Erik Höglund

Erik Höglund (1932–1998) was a Swedish artist and designer known for his influential work in glass, metal, and public art during the postwar period. He is closely associated with the glassworks Boda, where he introduced a more expressive and experimental approach to studio glass in Sweden. Höglund’s work combined traditional craftsmanship with a deliberately raw and sculptural aesthetic that differed from the more polished style typical of earlier Scandinavian glass design.

Biography

Erik Höglund studied at Konstfack, the University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, before beginning his collaboration with Boda glassworks in Småland in 1953. At a relatively young age, he was given considerable artistic freedom at the factory, where he developed new forms of glass production that emphasized texture, irregularity, and visible traces of the making process. His work marked a shift in Swedish glass toward a more artistic and less strictly industrial expression.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Höglund designed a wide range of objects for Boda, including bowls, vases, bottles, ashtrays, and lighting fixtures. Many of these pieces were characterized by thick, hand-blown glass, often in deep colors such as blue, amber, or green, sometimes incorporating applied decorations or embedded motifs. He also worked extensively in iron and other metals, producing candleholders, wall sculptures, and architectural commissions that reflected his interest in medieval and folk-inspired forms.

In addition to his work in glass and metal, Höglund completed numerous public art commissions in Sweden, including sculptures, reliefs, and decorative installations for churches and civic buildings. His work played an important role in expanding the boundaries between art, craft, and industrial design in Sweden during the mid-20th century.

Erik Höglund’s production remains widely recognized within Scandinavian design history. His objects are valued for their distinctive character, tactile surfaces, and the combination of artistic expression with traditional glassmaking techniques.