Per B Sundberg1964 -
Per B. Sundberg is one of Sweden’s most distinctive and boundary-pushing artists in the field of contemporary ceramics and glass. Often described as the "great rebel of ceramics," Sundberg has gained international recognition for his technically advanced and conceptually layered works that challenge conventional ideas of material, function, and form.
Trained at Konstfack in Stockholm, Sundberg approaches ceramics and glass with an experimental sensibility that combines masterful craftsmanship with irreverent wit. His process often involves sculpting in stoneware, layering multiple applications of glaze and engobe, and incorporating pre-existing porcelain figurines into newly constructed forms. These hybrids are fired at varying temperatures and stages, resulting in richly textured, highly individual surfaces.
The works are notable for their narrative complexity, often oscillating between absurdity and critique. Decoration becomes an active agent rather than surface treatment—frequently blurring the line between ornament, utility, and sculpture. Sundberg's assemblages often question aesthetic norms, cultural hierarchies, and collective memory through bold juxtapositions and visual humour.
His practice extends into glass, where he applies similarly unorthodox techniques to disrupt traditional expectations. Whether sculptural or functional, his pieces engage viewers with their unpredictability and strong visual presence.
Sundberg’s work has been exhibited at institutions including Magasin III Museum for Contemporary Art (Stockholm), Nationalmuseum (Stockholm), Röhsska Museum (Gothenburg), and Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall (Norway). In 2022, he was awarded the prestigious Prins Eugen Medal for outstanding artistic achievement. In 2018, he collaborated with IKEA on a limited collection that brought his subversive vision into a broader public realm.
