concert Hall in 1939, a work that demonstrated her mastery of colour, composition and large-scale weaving.
Alongside her artistic practice, Nilsson was deeply committed to teaching and craftsmanship. She taught at Konstfack in Stockholm, where she influenced an entire generation of Swedish textile designers. In 1942 she became the artistic director of Märta Måås-Fjetterström’s weaving atelier in Båstad, one of the most important textile workshops in Scandinavia. Under her leadership, the atelier entered a period of renewed creativity and international recognition.
Nilsson created a wide range of handwoven rugs, tapestries and church textiles, often inspired by natural patterns, coastal landscapes and botanical motifs. Her designs are admired for their harmonious colour palettes, rhythmic structures and precise craftsmanship. Today, her work is regarded as an essential contribution to Swedish textile design, and her pieces remain highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs of modern Scandinavian craft.
