Pop Art Design at Moderna

Tom Wesselmann
Smoker Banner, 1971
© The Estate of Tom Wesselmann/BUS 2013. Photographer unknown.

This past Thursday I was at the grand opening of Moderna's (the modern art museum) big summer exhibition: Pop Art Design. This is a nice exhibition looking at both art and design from 1950 through the early 1970's featuring a mix of both recognizable pieces from well known artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein to lesser known artists like Öyvind Fahlström and Richard Hamilton.

I have been to a few exhibitions on pop art, both here in Sweden and abroad, but what I liked about this one is the introduction of design to the exhibit... from magazine covers to furniture, with some especially great pieces by Charles and Ray Eames. This exhibition explores the relationship between art and design during this time period and how they influenced each other. The exhibition is organised jointly with Vitra Design Museum Weil am Rhein, in association with Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark.

George Nelson
Marshmallow, Sofa, 1956, Collection Vitra Design Museum
© Georg Nelson Assosciates, Vitra Design Museum 

The exhibition runs until September 22nd. Moderna is located on the island of Skeppsholmen and is relatively easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... it is either a nice walk through the old town, taking about 35 minutes, or you can take the ferry to Djurgården which makes a stop at Skeppsholmen (10 minute trip). Just make sure you let the staff know when you go onboard that you wish to disembark at Skeppsholmen (during the low season they stop there just upon request).

Admission is 120 SEK for adults and you can also buy a combination ticket (200 SEK) that includes admission to the Architecture and Design Center next door (which, by the way, has a great exhibit on designer Jean Paul Gaultier this summer). While at Moderna, don't miss their great gift shop (a personal favorite!) and café... with views over the harbour.