I work in the borderland where materials become stories and form becomes experiences.
About Elena
Elena Berg Österdahl (b. 1985) is a designer, craftswoman and artist based on Gotland, Sweden, her birthplace, and in Gryon, Switzerland. Educated at Jönköping Institute of Technology, with a bachelor's degree in product development in furniture design, knowing that she wanted to follow an artistic path, but with a technical foundation. Her education combined both theory and practice with a focus on the market, as well as projects taken directly from the furniture industry.
"I am driven by turning traditional concepts upside down and by the contrasts in form and material. "Imagine that from dirty metal you can create sheer shapes that seduce with stylish elegance!" Metal is also fascinating because it often needs to be "wrestled with", with strength and distinctiveness, but sometimes the softest hands are needed. It is alive and the most circular material on our planet. Patinated metal also tells a unique story. There is something melancholic in creating in a material that withers slowly, but still so visible: "Rust is the decaying process of metal, like a flower that withers!"
Exhibitions
2025
"Silhouette"
Barman Art Gallery, Montreux, CH
2024
Villars Palace Art Fair, Villars-sur-Ollon, CH
2023
Rånäs Castle, Rånäs, SE
2023
“From the rock face”
The Artisans Karlstad, SE
2023
“Behind the flower”
Gallery STUK, Visby, SE
2022
Mixed Minds, Gotland, SE
2021
Mixed Minds, Gotland, SE
2017 >
Participated in group exhibitions with the cooperative GKF, Gotland, SE
2016
"Girl! Fire Walk with Me"
Glass studio Big Pink, art performance together with Jennie Olofsson, Gotland, SE
2014 >
Open Studios, Gotland, SE
Art tour and exhibition at Gotland Art Museum.
2011
Stockholm Furniture Fair, Stockholm, SE
Exhibitor of own designed and manufactured furniture.
2009
Art exhibition at Gotlandshem, SE
2009
Art exhibition at Svenska spel, Gotland, SE
June 5 - August 24
"In Fylge" Gallery STUK (group exhibition), Gotland, SE
Ongoing/upcoming Exhibitions
2010-2012
University of Technology, Jönköping, SE
Bachelor's degree with a focus on product development in furniture design and a major in application of technology 180 credits.
2011
Internship at Skulpturfabriken, Gotland, SE
3D modeling, construction drawings, sculpture, decoration.
2007-2008
Academy of Fine Arts, Gotland, SE
2006-2007
Nyckelviks School, Stockholm, SE
Courses: wood, design and crafts.
Training
2017-2018
Garden design and development of bird feeders for private customers, Gotland, SE
2017
Unique, customized furniture for private customer, CH
2016
Product development of kitchen utensils for chef Luqaz Ottosson ahead of the Chef of the Year 2017 competition, SE
2016
Unique custom-made furniture for private customers, CH
Project
2022
Caisa Gyllengårde, Emma Jönsson Dysell , Annika Gustavsson Nyberg " Dare Dare: 100 inspiring women about courage and the path to their own business"
2018
Roger Björkman, "The Homecoming" Gotlands Guiden
2017
Mari Winarve, “Elena and Jerome” Radio Gotland
2016
Maria Molin, “Telling about nature in metal” Kulturöjn
2015
Malin Vinblad “The mountain troll finds home” Forum Gotland
Publications
2020 - 2024
Elected chairman of the cooperative Gotland Craftsmen & Designers, Gotland, SE
2017 >
Member of the Gotland Craftsmen & Designers Cooperative, Gotland, SE
2022 >
Nomination Committee of Svensk Form Gotland
2018 >
Swedish Form
2011
Stockholm Furniture Fair, Stockholm, S
Project manager for the education's participation at the fair.
Commissions & Memberships
2017-2018
Garden design and development of bird feeders for private customers, Gotland, SE
2017
Unique, customized furniture for private customer, CH
2016
Product development of kitchen utensils for chef Luqaz Ottosson ahead of the Chef of the Year 2017 competition, SE
2016
Unique custom-made furniture for private customers, CH
Grants & Awards