Jennie Petersen’s practice is grounded in figurative and naïve portraiture, working primarily with acrylic on canvas. Her paintings depict women in vibrant, emotionally charged and unapologetically unpolished ways, often embracing rawness and imperfection as a form of strength. In recent years she has expanded into mosaic sculpture, particularly through her ongoing series of “pajama ladies.”

Her artistic journey began as a casual hobby but deepened during a period of burnout, when painting became a therapeutic outlet. Turning to feminist literature for solace, Petersen developed a new perspective on the female body—her own and those of the women around her. This shift continues to shape her practice, which celebrates bodies free from judgment and embraces art-making as a way of reclaiming self-worth. The “pajama ladies,” born during the COVID-19 pandemic, embody this spirit of everyday rebellion: women who cry, smoke, drink, rage and exist entirely on their own terms. Imperfect, expressive and deeply human, they transform personal experience into collective symbolism.

Her style is colorful, figurative and instinctive, unconcerned with academic rules of proportion or perspective. Petersen draws inspiration from 19th-century portraiture, visits to Stockholm’s National Museum, and pioneering female artists such as Helene Schjerfbeck, Sigrid Hjertén, Vanessa Bell, Marie-Louise Ekman and Marianne Lindberg De Geer. The aim of her work is personal empowerment: to strengthen her self-image, challenge conventional beauty ideals and create space for emotional honesty. If it resonates with or empowers others, that becomes a meaningful extension of its purpose.

Jennie Petersen (b. 1982 in Karlshamn, Sweden) lives and works in Stockholm. She is self-taught and has exhibited her work in solo and group shows at galleries, restaurants and cultural events including a jazz festival. Her paintings have been featured in publications such as Rum Hemma, Sköna Hem, Elle Decoration and Retro.