In my oil paintings I try to balance traditional figurative painting with surreal and abstract elements to create a space somewhere between reality and dream where I can study the world from a distance. I’m interested in the creation of identity, both in larger groups and individuals. Whether it’s about norms, traditions, race or gender, the human search for self is one of my main subjects when I create, my work often examining and questioning restrictions in different social contexts.
Niklas Asker was born 1979 in Nordingrå, Sweden.
He has studied painting at Konstskolan Kuben and Örebro Konstskola in Örebro where he graduated in 2001. After art school he choose to studie at Malmö Comics Art School and worked in the international comics scene for 8 years. In that time his own graphic novel Second Thoughts has been published in 6 different languages and he has done work for a number of different publishers, including Random House Books in New York. Ha has also worked as a freelance illustrator with clients all over the world.
In 2009 the opening of Niklas firs solo show at Silverberg Gallery in Malmö marked a change in his personal work. He started painting again and after being accepted into the Liljevalchs Spring Salon in 2011 and 2012 he started exhibiting regularly in Sweden and Abroad. He has also worked with public commissions, the largest one decorating a 240 m2 tunnel in Vellinge.
Publications:
Doble Sentido (Spanish version of Second Thoughts), Roca Editorial, 2015
Paintings, Galleri Svalan, 2014
I hjärtat av Malmö, comics anthology, Seriefrämjandet, 2014
The City of Ember, graphic novel based on the novel by Jeanne DuPrau, Random House Books, 2012
Med Nye Ojne (Danish version of Second Thoughts), Afart Förlag, 2010
Il Giorno in Cui non ci siamo Incontrati (Italian version of Second Thoughts), Elliot Edizioni, 2010
Bijgedachten, Dutch version of Second Thoughts, Sherpa Förlag, 2010
Sätt att Se, Swedish version of Second Thoughts, Optimal Förlag, 2010
Second Thoughts, Top Shelf Comics, 2009
Public commissions:
\"Ängaskogen\", 240 m² mural in Ängavägen pedestrian and traffic tunnel, Vellinge, 2011
2 murals at Mazetti, cultural center of Malmö, 2007
Awards/nominations:
Silver prize for the book Second Thoughts in Svenska Tecknares competition KOLLA, 2011
Nominated for Swedish comics price URHUNDEN for the book Second Thoughts, 2010
Scholarships:
Konstnärsnämndens working scholarship, 2016
Höga Kusten-stipendiet, 2015
Konstnärsnämndens working scholarship, 2010
Malmö City art scholarship, 2009
Residencies:
Höga Kusten (Kramfors Kommun), 2015
Represented at:
Sundsvalls Kommun
Kramfors Kommun
Kalmar Kommun
Vellinge Kommun
