John Schuerman

Minneapolis, USA

Artist/Curator

https://www.schuermanfineart.com/

” I’m an environmental artist and independent curator. As an artist my core practices are walking and drawing. As a curator I produce thematic group exhibitions on topics that are already on the collective mind, such as climate change, abuses of power, human overpopulation, and empathy.

Björko Konstnod (BKN) is perhaps the only artist residency in the world with a focus on Walking-based art practices. Through BKN a global network of walking artists has come together to work, share, learn, and engage audiences through public programs. This kind of community building is generative for the artists –we inspire one another, provide feedback, make art together, etc. and perhaps more importantly, reflects most positively for Sweden as an international ‘citizen’. BKN will be known around the world for its work at the center of walking-based arts. I am deeply grateful for my time at BKN, May/June 2024 where I was co-curator of the Walking As Practice 2024 program”

John Schuerman

Colby Smith

Traveling Filmmaker

https://www.colbysmithfilms.com

https://www.instagram.com/colbytravelssomewhere/

My time at BKN in 2021 was an incredibly enriching experience that had a profound impact on my practice as a filmmaker. The residency offered a serene and inspiring environment, allowing me to create Grey Rocks Grey Sea, as a part of Where the Forest meets the Sea open call. An experimental short film that explored the relationship between the Baltic Sea and the rocky coastline. The natural beauty of the landscape was the perfect backdrop for my creative vision, and it was a rare opportunity to work without distractions, fully immersed in nature and the artistic process.
What made the residency even more special were the people. Facilitated by Anna Viola Hallberg, the program connected me with a supportive and like-minded community of artists. The encouragement and feedback I received from fellow residents and the broader Björkö Konstnod network was invaluable in helping me refine my work and push the boundaries of my artistic expression. I felt inspired and truly supported by everyone involved. I also had the opportunity to connect with the residents of the island, who welcomed me warmly and shared their unique perspectives, enriching my experience both personally and artistically.
In the summer of 2022, I returned to Björkö Konstnod for the Isle of Bliss exhibition, where my film Grey Rocks Grey Sea was featured. It was an incredible full-circle moment, as I was able to share the work that had been shaped by the residency with a broader audience and reconnect with the inspiring community that supported my creative journey.
Being part of Björkö Konstnod not only advanced my skills as a filmmaker but also allowed me to experience the power of collaboration and shared creativity. The residency helped me grow both personally and professionally, and I left Sweden with a renewed sense of purpose and direction in my work.ening i mitt arbete.

Juanma González

Botkyrka, Sweden

Artist

https://www.juanmagonzalez.com/

https://www.instagram.com/juanmagonzalezmarcos/

“It has been an honor to participate in multiple residencies at BKN (February and November 2025). As a multidisciplinary artist, I employ walking as a central device for art production. During my time at BKN, I have explored the natural and social landscapes surrounding the area, translating my observations and experiences into art objects. This exploration led to the creation of two drawing series, Död ved ger nytt liv and Hugget i Sten, as well as a contribution to WAP24 JUNE EDITION, curated by John Schuerman, with the walking project Caring Stone Carrying.

I am a Spanish artist based in Alby (Botkyrka, Sweden), with over a decade of experience developing walking-based art projects and exhibiting my work internationally in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Estonia, and the United States. My artistic journey began with the study of historical photographic techniques at Universidad Europea, Madrid (1999), followed by a Degree in Fine Arts from Complutense University, Madrid (2014). I deepened my practice through an MFA at the Royal Institute of Art (KKH), Stockholm (2016), complemented by postgraduate studies including Research_LAB at KKH (2017), Sites and Situations at Konstfack (2018), Site and Participant at Dramatiska Högskolan (2020), and The Photographic Artist’s Book: Performing Sustainability at KKH (2022).

Beyond my studio work, I integrate walking into my teaching practice, having coordinated and led workshops for KKH students and faculty. Notably, I organized a workshop trip to Madrid in 2019 and a one-day workshop inspired by the Swedish studiecirkel model in 2020.

Currently, I am pursuing a PhD at Complutense University in Madrid, where I explore pilgrimage as a contemporary cultural phenomenon and participatory framework. Recent highlights of my career include site-specific labyrinth installations for Land Art exhibitions in Karlstad, Sweden, and Dikemark, Norway. My recent exhibitions and projects include Crosswalking in LA at Durden and Ray (2023, USA), Camiños Creativos at Museo Gaiás (2022, Spain), and Landscapes of Other Places at Supermarket Art Fair in Stockholm (2022). Additionally, I am a co-founder of Flat Octopus, an artist-run collective based in Stockholm.

Really looking forward to walking on Björkö again, drawing inspiration for my work, and reconnecting with the BKN community, which has truly become like family. BKN exemplifies the profound intersection of walking, community, and artistic production, and I am deeply grateful to be a part of it.“

Jaunma González

Ekaterina Sisfontes

Stockholm, Sweden

artist/designer

https://www.sisfontes.com/

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for everything BKN has come to mean to me as an artist. My first contact with you was two years ago, when a close friend of mine, Marina Pugina, attended a residency. Inspired by her experience, I applied myself, and I was incredibly fortunate to be granted a residency period with you in June–July 2023.

During my stay, I worked intensively on my piece UnBedded, created for the exhibition Konst i ån – Norrtälje, curated by Anna Viola Hallberg. The work reflects on global unrest and the war in Ukraine. The month on Björkö not only transformed my relationship to my work, but also fundamentally shifted my understanding of the creative process.

As an artist living in the big city of Stockholm, the stillness and calm that Björkö offered were invaluable. It brought me closer to my inner self and gave me a level of focus that allowed me, in addition to my main project, to create two more artworks. It is an experience I will always carry with me.

I have also had the privilege of visiting the residency several times since, and each time I have met wonderful international artists who have strengthened my belief in the universal language of art.

As a member of the Stockholm-based artist-run collective Studio44, I have been selected to curate the international project DOM. The project brings artists together to create a joint exhibition following a residency period. DOM has already gained significant recognition across Europe and will be presented in Milan next year. We have already begun planning for 2026, when we hope to realize the project in Stockholm. Our vision is to use BKN as the residency site, making it a central and well‑visited hub throughout the project.

I am incredibly grateful that BKN exists and for the work you do to support artists and projects of this nature. Thank you for your support and inspiration — you make a meaningful difference in the art world.”

Ekaterina Sisfontes

Sybrig Dokter

Stockholm, Sweden

Choreographer/Dancer/Artist

https://sybrigdokter.com/

“October 2024 I had the opportunity to spend a whole month in residence as a Stockholm artist. My stay at BKN offered me the possibility to work intensively on a new work that I had recently started in an environment that through the way it is situated stimulates reflection and inspiration. Ongoing conversations and encounters  with Anna Viola Hallberg and Ami Skånberg and other visiting artists happen as a matter of fact providing a general discourse on the importance of art in society as well as getting to know each-others work and approach. There is a strong sense of a worldwide network and a local connection with neighbors and other organizations on the island. Places like BKN are an invaluable part of the artistic infrastructure of Sweden where artists can find a concentrated period of work, exchange and a place to work that doesn’t break one’s economy.“

Sybrig Dokter

Helen Edling

Roslagen, Sweden/Newcastle, United Kingdom

Artist

home

https://www.instagram.com/helenedling

Björkö Konstnod (BKN) is a truly remarkable place— one that has carved out a vital role for artists like myself, for the local community, and for the broader cultural scene.

When I had the chance to work at BKN earlier this year, I experienced firsthand what makes this place so unique. My project focused on patterns and traces, mapping the overlooked marks, cracks, and movements in and around the house. For me, it was about finding beauty in the everyday and telling stories that often go unnoticed. But what truly made the experience special was the atmosphere at BKN: the openness to experiment, the connections formed with other artists, and the sense of being part of something bigger.

BKN is more than a residency— it’s a meeting point for ideas, conversations, and collaborations. Artists from different backgrounds and disciplines come here to share, inspire, and learn from one another. These exchanges are priceless, both personally and professionally, and they ripple outward, enriching Norrtälje, Roslagen, and beyond.

At a time when creative spaces face increasing challenges, BKN stands as a beacon of hope. It nurtures artists, celebrates culture, and builds bridges between the local and the global. I can only hope that this extraordinary place will continue to thrive, offering the same sense of possibility and inspiration for years to come.

For me, and for so many others, BKN is a gift— a space that reminds us of the value of art, community, and the connections that bind us together. Long may it continue.

Laetitia Deschamps

Paris, France/Stockholm, Sweden

Visual artist

https://laetitiadeschamps.yolasite.com

“I am a French visual artist based in Stockholm since 2019. I hold a bachelor’s degree in arts from the Sorbonne University in Paris and am currently completing a thesis for a master’s in arts at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France. I have exhibited my work primarily in France, China, the Netherlands, and Sweden. My artistic practice includes painting, installations, drawings, prints, and digital images. I create a universe populated by hybrid beings that evoke tales, myths, animals, and monsters. Through anthropomorphism, I often develop these images to create poetic and evocative compositions.

During this residency, it was essential for me to isolate myself and concentrate on various activities. I successfully completed the reading and analysis of several books on the sociology of the human body and the aesthetic theories of Georges Bataille. Simultaneously, I embarked on various artistic research projects exploring the human body and its anthropomorphic relationships with nature. Additionally, I updated numerous documents related to my practice, such as editing photographs and creating a portfolio. Interacting with a curator in residence allowed me to reflect on different ways of presenting my work, leading me to submit several applications. This month-long residency has been significant for me, enabling me to optimize my practice time and benefit from a sufficiently large production space to create.

I also had the opportunity to meet another artist working on a photographic project. We shared insights about our future artistic endeavors and exchanged feedback on his work. We found a common synergy in utilizing our time effectively and engaging in fruitful reflections on our future ambitions. Björkö Konstnod not only provided us with a creative space but also facilitated connections with our peers. Meeting artists from different countries is always enriching, as it exposes us to diverse perspectives and challenges, which, in turn, enhance our art.

I highly recommend this residency for anyone looking to focus on their practice. It is a precious opportunity that should be seized.“

Laetitia Deschamps