About me

In this interview (on YouTube), you will learn a little more about my background, technique, and thoughts about my life as an artist.


I grew up in a big family with five siblings as well as a few dogs and cats. My parents were active and took us children skiing, canoeing, playing, etc. There was always something going on.

I was a happy child but my personality was more of the kind who preferred peace and quiet. Observing without interacting too much.

When I was 10 years old I decided I wanted to clean my own room to make sure it was done the way I liked it. I also sorted all of my toys in straight lines and in color order, and of course, I drew and painted a lot. With much more details than other kids my age.

My mother noticed my artistic and creative interest and one day I and my little brother got to choose one music LP disc each. My brother went straight for a popular rock and roll artist and I chose Beethoven's 7th symphony - the Fate Symphony. Not a typical choice for a 10-year-old but typical for me.

That’s how I was and in some way still am. My mother wanted to encourage my artistic vein and one day she bought me the book "The boy who wanted to paint the world's most beautiful painting". Of course, nobody knew then that I would become one of the worlds leading hyperrealist artists but it was probably a gentle push in the right direction by my mother. My pedantic way of ordering my life is not as obvious any longer, but you will still see it in my paintings where detail and perfection are always important ingredients.

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Biography

Born: in Karlstad in 1962
Lives and works: in Nedre Bondestad Old School north of Karlstad in Sweden.
Background: 15 years as an advertising illustrator.
15 years as a full-time artist.
Style: Hyperrealism
Technique: Acrylic and oil on canvas
Member of: IGOR International Guild of Realism

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Awards

  • 2024 Winner of Best Figure & Portrait of the February PleinAir Salon Art Competition

  • 2022 Second Prize in International Artist Magazine’s challenge People & Figures

  • 2022 Honorable Mention in the International FiKVA Award For Painters competition

  • 2022 "Da Vinci Visual Art Awards" in Velázquez Painting and Sculpture Competition

  • 2021 Winner of “Best Figurative” in International Guild of Realism, Spring Salon

  • 2021 Overall winner for 2020 at A Singular Creation

  • 2021 Winner of “Best Figure & Portrait” Januar in PleinAir Salon from PleinAir Magazine

  • 2020 Winner of “First Place” December in PleinAir Salon from PleinAir Magazine

  • 2020 Winner of “Best Acrylic” December in PleinAir Salon from PleinAir Magazine

  • 2020 Finalist in International Artist Magazine “Still life”

  • 2020 Winner of “Best metal and chrome” IGOR Spring Salon

  • 2020 Winner of “Feeling blue” A Singular Creation international online

  • 2019 Finalist in International Artist Magasins “Still life”

  • 2013 Finalist in 7th Figurativas Painting and Sculpture Competition in Barcelona.

  • 2011 Winner of Art On Call Awards with “Emmy Resting”

  • 2009 Winner of “Landscape”, “Best of Show”, “Peoples Choice” och “Artist of the year” All Media Art Competition i Howell, USA

  • 2009 Winner of “People” A Singular Creation international online

  • 2008 Winner of “Best in Show” Fowlerville Fair in Michigan, USA

  • 2008 Winner of “Best in Show”, “First place” and “Honorable mention” All Media Art Competition i Howell, USA

Exhibitions

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

Galleri Bergman, Karlstad -2023
Gallery Scandinavia, Gothenburg -2019
Gallery Ekdahl, Karlstad -2019
Kil Art-association -2014
Gallery Arthouse, Karlstad -2014
Gallery Eklund, Stockholm -2012
Spånga Art-association, -2010
Artspromotion Västerås -2010
Pfizer Art-association Sollentuna -2010
Gallery Oscar, Marstrand -2009
Tierps Art-association -2009
Kils Art-association -2009
Gallery Oscar, Marstrand -2008
Repslagar-Museet Älvängen -2007
Gallery Stjärnfors Kvarn, Uddeholm -2006

Selected Group Exhibitions:

Mash Gallery, Los Angeles, INDULGENCE -2024
International Guild of Realism, Fall Salon, -2023
Mash Gallery, Los Angeles, In her element -2023
Plus One Gallery, London. Summer group show - 2021
International Guild of Realism. 14th Annual International Juried Exhibition at the
Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA 2019
Acqua Alta, Tangent Contemporary Art, San Fransisco – 2018
Los Angeles Art Show,  Arcadia Contemporary, Los Angeles – 2018
Mod Portrait, MEAM Zaragoza + Barcelona – 2018
Algo mas que realismo…XI. Galería artelibre – Zaragoza, Spain  -2017
Los Angeles Art Show, Arcadia Contemporary, Los Angeles – 2017
Figurative Explorations, Tangent Contemporary Art, San Francisco, – 2017
12 By 12 In 12. Arcadia Contemporary, Culver City LA, – 2016
Water, Water… Everywhere. Arcadia Contemporary, Culver City LA, – 2016
Los Angeles Art Show, Arcadia Contemporary – 2015
Los Angeles Art Show, Lotton Gallery – 2014
The Robert Lange Gallery in Charleston. 9th annual IGOR show – 2014
Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Carmel, California -2012

Aquired by

  • European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona

  • The Count Ibex Collection, New York

  • City of Stockholm, Karlstad municipality

  • Several privat collections in USA, Sweden, Germany, Mexico and more

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Books & Magazines

  • International Artist 2020

  • International Artist 2019

  • “The artworks of Johannes Wessmark 2013 – 2016” 2017

  • American Art Collector Magazine 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019

  • International Artist 2014

  • International Dictionary of Artists 2011

  • Artelibre Arte y Libertad 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2020

  • “Johannes Wessmark – Photorealist. The paintings and the technique” 2012

  • Several other articles in both international and local magazines.

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Lectures

  • Photorealism / airbrush-workshop / Maxdorf in Germany 2016

  • Photorealism / airbrush-workshop / Orlando, Florida 2013

  • Airbrush course at some of the high-schools in Karlstad during the 90s and in the 20s etc.

  • Classes in airbrush and photorealism in my own studio in Sweden

  • Aktiva Seniorer, Kristinehamn 2016

  • Metso Paper Karlstad 2013

  • Rotary Sunne 2013

  • Affordable Art Fair, Stockholm 2012

  • Gallery Eklund Stockholm 2012

  • Värmlands Museum Karlstad 2012