Lisa Larson’s birds have been nesting in her studio since 1967. Almost forgotten among so many gems by the celebrated Swedish ceramicist. Now roaming free after been resurrected by Design House Stockholm.
’We stayed close to the bay in Sausalito, near San Francisco in 1967, for half a year’ remembers Lisa Larson. ’I studied ceramics for Peter Voulkos at Berkeley. I encountered lots of strong colors and exotic patterns in folk-art from nearby Mexico. I just started out painting these birds without any idea on how to produce them.’
The late ’60s in the US was marked by anti-war protests and a blooming hippie culture. Flower Power was the response to repression and signaled the advent of individualism and total freedom of expression. Lisa Larson colored flock of birds came to life in this vividly inspired time where vibrant music erupted, and a young generation conquered the stage.
Lisa Larsson arrived in St. Louis to set up an exhibition of her ceramic work from Gustavsberg. She and her husband, artist Gunnar Larson along with their two small kids then went cross-country in a retired police car. At her very first longer trip abroad she was intoxicated with the ’60s joyful ample flower patterns. Her joy was jointly shared back in Sweden by her sister, the fashion designer Titti Wrange who also used oversized patterns in her dresses.
’I brought back gouache colors, in shades which were impossible to get by in Sweden at that time,’ says Lisa Larson. ’I found a retired carpenter who turned out these shapes in wood which I then painted all by myself. It was a lot of work, and I had to get back to my ordinary work as a ceramicist.’
Her crafty artwork made her a household name in Sweden as early as the 50s, and also abroad especially in Japan where she had her first solo exhibition already 1981. Cats, politicians, angels, and many other inspirations were masterly transformed into some 200 different figurines at Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory. Tired of being tied to one factory, she successfully started out as a freelancer in 1980 and expanded her craft to include household ceramics.
’I was craving to work, and to paint these wood shapes were just natural since I had no possibility to work with ceramics in our house back then.’ says Lisa Larson. ’I had no idea on how they could be reconstructed or produced once back in Sweden, but I was so inspired by all that I saw.’
’I brought back gouache colors, in shades which were impossible to get by in Sweden at that time, and I found a retired carpenter who turned out these shapes in wood which I then painted all by myself. It was a lot of work, and letting some of my friends take over the paint job didn’t work out. In the end I gave up on the idea and went back to my ordinary work as a ceramicist.’
Her treasure has been kept nesting since 1967, first at the family’s summer house in South Sweden, and then at her studio outside of Stockholm. ’I found these marvelous designs at a visit at Lisa’s studio’, says Anders Färdig, founder of Design House Stockholm, ’I was completely mesmerized by these birds craving for attention. Why were they not in production? The Mexican look, the outsized Flower Power patterns: Lisa Larson’s birds are almost like peace doves, a remembrance of a time when the young generation protested against war and dreamt about a new society.’
Anders Färdig had met Lisa Larson already some 47 years earlier and learned to appreciate her craft. The birds are now flying free and bringing back some of the spirit of 1968. High-keyed colors that celebrate life. Colors in blown-up patterns that really power the soul.
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