Celebrating the fine art of drawing by hand

IKEA chose hand drawings for the collection because this unique art form has had a resurgence as a counter reaction to digital multimedia art. Far from rough pencil sketches and chalk doodles, hand drawings are final works of art that vibrate with life and endless details.

“Hand drawing is a fascinating art form, it reminds us of what it is to be human in a world driven by speedy technology and digital development. These drawings are full of sensuality and tactility, almost leaving the fingerprint of the artist right there on the surface of the paper,” says Henrik Most, Creative Leader for the collection.

It reminds us of what it is to be human in a world driven by speedy technology and digital development.

The variety of drawings in the collection is great and includes graphite, pen and ink, crayon, charcoal, watercolour, gouache and pastel. Drawing requires different skills than painting. Using a light touch on paper to produce a sensuous surface is a principle developed by artists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo many years ago, and it’s still true today.

To represent the diversity and richness of contemporary artwork, IKEA invited artists from around the world who work with drawings as their main media.

Free from any dominant genre or expression, IKEA ART EVENT 2017 is all about individual expression and communicating personal stories. The drawings might reflect cultural experiences or social topics, or simply aim to make the viewer smile.

“We have a very strong and simple vision about art at IKEA, and it’s that art should be affordable — it should be accessible for the many people — and also that art belongs in the home, not just in galleries or museums,” says Henrik Most, creative leader for the upcoming collection.