Swedish Artist Lars Fredriksson Exhibits Striking Work in Warrington

A talented Swedish artist on a six-month work placement in Warrington is displaying striking artwork about never losing courage.

Lars Fredriksson is an abstract painter from Malmö in southern Sweden whose work has been exhibited in his home country, Berlin and now Warrington Museum & Art Gallery.

He has spent the last six months in the town and the exhibition, Boundlessness, features work inspired by his time here.

"The English hospitality shown has impressed me and I enjoy being a part of a different culture and society," he said.

"You learn and develop a lot from that and you find new sources of inspiration."

An industrial engineer, Lars arrived in Warrington in September as project manager for Swedish company Duni, which has a site in Preston Brook. But in his spare time his passion is art.

The 33-year-old has been drawing, painting and creating all his life, achieving his first exhibition about 10 years ago; he is now serious about developing his art in the future.

Lars said: "The drive cannot be explained; it is more of a need to express yourself and just like an author tells his or her story by writing, a painter tells his or her story by painting it.

"Boundlessness is about never losing courage and to choose life even if circumstances are very difficult.

"The exhibition at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery means a lot to me both emotionally and professionally. I also very much like the museum itself and the historical part."

Lars specialises in abstract work in charcoal and spray-paint and is planning another exhibition in Manchester during the summer.

"I see my artistry as a journey and I would like this journey to continue taking my art to new places," he added.

Derek Dick, outreach and engagement manager at Culture Warrington, said: "Boundlessness is a fascinating visual document of Lars' time in Warrington.

"It's great to be able to exhibit work by a talented international artist like Lars; the exhibition is a striking and colourful addition to our collection."

For more information about Lars and his work, visit www.larsfredriksson.com.

IF YOU GO:

Boundlessness

Dates: Until Saturday 22 April

Times: All day

Admission: Free

Location: Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Museum Street, Warrington, WA1 1JB

Info: www.warringtonmuseum.co.uk

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery is one of the oldest museums in the country. Opened in 1857, much of the quintessential character of the building has been preserved and its original glass cabinets are crammed with treasures from all around the world.

The permanent galleries feature a wealth of material from the natural world and also local pieces from Warrington's history. The art gallery showcases the work of local, national and internationally renowned artists and recent exhibitions have featured Banksy, Tracey Emin and Sam Taylor-Wood. The venue has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for the last three years running.

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery also provides an exciting schools programme on many themes, including Egyptians, toys from the past, and special early years sessions.