Ann Karlholm

Woodworker

©Alexandra Wiberg

The contemporary wood artist

Ann started by making wooden furniture
Her work now focuses on fine arts
She is part of the Konsthantverkarna fine crafts association

Ann Karlholm remembers being interested in wood and the tools necessary to carve it ever since she was a child. At the age of six, she asked her parents for a workbench. After being distracted by different fields – from drawing to photography – she came across an art school that specialised in woodwork and her enthusiasm was rekindled. Two years later, she was a certified cabinetmaker. After making furniture for some time, Ann decided to explore a new side of wood and what the material can offer, and now describes herself as a contemporary craft wood artist. Her pieces are the result of a thoughtful observation of wood and the different way it interacts in the making, a new path confirmed by her joining of the Konsthantverkarna fine crafts association in 2015.

Interview

©Alexandra Wiberg

©Alexandra Wiberg

When did you start working?: I joined a creative collective in 1991 and we shared a wood workshop in Stockholm. That year, I started my own business. From the beginning, the business was about designing and manufacturing furniture for customers. At that time, I made mostly cabinets, chairs and tables.
Has your style changed since you started?: After a number of years, the idea of making fine crafts instead of furniture began to grow. I wanted to connect what I learned in art schools and in cabinet making education. In 2015, I applied and was accepted to Konsthantverkarna fine crafts association in Stockholm.
Is there anything you are particularly good at?: If I were to mention something that I am good at, it can be my ability to come up with ideas and to be able to think in pictures. Quite early in the process, I “see” the end result in my head and work my way towards that.
What do you love most about your profession?: I love starting a new project after getting an idea, task or theme from one of the galleries I work with. Working from the "picture" in my head – via sketches, drawings and sometimes models – to the finished piece is fascinating. It is also a highlight to meet customers and interested viewers.

Ann Karlholm is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1991