The Italian art lover who ended up in Luleå: "Likes snow"

What does an art lover from Milan do who doesn't like the heat? She moves to Luleå and becomes responsible for the Norrbotten Region's art collection. Meet Silvia Colombo, the art historian who thrives in snow, loves to spread art – but misses Italian food.

We are standing in a corridor a few hundred meters from the health center at Björkskatan in Luleå. The walls are colorful, filled with paintings of different sizes and motifs. This is where Silvia Colombo has her workplace.

She has been an art developer at Region Norrbotten for almost a year now and is responsible for the region's art collection. What hangs on the walls here is a small part of it, simply a taste.

Borrow artwork

Because if you work in the region and are keen to have your own work of art in your office or department, you can come here and take a look. There's everything here. New and old. Big and small. Expensive and cheap.

– There is great variety in the region's art collection. There are works of art from the 1920s, portraits and classical motifs, but it was from the 1970s onwards that the collection mainly began to expand, says Silvia when she offers a guided tour.

"Great way to inspire"

– It's mostly local artists, but not only that. It can also be artists from other countries who have been in Norrbotten and worked for a certain period. But I also try to bring in art from other parts of Sweden and the Nordic countries. It's a good way to inspire local artists, but also to broaden the focus of the collection a bit, she says.

She loves art and enjoys her work.

The Norrbotten Region's art collection consists of several thousand works that are scattered across health centers, hospitals, dental centers and offices throughout the county.

But why does a region have an art collection? In short, it's about well-being, according to Silvia.

– The aim is to place art, especially within the healthcare environment, to contribute to well-being. Both in terms of mental and physical health. It is very important that patients receive a welcoming environment when they visit health centers and hospitals. But it will also be more pleasant for all employees.

What does art mean to you personally?

– That's life. I've tried to change careers several times, but art has drawn me back. It inspires me and I feel good when I visit museums, look at art and discover new works and artists. It's really important and fun at the same time.

Coming from Milan

Silvia Colombo is 42 years old and comes from Milan, Italy. She moved to Sweden in 2017 with her husband. He got a job at Luleå University of Technology and she started an internship at the Resource Center for Art, but in 2018 she got a job at Norrbottens Museum.

Since then, she has spent two years as a cultural strategist in Haparanda, before moving back to Luleå a year ago for the job as an arts developer in the region.

Silvia shows off parts of the region's art collection.

Silvia is a trained art historian. Her first assignment back home in Milan was to inventory art collections at various offices in the city. She likens it to the same assignment she has at Region Norrbotten.

"Doesn't like heat"

But surely it must be special as an art lover to leave the hometown of "The Last Supper" for Luleå and Norrbotten?

– For me, it was quite easy to move here, I don't like heat, says Silvia, laughing.

– My grandmother came from the Alps, on the border between Italy and France. I used to visit her there very often both in winter and summer, and the climate there is about the same as here. I'm not a sports person, but I like snow and I enjoy this landscape.

Different art life

But the art world must be quite different, right?

– It's a completely different type of art market here. The artists can work a little more freely here compared to Milan. There, the market is in control and it's very strong, the art goes from gallery to gallery, is sold, bought and so on.

– Thanks to the system in Sweden, artists are freer from the market. It also helps when authorities and regions purchase art, then they can work freely.

The content of the art also differs a lot, according to Silva.

– Yes, there is a difference in themes. Here there is a lot of natural landscape, nature is a common thread that runs through many works of art produced here. Especially in traditional art. But critical motifs have also started to appear. It is exciting to see how perspectives and angles have changed and been exchanged by artists up here.

What is the best thing about your job as an art developer?

– That I have an opportunity to spread art to more people, that art is not something elitist but reaches out to all people. Art enthusiasts or not. It's great fun.

Do you have a favorite artist?

– I am very much in love with the first artists I discovered when I was younger, including Vincent van Gogh and sunflowers. Those were the first works of art that I began to love. Then, in high school, I discovered Andy Warhol in the USA. But in an Italian context, I like Piero Manzoni. He worked and was active in Milan in the 60s and worked very conceptually and ironically.

Do you have a favorite artist from Norrbotten?
– Yes, but I don't want to say which one (laughter).

Both life and art in Norrbotten suit Silvia Colombo, she and her husband take one day at a time, but enjoy it very much here.

But is there anything about Italy, apart from family and friends, that she misses?

Yes, one thing:

– The food!

Text and photo: Moa Höjer