ARTIST
WRITER
CURATOR
ART HISTORIAN
susannefesse@gmail.com
Art
Susanne Fessé. Series You/Du (2024), C-prints from digital negatives,15x10 cm.
Susanne Fessé. Series Recovering emotions (2024), C-prints from digital negatives,70x50 cm.
Susanne Fessé. Series Precipices / Stup (2023), C-prints from digital negatives,50x60 cm.
Working positions
- Artistic leader and founder at Art/Sensation, 2020 - present.
Art/Sensation is a nomadic curatorial platform that emphasizes the importance of emotions. We enrich established knowledge in the art world by highlight feelings surrounding art. We collaborate with institutions in the form of lectures and curatorial hubs. Art/Sensation develop I collaboration with Untold Garden “Cube”, a virtual exhibition space that challenges conventional notions of how we can show contemporary art in a 3D environment, promoting interaction with the environment in order to discover the work.
-Independent artist / curator / art historian / writer / critic, 2008 - present.
-Editor in Chief, Utställningskritik, 2019 - 2021.
Sweden's only magazine about museums and exhibition criticism. The journal has during my time as editor increased the number of readers from 6,900 unique users to the forecast for 2021 of over 22,000 unique users. An interview with Susanne Fessé in journal Utställningskritik by Pia Cederholm can be read here.
-Co-founder VERK journal, established 2016.
-Editorial adviser VERK journal, 2018 - 2019.
-Publisher VERK journal, 2016 - 2018.
VERK is an independent and politically independent magazine focusing on Nordic camera-based art and wants to show what is happening in the field, as well as encourage discussion and new meetings.
-Board member for Galleri Kontrast, 2020 – 2022.
Galleri Kontrast has for over 20 years shown over 300 exhibitions focusing on documentary photography. Galleri Kontrast is owned by the Press Photographers Club, Sweden.
-Part of exhibition group at CFF - Centrum för fotografi (Center of Photography, Sweden), 2018 - 2021.
-Acting manager at CFF - Centrum för fotografi (Center of Photography), 2017.CFF is a nationwide interest and membership association for photographers and other professional groups working with photography.
-Art teacher, Modern Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, 2015 - 2019.
-Art teacher, Stadsmuseet i Stockholm, Unesco World Heritage Skogskyrkogården, The Woodland Cemetery, 2008–2009.
-Independent photographer, 2003-2014.
-Photographers assistant, for Binge Eliasson and Sedan Berg, 2000-2003
-Coordinator, ArkDes fiends, 2007–2009.
-Art teacher and public host, ArkDes, 2006–2008.
Education / Degrees
Degree of Master of Arts, MA (120 credits), Uppsala university, 2019.
Including the Essay/Degree Project Writing about emotions: a study of how theory of affect can be applied at the intersection of place and work, 45 hp VG. Courses: “Postcolonial approaches” 7,5 hp, “Gender Perspectives on Art and Visual Culture” 7,5 hp, “Art worlds, public art” 7,5 hp, “Public art” and “Art education” 7,5 hp, “Photography and Video Art History” 30 hp, “Theories and Methods in Art History” 7,5hp, “The Art Historical Field” 7,5 hp,
Degree of Bachelor of Arts, BA (180 credits), Stockholm university 2008.
Essay/Degree Project MA Maria Miesenberger and intentionality.
A critical analysis, 30 credits. Courses: “Philosophical Aestetics” 15 hp, ”Basic Course in the History of Art” 30hp, “Advanced Course in the History of Art” 30 hp, “Specialized Course in History of Art”, 30 hp,” Intermediate Course in History and Theory of Art in a Global Perspective”, 15 ph, “Basic Course in World History” 30 hp
Further education
Curatorship Studies, 30 ph, Stockholm University, 2015.
- Intership at Moderna Museet, supervisor: Anna Tellgren.
Program of Cultural Management Studies, 30 hp, Stockholm University, 2015.
-The education has a multidisciplinary nature and integrates economic, legal and cultural theoretical perspectives on project management in the cultural field.
English for Academic Research, 7,5 hp, Stockholm University, 2017.
Artistic basic education, Art School in Stockholm, 1999-2000.
One year of undergraduate artistic education, including design work in, among other things, painting, drawing, sculpture, graphics, video, photography and installation.
Curated exhibitions
“No Death, Just Respawn”, Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art, 2022. Artists: Petra Szemán, Tim Høibjerg, and the artist group The Gaming Department (Thomas Udomrat Hostrup, Jeppe Jørgensen, Taika Louhivuori, Dina Lundvall Nielsen, Ruben Ostan Vejrup, Oscar Yran). Curated by Monica Holmen, Co-Curator/Cube Susanne Fessé. Digital production: Untold Garden, Art/Sensation.
Linnea Hansander, Art/Sensation Cube C/O Index, 2022, digital production: Untold Garden, Art/Sensation.
“Hard Feelings”, Tim Høibjerg, Art/Sensation Cube, 2021, Curator.
“Närläsning: Landet utom sig”. Centrum för fotografi, Sweden. Supervisor in project with Konstfack Students: Anita Honart, Bengt Rahm, Sofia Runarsdotter, Alexander Bäckman and Alma Bons. June 2020.
“Vara Till”, Centrum för fotografi. Artists: Stefan Bladh, Alexandra Ellis, Maria Loohufvud och Johan Unga. 2019. Curator/part of exhibition group.
”Berör mig” Kulturhuset Stadsteatern och Centrum för fotografi. Artists: Heba Y Amin, Aida Chehrehgosha, Snövit Hedstierna, Martina Hoogland Ivanow, Kent Klich and Lovisa Ringborg. 2019. Curator/part of exhibition group.
”Ett år i Sverige”(2018), Björn Larsson, Slussen, public space, with support of culture administration, City of Stockholm, 2019. Curator.
“Almost perfect”, Sune Johnsson center för dokumentärfotografi, Västerbottens museum. Artists: Elin Berge, Marie Hald, Chris Maluszynski, Eivind H. Natvig, Knut Egil Wang and Juuso Westerlund, 2018. Curator.
“Flyktpunkt – New Swedish Photography 2018” group show, CFF – Centrum för fotografi, 2018. Jury member and editor for exhibition catalog.
“Flyktpunkt – New Swedish Photography 2017”, CFF – Centrum för fotografi. Artists: Aron Skoog, Cecilia Jonsson, Cian Burke, Freya Sif Hestnes, Jere Aalto, Karolina Brobäck, Michael Cederlind, Néha Hirve. 2017. Curator.
"A Room of One´s Own" - a curatorial collaboration between VERK | Curerar (Susanne Fessé and Linda Bergman), C-print Journal and TjejLand at Wetterling Gallery, 2017. Artists: Iris Smeds, Behzad Farazollahi, Stefanie Moshammer.
“Salong CFF”, Centrum för fotografi, Group show 140 participating photographers, 2017. Curator together with Iréne Berggren.
"Korsfästelsen av det kvinnliga martyrskapet (återbesök)" by Annica Karlsson Rixon, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm public space with support of culture administration, City of Stockholm, 2016. Curator.
“Here You Are”, Ulf Lundin, Fredsgatan in Stockholm public space, with support of culture administration, City of Stockholm, 2015. Curator.
“Twisted Cherry”, Julia Peirone, Stureplan in Stockholm public space, with support of culture administration, City of Stockholm, 2015. Curator.
“Mitt i naturen”, Björn Larsson, Hornstull, public space, Stockholm public space with support of culture administration, City of Stockholm 2015. Curator.
“Salong CFF”, Centrum för fotografi, group show 120 participating photographers, 2015. Curator.
“Salong CFF”, Centrum för fotografi, group show 110 participating photographers, 2014. Curator.
”Planket 2014, Angelägenheter”, group show with 31 participating photographers, public space, 2014. Curator, with Anja Liljefors and Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist.
Awards and Grants
Operation Grant for development of Cube, in collaboration with Untold Garden, Swedish Arts Council, 2021, 2022.
Operation Grant for Art/Sensation archive and exhibition productions, Swedish Arts Council, 2021.
Grant from Helge Ax:son Johnsons stiftelse for producing book. ”Att skriva om känslor: en studie av hur teori om affekt kan tillämpas i skärningspunkten mellan plats och verk”, Published book by Boris Press, 2021.
Production Grant from Kulturförvaltningen Stockholm stad. Exhibition: Björn Larsson, Ett år i Sverige (2018), 2019.
Swedish Publishing prize, webbjournal, VERK journal, 2018.
Production Grant for Cultural Magazines, VERK journal - Swedish Arts Council, 2017 and 2018.
Grant from Helge Ax:son Johnsons stiftelse for artists talk "Camerabased Site-specific Temporary Art in the Public Space", VERK | Curerar (Susanne Fessé and Linda Bergman) - Stockholm, 2016.
Production Grant from Kulturförvaltningen Stockholm stad. Exhibition: VERK | Curerar (Susanne Fessé and Linda Bergman) 2017.
Production Grant from Kulturförvaltningen Stockholm stad. Exhibition: Expanderande fotografi no. 1-3, Stockholm, 2015.
One year workgrant, Swedish Author Fund (Svenska författarfonden) 2007 and 2008.
Lectures and artist talks
Artist talk: “Visual art in digital room”, conversation between artist Tim Høibjerg, curator/writer Susanne Fessé and curator Monica Holmen at the finisage of “No Death, Just Respawn” at Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art, November 2022.
Moderator: Artisttalk in Art/Sensation Cluster at Konstnärshuset, Stockholm, Sweden with Tim Høibjerg, Artist and Petra Carlsson, Dean of the Department of Religious Studies and Theology, docent, senior lecturer at Stockholm School of Theology, University College Stockholm. November 2021.
Moderator: Panel discussion at Uppsala Art Museum, with Lundahl & Seitl, Stefan Jonsson and Devin Phillip Zuber. September 2021.
Part of panel discussion: "Exhibitions need criticism" at the Swedish museums Spring Meeting 2021, 28 May. Participants: Utställningskritik's editor-in-chief Susanne Fessé, Svenska Dagbladet's exhibition critic Eva Bäckstedt and the City of Gothenburg's development manager Klas Grinell. The moderator was Patrik Steorn from the Gothenburg Art Museum / UtställningsEstetiskt Forum
Conference: Present study “Writing about emotions: a study of how theory of affect can be applied at the intersection of place and work” at AICA Online International Conference 2020, AICA Turkey, November 25–27, 2020.
Moderator: Panel discussion - "The picture of you" at Galleri Kontrast, with Rebecca Bengtsson Lundin, resercher at JMK, the Department of Media Studies at Stockholm University and two of the winners of Picture of the Year Lina Larsson and Anette Nantell / DN, and Alexander Mahmoud / DN. May 2021.
Conference: Present study “Writing about emotions: a study of how theory of affect can be applied at the intersection of place and work” at "Art - What is it good for? Education, mediation, criticism" . An international conference arranged at Linnaeus University, in Växjö, Sweden, August 19-20, 2020.
Supervisor and opponent, “Närläsning: Landet utom sig” project and exhibition at Center for Photography with Konstfack Students: Anita Honart, Bengt Rahm, Sofia Runarsdotter, Alexander Bäckman and Alma Bons, 2020.
Opponent, MA photography, Valand Academy, University of Gothenburg, 2019.
Talk, Fotografi NU! Bonniers Konsthall, Bruno Ceschel, Self Publish, Be Happy, Susanne Fessé, curator och Arvida Byström, konstnär. Moderator: Behzad Farazollahi, MELK, 2019.
Lecture, Digital publication and VERK journal. Valand Academy, University of Gothenburg, 2019.
Lecture, “Utställningen A - Ö”, Göteborgs bildverkstad, 2018.
Artists talk, “Working as a curator with Almost Perfect by Moment” Trondheim documentory festival, 2018.
Lecture: Photography seminar 2018 “Perfect Nordic”, Sune Jonsson Centrum för dokumentärfotografi, Västerbottens museum, 2018.
Reviewer at portfolio review: The Finnish Association of Photojournalists, at Dubrovnik Lounge & Lobby, 15 June, Helsinki.
Workshop leader: Moment agency in Helsonki 13-15 June 2017.
Artists talk, Nordic Moments, The Finnish Association of Photojournalists at Dubrovnik Lounge & Lobby, 15 June, Helsinki.
Workshop leader: ”Present your work for portfolio reviews”, Transeurope program, The Finnish Museum Of Photography. Stockholm, 2018.
Lecture, "Photography and video in public space". Fotogalleriet [format], Malmö, 2017.
Moderator, artist talk: "Flyktpunkt – New Swedish Photography 2017", CFF – Centrum för fotografi, 2017.
Introducer: "Matter of Concern - Photography in a Changing Environment", Konstfack in cooperation with Valand Academy - presentation at symposium by VERK (Linda Bergman and Susanne Fessé), 2017.
Artist talks, Susanne Fessé and Ulf Lundin in conversation with Lotta Törnroth and Simon Berg at Blackbook publishing and Cecilia Grönberg at OEI editor. Landskrona Fotofestival, Photobook day, 2017.
Moderator, artist talk and disussion: "Camerabased Site-specific temporary art in the public space: Artist talk and disussion with Annica Karlsson-Rixon and Björn Larsson", VERK | Curerar at Grundemark Nilsson Gallery - Stockholm.
Writings and publications (selected)
”A decolonial reading of Santiago Mostyn's Delay (2014)”, STREAMING MUSEUM, New York, 2021.
”Konst med affektiv relation”, utställningskritik no 4, 2021.
”Att skriva om känslor: en studie av hur teori om affekt kan tillämpas i skärningspunkten mellan plats och verk”, Published book by Boris Press, 2021.
”En verklig vänskap”, VERK journal no 2, 2021.
"The Memors mentala bilder skapar affektiv relation”, VERK journal no 1, 2021.
”Affektiv relation - om känslan i skärningspunkten mellan plats och verk”- VERK journal no 3, 2020.
"Sensibel styrka, systerskap och tro", VERK journal no 2, 2020.
VERK antologi, project leader, publisher of text published in VERK journal 2016-2018, writer of 10 articles, interview and esseys, Boris Press, Stockholm, 2020.
"The photo exhibition archive” Online archive of exhibitions. Published works: ”Flyktpunkt 2017”, at the Center for Photography, and Björn Larsson's "One Year In Sweden" at Slussen 2019
“Blicken”, interview Karlsson Rixon and Patrik Steorn, VERK tidskrift no 1, 2020.
“Ambassadörens fru - Theresa Traore Dahlberg”, essay, VERK tidskrift no 4, 2019.
”Rur Albo, Petter Löfstedt”, review, Fotografisk tidskrift, no 1, 2019.
“Catalog to the Exhibition Flyktpunkt 2018 - Ny svensk fotografi”, editor and writer.
”Samtal med Hannah Modigh”, interview, VERK journal, no 3, 2018.
Elin Berge, Queejna/Queen, exhibitiontext, Konsthallen, Kulturens Hus, Luleå 2018.
”Konst i det offentliga rummet med vilja att påverka”, text on commission for the exhibition: Birgit Ståhl-Nyberg: Framtiden på väg, Uppsala konstmuseum, 2018.
Elin Berge, Queejna/Queen, Murberget, exhibitiontext, Härnösand, 2018.
"Nelli Palomäki - Dora and Vera", essay, VERK journal, no, 2 2018.
”Lotta Törnroth – Om havet”, interview, VERK journal, no, 1 2018.
"En dekolonial läsning av Santiago Mostyns verk Delay", essay, VERK journal, no 2 2017.
"Materialet som metod - samtal med Nini Hansen", article, VERK journal, no 2, 2017.
"Fotografi och känslor i fotoboken: En läsning genom teori om affekt", text for catalogue about the Swedish Photobook Prize, 2017.
"Fotografi och video i offentliga rum", essay, VERK journal, no 1, 2017.
"Twisted Cherry av Julia Peirone", essay, VERK journal, no 4, 2016.
"Kompositioner av tankar - samtal med Lina Selander", interview, VERK journal, no 3, 2016.
"Melissa Shook - Illusionen av det vardagliga", essay, Bulletinen no 3, 2015.
"Melissa Shook - Livet hoppressat till en platt rektangel", interview, Cora no 42, 2015.
"Planket Angelägenheter", editor to catalogue for exhibition, 2014.
"Protect me from what I want", Essay, Fotografisk tidskrift, 2013.