“After each period of creation, I feel like I become a slightly new person, one step closer to finding myself,” says artist Nilla Blomlöv. Nilla's voice takes on a warm glow as she describes her art, as if every word is infused with her passion. “What I paint isn’t the real subject — it comes from within,” she says with a smile. It’s clear that art is not just a hobby for her but a lifelong love and a natural part of who she is.

“What I paint isn’t the real subject — it comes from within.”

For someone who is very social and constantly surrounded by stimuli, a sense of calm and a breathing space is essential — something Nilla has found in painting.

“I need to paint; for me, it’s therapy and a way to analyze myself,” continues Nilla, who, as we speak, is on a train in London heading to Margate to view the Turner Collection and have a one-to-one meeting with the director. In the background, the British voice over the loudspeaker announces the next station.

“I need to paint; for me, it’s therapy and a way to analyze myself.”

At the moment, she is taking a course in Gallery Management at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, trying to grasp the contemporary art world that London has to offer.

However, for the past five years, she spent her time in the charming capital of Tuscany, Florence — the birthplace of the Renaissance and a city rich in history. "I became a part of Italy and its culture, and it was hard to leave," she says.

In her picturesque Italian apartment, where her projects covered the walls from floor to ceiling, she spent countless hours — sometimes immersed in her palette of linseed oil paints, other times lost in the trance of creation with Alex and Sigge’s podcast in her headphones. "Some days, I only moved between the bed and my paintings," she recounts, and each moment seemed to have its own place in the artistic space.

"Some days, I only moved between the bed and my paintings."

“I started painting my Italian girlfriends as they wanted to be seen, not as the world saw them,” Nilla explains. She painted the female body without objectifying it.

“I grew up with a strong mother and no father, surrounded by women, and that experience shapes everything I create.” Her art reflects women’s place in a world still dominated by men. Through her work, she strives to reclaim the female muse, portraying women with an authenticity that history has often denied them.

“I started painting my Italian girlfriends as they wanted to be seen, not as the world saw them.”

In addition to adorning many homes, Nilla’s art has also reached Vogue Italia.

“I was asked to create backdrops for a photo session with actor Archie Renaux,” she shares. The theme, “childhood memories,” was a challenge for her as it required stepping out of her comfort zone and working with a more structured and deliberate concept than usual.

During the same period, she worked on another commission — painting the walls and ceilings for the restaurant Borgo Antico in Florence.

“Now guests can enjoy my art while savoring a freshly baked Margherita, truffle risotto, and a glass of red wine,” she says with a smile.

“Now guests can enjoy my art while savoring a freshly baked Margherita, truffle risotto, and a glass of red wine.”

After an intense social life filled with aperitivo every evening and a recently ended relationship, Nilla felt she needed a break to recover. She chose to temporarily move to the small Tuscan village of Pietrasampa.

“In winter, the village felt like a ghost town — it was almost apocalyptic.” With a quiet seriousness, she describes how water became a healing force during this time. “I swam a lot and felt a deep connection to water; it became a way for me to wash away my trauma.” She had read about how the minerals in saltwater can strengthen cells and balance hormones. “In my upcoming art, I want to express my passion for water,” she explains.

“In my upcoming art, I want to express my passion for water.”

  • The poster "Frank och jag"

A recurring motif in her new work might be the bathtub. “I’ve taken so many pictures of bathtubs — I find them incredibly beautiful,” she says enthusiastically. For Nilla, the bathtub also carries a symbolic connection to women, mentioning the iconic scene from Pretty Woman as a reference.

Now, she longs for a month at home. “I need to collect myself after all these adventures.” Home, for Nilla, is Karlskrona, with her mother — the same mother who, since her childhood, took her to museums around the world and opened her eyes to one of life’s most beautiful treasures: art.

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Author Johanna Karlqvist