Michael Johansson

Biography

Michael Johansson (°1975 in Trollhättan, Sweden; lives and works in Berlin) transforms everyday, often second-hand objects into playful sculptures and installations. He meticulously collects items such as old televisions, radios, and VCRs from flea markets and thrift stores, arranging them by color and assembling them into compact, structured compositions. His work is often described as “real-life Tetris,” seamlessly fitting familiar objects into new and unexpected forms. These sculptures appear not only in museum exhibitions worldwide but also in public spaces, such as alleyways and doorways.

Johansson’s practice is driven by a fascination with patterns, repetition, and chance encounters in daily life—like two people wearing the same outfit or a parking lot filled with identical cars. His process mirrors this curiosity, as he seeks out near-identical objects and reconfigures them into unique, cohesive artworks. By reordering the ordinary, he offers a fresh perspective on the familiar, blurring the line between function and art.

michaeljohansson.com

Michael Johansson (°1975 in Trollhättan, Sweden; lives and works in Berlin) transforms everyday, often second-hand objects into playful sculptures and installations. He meticulously collects items such as old televisions, radios, and VCRs from flea markets and thrift stores, arranging them by color and assembling them into compact, structured compositions. His work is often described as “real-life Tetris,” seamlessly fitting familiar objects into new and unexpected forms. These sculptures appear not only in museum exhibitions worldwide but also in public spaces, such as alleyways and doorways.

Johansson’s practice is driven by a fascination with patterns, repetition, and chance encounters in daily life—like two people wearing the same outfit or a parking lot filled with identical cars. His process mirrors this curiosity, as he seeks out near-identical objects and reconfigures them into unique, cohesive artworks. By reordering the ordinary, he offers a fresh perspective on the familiar, blurring the line between function and art.

michaeljohansson.com

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2023

Variationer I - II, Galleri Arnstedt, Östra Karup (SE) upcoming

2021

TVÄRS, Vattentornet Konsthall, Säffle (SE)

2020

Repetitions, Helsinki Contemporary, Helsinki (FI)
Dalslands Konstmusem, Åsensbruk (SE)

2019

Spatial Variations, Galerie Enrique Guererro, Mexico City (MX)
Gallery Sign, Reykjavik (IS)

2018

Bærum Kunsthall, Bærum (NO)
Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag (NL)
Alternative Readings, The Flat – Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Sultans of Salvage, Kristinehamns Konstmuseum (SE)
Never Odd or Even, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Stockholm (SE)

2017

Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar (NL)
Rumsligheter och andra hemligheter, Alingsås Konsthall, Alingsås (SE)
This Side Up, Nationalmuseum Design, Kulturhuset, Stockholm (SE)
180°, Møre & Romsdal Kunstsenter, Molde (NO)

2016

Galleri Arnstedt, Östra Karup (SE)

2015

Østfold Kunstnersenter, Fredrikstad (NO)
Crossroads, The Flat – Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Swedish Democracy, Helsinki Contemporary, Helsinki (FI)

2014

RAKE visningsrom, Trondheim (NO)
Värmlands Museum, Karlstad (SE)
Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag (NL)
Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Göteborg (SE)

2013

Lines and Layers, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen (DK)
Ensemble, Manmade Wooyougmi, Seoul (KR)
Shades and Variables, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Stockholm (SE)
Parallella Historier, Konsthallen Trollhättan (SE)
Familiar Abstractions, Vigeland-museet, Oslo (NO)

2012

Still Lifes, The Flat – Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Memories of a Colour, Maison Hermès WD, Tokyo (JP)
2011Horror Vacui, AIT, Tokyo (JP)
Bunker, Kunstbanken, Hedmark Kunstsenter, Hamar (NO)
Recollection, Ystad Konstmuseum, Ystad (SE)
Luleå Konsthall, Luleå (SE)
Familiar Abstractions, The Flat – Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)

2010

TÄTT, Växjö Konsthall, Växjö (SE)
Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag (NL)
Triptyk, Galleri 21, Malmö (SE)
Haninge Konsthall (SE)

2009

PREVIEW, Galerie Hartwich Rügen, Berlin (DE)
Frameworks, Østfold Kunstnersenter/Galleri ØKS, Fredrikstad (NO)
Galleri Arnstedt, Östra Karup (SE)
Akershus Kunstnersenter, Lillestrøm (NO)

2008

Cuboids, Trøndelag Senter for Samtidskunt, Trondheim (NO)
Strings Attached, Galerie Hartwich, Rügen (DE)
1,5m2, 21m2, Stavanger (NO)
Strings Attached, Nordin Gallery, Stockholm (SE)
Strings Attached, Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, Svolvaer (NO)

2007

Örnsköldsviks Konsthall (SE)
Monolit, Bastard, Oslo (NO)
Nollställt, Konsthallen Trollhättan (SE)
Some Assembly Required, Galleri Mors Mössa, Göteborg (SE)
Engine Bought Separately, Galleri S:t Gertrud, Malmö (SE)

2006

FILM – Short Cuts, Neon, Brösarp (SE)

2005

”…one more time”, CirkulationsCentralen, Malmö (SE)
”Oops, I did it again…”, Master’s Exhibition, Galleri PEEP, Malmö (SE)
Wind of Change, PICTURA, Lund (SE)
COPYCAT (with Kristina Lenard), Gallery PM, Zagreb (HR)

2004

KMRIICSH (with Kristina Lenard), Vladimit Nazor Gallery, Zagreb (HR)

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023

Ostrale- Biennale for Contemporary Art, Robotron Kantinel, Dresden (DE) upcoming
Between Particles and Waves, Total Museum (KR)

2022

25AÑOS, Galerie Enrique Guererro, Mexico City (MX)
Nouvelle Vague, Galerie Hartwich, Rügen (DE)
Wallstreet Stockholm, Stockholm (SE)
En Route, Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag (NL)
Vårsalongen 100 år, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm (SE)
Overdose, Designmuseum Holon (IL)
Eyes Wide Open, Aeroplastics, Brussels (BE)
Mixed Tape, FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph Galerie, Berlin (DE)
Lovers in a Dangerous Time, TheFlat - Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)

2021

COME WHAT MAY, Aeroplastics, Brussels (BE)
Recyclage/Surcyclage, FondationVilla Datris - Espace Monte-Christo, Paris (FR)
Norwegian Sculpture Triennial, Oslo (NO)
If Walls Could Talk, The Flat - Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Recently Seen and Admired, FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph Galerie, Berlin (DE)
Colors, etc. Lille3000, Lille (FR)

2020

Non-Sculpture: Light or Flexible, Changwon Sculpture Biennale, Changwon (KR)
Intersection, FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph Galerie, Berlin (DE)
And thence we came forth to see again the stars, The Flat - Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Recyclage/Surcyclage, Fondation Villa datris, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (FR)
Kleureyck, Designmuseum Ghent (BE)

2019

Cheongju Biennale, Cheongju (KR)
‍Aeroplastics, Brussels (BE)
Samling, Galleri Arnstedt, Östra Karup (SE)
Reconsider Walls, HighGallery, Warsaw (PL)

2018

Eigensinn(Obstinacy), Künstlerhaus Dortmund (DE)
Summertime´18, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen (DK)

2017

Over& Over, Glass Curtain Gallery, Chicago (US)
Forever Never Comes, Museo Archeologico e d´arte della maremma, Grosseto (IT)
Mapping Berlin, Galerie Wedding, Berlin (DE)
Sliperiet, Borgsvik (SE)
Washington 186, Aeroplastics, Brussels (BE)

2016

‍The Flat - Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Fifi Projects, San Pedro (MX)
A Mix of Primary Colour's, Galerie Hartwich, Rügen (DE)
Colours of the Season, Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag (NL)
140/15, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Umeå (SE)
SEI Innovation Studio, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia (US)

2015

November, CCA Andratx (ES)
Arcadia Unbound, Funkhaus Berlin (DE)
konkret mehr Raum!, Kunsthalle Osnabrück, Osnabrück (DE)
Offside, AlmaLöv Museum, Östra Ämtervik (SE)
SKULPTUR, Royal British Society of Sculptors, London (UK)

2014

Last Exit - Bag Project, Moving Triennale, Busan (KR)
Sand in Vaseline, Black Market, Lehrter Siebzehn, Berlin (DE)
Black Market Helsinki, Gallery Sinne, Helsinki (FI)
Very Fun Park, Fubon Art Foundation, Taipei (TW)
Samlarens Blick, Bohusläns Museum, Uddevalla (SE)
Metropolitan Kitchen Gardens, The Flat - Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
The Pleasure Principle, Lehrter Siebzehn, Berlin (DE)
A Book Between Two Stools, Villa Empain, Brussels (BE)

2013

Baltic Sea Record 2013, Stadtgalerie Kiel (DE)
Projet R, Massy (FR)
Inner Journeys, Maison Particullère, Brussels (BE)
Yes Naturally, GEEM/Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag (NL)
KLEUR, Galerie Ramakers, Den Haag (NL)

2012

Imaginary Travels, Amerika Haus, Berlin (DE)
Koganecho Bazaar, Yokohama (JP)
Soirée graphique N°5, Kunsthalle Bern, Bern (CH)
Museiparken Karlstad (SE)
Point Blank - Mikser on Belef, Geozavod, Belgrade (RS)
Beaufort04, Triennial of Contemporary Art by the Sea, Zeebrugge (BE)
Scratch my name on your arm..., Passagen Linköpings Konsthall, (SE)
Déjà vu, Contemporary Art from Malmö Art Museum's Collection, Turku Art Museum (FI)
Den Dolda Konsten, Haninge Konsthall (SE)
Back to the Future, Centrum Beeldende Kunst, Utrecht (NL)
Perfectible Geometries, The Flat – Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)

2011

ARTISTAS, Galeria Filomea Soares, Lisbon (PT)
Space Invaders, Kunsthallen Nikolaj, Copenhagen (DK)
Norsk Skulpturbiennale, Vigelandmuseet, Oslo (NO)
La Vie Mode d'Emploi, Meessen De Clercq, Brussels (BE)
Witte de With Straat Festival, Rotterdam (NL)
Container Architektur, NRW-Forum Düsseldorf (DE)
Rådhusgalleriet, Oslo (NO)
Overlap, Den Frie Kunstbygning, Copenhagen (DK)
Scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen..., Landskrona Museum (SE)
If on a winter's day a traveller..., Bologna Art First, Bologna (IT)

2010

Spår, Malmö Konstmuseum, Malmö, (SE)
Out of OSTRALE'010, Alte Schlachthof, Eupen (BE), Wilson Shaft Gallery, Katowice (PL)
BGO VOL 1, Bergen Art Museum, Bergen (NO)
OSTRALE'010, Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Dresden (DE)
Space Invaders, Netherlands Media Art Institute, Amsterdam (NL)
Moscow International Biennial for Young Art, Moscow Museum of Modern Art (RU)
Umedalen Skulptur, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Umeå (SE)
Pastiche: When a Tree Falls in the Forest..., Sølyst Castle Park, Jyderup (DK)
Meaning of Void, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen (DK)
Utan titel, Ystad Konstmuseum, Ystad (SE)
Market At Large, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Stockholm (SE)

2009

Space Invaders, FACT, Liverpool (UK)
Galleri Thomassen, Göteborg (SE)
The Inner Space, The Flat – Massimo Carasi, Milan (IT)
Northern Lights and White Russians, Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Umeå (SE)
Open Art, Örebro Konsthall (SE)
Alma Löv Museum, Ö Ämtervik (SE)
Ytor och djup, Åmells c/o Konstnärshuset, Stockholm (SE)
Truth or Dare, Århus Kunstbygning, Århus (DK)
Flytande ögonblick, Ystad Konstmuseum, Ystad (SE)
Nordin Gallery, Stockholm (SE)
Vårsalongen, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm (SE)

2008

Tupajumi Show, Sigmaringen (DE)
Galleri Flach+Thulin,Stockholm (SE)
PRESENT, Alma Löv Museum, Ö Ämtervik (SE)
The Real Thing, Malmö Konstmuseum (SE)
The View Outside, cameracartell - Scenario 1, Elektrohaus, Hamburg (DE)
Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup (SE)
Little Rituals, Westpac, Sydney (AU)
Paso Doble (with Kristina Lenard), Gallery MKC, Split (HR)
For a Happier Tomorrow, Galleri Tom Christoffersen, Copenhagen (DK)
Linienstrasse 113 (with Kristina Lenard), Berlin (DE)

2007

Pumphusets Konsthall, Landskrona (SE)
Hit & Run, Hinterconti, Hamburg (DE)
Capital, Lund (SE)
Høstutstillingen, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo – Trondheim Kunstmuseum (NO)
Samling, Arnstedt & Kullgren, Östra Karup (SE)

2006

7 Videokonstverk, Allmänna Galleriet 925, Stockholm (SE)
Høstutstillingen, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo (NO)
Besökarna, Konstfrämjandet Skåne, Västra Hamnen, Malmö (SE)
PULSAR, Caracas Contemporary Art Museum, Caracas (VE)
P.A.N.K 2006, Marabouparken, Stockholm (SE)

2005

Polyfonia, Jetty Barracks Gallery, Helsinki, (FI)
Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin, Paris (FR)
LOOP-05, Barcelona (ES)
No Volvo, No Bergman, No Blix: New Swedish Video, Monkeytown, New York (US)
Up North, Centre Civic Barceloneta, Barcelona (ES)

2004

Video 2004, Landmark, Bergen (NO)
Who´s the storyteller?, Landmark - Bergen Art Museum, Bergen (NO)

2003

Høstutstillingen, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo (NO)
Who's the storyteller?, Kiasma, Helsinki (FI)
Blowing up Festival, London (UK)
Union, Bachelor exhibition, Galleri KIT, Trondheim (NO)
Trøndelagsutstillingen, Trøndelag Senter for Samtidskunst, Trondheim (NO)

Artworks