About

Olle Helin (b. 1993, Stockholm, SE) explores painting through its physical components, and for a long time, a central part of his practice has been making paint from scratch. Instead of buying factory-produced paint, he embarks on "colour walks" through urban environments, collecting materials that catch his interest—ranging from historical dye plants to industrial by-products. These colour walks offer new perspectives on familiar surroundings and lead to the rediscovery of forgotten places in the city. He brings his findings back to his studio, where they undergo experimental and alchemical processes, transforming into paint. This approach expands painting beyond the studio, making it more tangible by connecting the material to specific places and experiences. Since the process is at the core, the results are unpredictable, and although many explorations ultimately take the form of paintings, this is never predetermined.

Education

Malmö Art Academy, MFA, 2019-2021
Konstfack, BFA, 2016-2019
Idun Lovén, 2013-2015

Solo and duo exhibitions

(Upcoming) Galleri KC Väst, Göteborg, 2026
Galleri Ping-Pong, Målarlådor, Malmö, 2025
Galleri Hörnan, Faluröd: det första pigmentet, Falun, 2025
Studio 17, Site Unseen w/ Fergus Tibbs, Stavanger (NO), 2024
Galleri Arnstedt, Bruten Vit, Östra Karup, 2023
Galleri Gerlesborg, Lokalfärg, Gerlesborg, 2022
Ronneby Konsthall, Colour Research, Ronneby, 2022
Rörsjögatan 10, Malmö, 2021

Group exhibitions

(Upcoming) Anthracite, Zürich (CH), 2025
Olseröds Konsthall, Everything is turning to gold, Kristianstad, 2024
Galleri Arnstedt, Jubileumsutställning, Östra Karup, 2024
Molekyl Gallery, Rymdprogrammet, Malmö, 2023
Rochester Art Center, Walk with us, Minnesota (US), 2022-2023
Galleri Arnstedt, Ex-studenter från Malmö Konsthögskola, Östra Karup, 2022
Galleri KHM, Edstrandska Stiftelsens stipendiater, Malmö, 2021
Crum Heaven, CRUM, Stockholm, 2019
Centrum för Fotografi, Stockholm, 2018

Grants and residencies

Malmö Art Museum, Ellen Trotzigs stipendium, 2025
Swedish Arts Grants Committee, One year working grant, 2025
Studio 17, Residency, Stavanger (NO), 2024
Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Assistant grant, 2024
Academy of Fine Arts, Vera och Göran Agnekils stipendium, 2024
Malmö Municipality, Grant for young artists, 2023
Helge Ax:son Jonsons Foundation, Travel grant, 2023
Gerlesborgsskolan i Bohuslän, Residency, 2022
Swedish Arts Grants Committee, One year working grant, 2022
Rochester Art Center, WWU Awards, 2022
Malmö Municipality, Arbetsstöd för återstart av Malmös kulturliv, 2021
Edstrandska Foundation, 2021
Academy of Fine Arts, Vera and Hugo Bergmans Memorial Fund, 2021
Academy of Fine Arts, Von Beskows and Otto Hillerströms Funds, 2020

Representation

Falun Municipality, 2025
Region Skåne, 2023
Region Skåne, 2022
Region Blekinge, 2022

Teaching, workshops, etc.

(Upcoming) Österlenskolan, Artist talk, 2025
KKV Malmö, Artist talk, 2025
LTH Faculty of Engineering, Guest teacher, 2023-2025
Konstskolan Munka, Teacher in painting, 2024
Lisa Torell, Artist assistant, 2024
Kyrkeruds Folkhögskola, Guest teacher, 2023
Konstskolan Munka, Guest teacher, 2020-2022
Elisabeth Frieberg, Artist assistant, 2018