Art salons have long been spaces where a wide range of artistic expressions, perspectives, and stories come together. Through open calls—public invitations for artists to submit their work to be reviewed by a jury—these events open the door for more artists to take part. The result is a dynamic meeting place where different art forms, ideas, and viewpoints converge and thrive.

But what is the role of the contemporary art salon in today’s ever-changing art world?

Join us for a conversation on the significance of the art salon in today’s cultural landscape. Together with Joanna Sandell Wright, Director of Liljevalchs Konsthall, Theo Elias, co-founder of Studio Tabac, and Dragana Vujanovic Östlind, Chief Curator at the Hasselblad Foundation, we will reflect on the salon’s place in contemporary art and offer a behind-the-scenes look at some of Sweden’s most exciting juried exhibitions and open calls.

TIME: Wednesday, August 20, 17:00–18:00

PLACE: Hasselblad Center

The discussion will be held in Swedish and is included in the price of admission. No pre-registration is required.

About the participants

Joanna Sandell Wright is a curator and the Director of Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm. She has previously led Södertälje Konsthall, Kalmar Art Museum, and Botkyrka Konsthall, and has served on the boards of the Swedish Institute, Konstfack, and the Baltic Art Center. With extensive experience in leadership roles within Swedish art institutions, she is deeply committed to making art accessible and relevant to a broad audience. At Liljevalchs, she oversees the annual Spring Salon (Vårsalongen), Sweden’s largest art salon and an important platform for Swedish artists since 1921.

Theo Elias is a photographer and artist trained at HDK-Valand in Gothenburg and the Nordic School of Photography, Biskops-Arnö. Working in a strongly autobiographical tradition, his projects often span several years. In 2023, he co-founded Studio Tabac in Stockholm with Angelica Elliott, creating an independent platform for contemporary photography in Sweden and Europe. Studio Tabac focuses on emotional and experimental photographic practices and has hosted exhibitions, open calls, launches, and artist talks. In June 2025, it presented Salong #2, a photo salon featuring 71 participating artists and photographers.

Dragana Vujanovic Östlind is an art historian and Chief Curator at the Hasselblad Foundation, where she is responsible for the artistic direction of the exhibition program, with a particular focus on the Hasselblad Award—the world’s largest photography prize. She has a strong interest in socially engaged work and is passionate about sharing photography and art with a wider audience. She served as jury chair and curator for Fotosalongen 2025 at the Hasselblad Center, a new initiative dedicated to photography.

Image: Installation view of the 2025 Photo Salon at the Hasselblad Center. Photo: Cecilia Sandblom / Hasselblad Foundation.