Estelle Graf - Kolskiss - Ostron

Artist: Estelle Graf

“There is something comical about the entire phenomenon of being human. The artificial methods we've developed to hide our instincts and heritage are, in a way, both touching and ridiculous. In short, there’s something tickling about the thought that we’re all just pigs and frogs who have developed sophisticated manners,” says Estelle.

A distinctive feature of Estelle Graf’s work is that she almost always employs satire.

“It’s convenient to use an animal head to capture a character. It also automatically softens the tone, which makes it easier to be honest in the portrayal. For example, a subject that would normally depict something quite dark can become digestible and almost cute, and that’s comical in itself,” says Estelle.

Estelle began her career as an Art Director in Paris. Today, she lives and works in Stockholm, and her artwork has been exhibited and sold internationally, as well as featured in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Elle Decoration, and PLAZA Interior. In 2019, Estelle Graf released her first book, Tryckt Stämning, with the publisher Arvinius Orfeus, a satirical depiction of people’s inner dialogues.

“For me, creating is about telling stories and testing one’s observations. I like to give away small fragments of longer stories or deep thoughts. This way, the viewer can fill in or attribute whatever they like to the work."