Folke Jansson

Folke Jansson (1920–2017) was a Swedish designer, artist, and sculptor known for his versatile creative practice across furniture, visual art, and decorative design. He is best recognized for the chair Arabesk, introduced during the mid-20th century, which reflects a sculptural and expressive approach to form within Swedish modern design.

Biography

Folke Jansson was born on September 26, 1920, in Skövde, Sweden. He studied art and design at the Nordic Correspondence Institute in Malmö before establishing a broad professional career that included work as a set designer, decorator, drawing teacher, and communication designer. His creative work extended across multiple disciplines, combining artistic sensibility with practical design applications.

Alongside his professional activities, Jansson developed an independent artistic practice, working in painting and ceramics later in life. His work is represented in public collections, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm. The Arabesk chair remains his most widely recognized design, demonstrating his ability to merge sculptural expression with functional furniture design.

Folke Jansson’s contribution to Swedish design lies in his multidisciplinary approach, where artistic exploration and practical craftsmanship were closely intertwined.