Artist from Sweden
Tina Hellblom-Thibblin is a Swedish visual artist who primarily works with oil on linen canvas. She studied art theory and pedagogy at Uppsala University, where she later earned a Doctor of Philosophy(PhD). Her academic background also includes studies in art history and aesthetics at Uppsala University. Through her studies, she developed a deep interest in Italian and French painting, sculpture, and architecture—both historically and in contemporary contexts.
Much of the inspiration for her paintings comes from her travels to Italy and France, where she was captivated by Renaissance painting and mural art. Her passion for painting emerged early in life and has remained a continuous pursuit.
Her artistic practice weaves together multiple themes, including the tension between the imaginary and the concrete, as well as between dreams and reality. Identity and human relationships are also central to her work, often explored through elements of surprise and unpredictability. Spontaneity and a sense of the unfinished are key aspects of many of her pieces. Additionally, her work places a strong emphasis on contrasts and the unseen.
Tina’s paintings have been exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions in Sweden, as well as in numerous group exhibitions across Europe, including in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. She is also participating in ARTEXPO New York 2025. In recent years, she has received several international awards for her work and has been featured in various international publications on contemporary art.
more. www.teglet.net
INTERVIEW with Tina Hellblom-Thibblin
Carmela Loiacono talks with Tina Hellblom-Thibblin who takes part in the International Art Exhibition CREACTION in Matera, at cultural hypogeum Lega Navale Italiana Matera-Magna Grecia.
Carmela Loiacono – Please introduce yourself and talk about the selected artworks: “Find Me” and “You and Me” you presented during the exhibition CREACTION.
Tina Hellblom-Thibbin – I am a Swedish visual artist specializing in oil painting on linen canvas. Alongside my artistic practice, I hold a Ph.D. in Pedagogy and have studied Art Theory at Uppsala University. I also served as an Associate Professor. My academic research focuses particularly on identity and the different roles we inhabit to navigate everyday life.
Art has always been an integral part of my life. Over the years, I have continuously studied and practiced artistic expression, drawing inspiration from travels and study visits to Italy and France —especially from mural paintings that deeply moved me.
My artistic practice explores the tension between the imaginary and the concrete, between dream and reality. My work often integrates themes of identity, presence, memory, and the poetic. I am interested in the spontaneous and the unfinished—inviting the viewer into an open-ended visual narrative. History plays a vital role in this process; it influences how we understand the world and ourselves. It is within this interplay between the traces of the past and the expressions of the present that my work comes into being. I am captivated by Italian culture—its historic facades and timeless architecture inspire my work and imagination.
Curators and critics have noted: “Her works express a longing beyond the visible and the familiar, while remaining in a personal, inward stillness. Perspectives shift between the exterior and the interior, in a space where dreams and reality meet.”
My paintings have recently been exhibited in Europe, the USA, Dubai, and Beijing, and I have recently received several international awards, including the International Prize Botticelli, the International Prize Leonardo da Vinci, the International Prize Velázquez & Goya. My work is also featured in many various contemporary art publications.
The painting “You and Me” reflects on themes of identity and presence. The soft lighting and hazy contours suggest something elusive—something that cannot be confined within strict boundaries, but instead invites the unexpected. The figure, illuminated from the front, contemplates the many roles we play in life. The approaching mask symbolizes the shifting identities we adopt in different contexts. The window is inspired by Italy’s cultural heritage.
The painting “Find Me” leans toward the dreamlike and surreal. A child’s face floats in the lower part of the painting, conveying openness to the unknown and the hidden. The small apple resting in the window evokes presence of the now. The shapes and lines are intentionally blurred. Regardless of the subject, I aim to cast my images in a poetic glow, bringing forth ideas as details within a larger whole.
Carmela Loiacono – How would you describe your creative process? What or who influenced or is influencing your work?
Tina Hellblom-Thibbin – My creative process began at an early age and has guided me throughout life. For me, creativity means remaining curious and constantly evolving my artistry. Inspiration comes from encounters with time, daily life, people, thoughts, and ideas. I try to approach each painting with openness, allowing every surface to come alive. My creative process is driven by the desire to bring something new into being something original. While it may begin with a sense of the familiar, it always seeks to unfold into the unexpected and the spontaneous, revealing layers beyond the surface.
As a teenager, I explored this in a special school project titled ”Children in Motion”, a series of sketches capturing everyday movements of children. Even then, I sought to express fleeting moments through visual storytelling.
My academic background in art history has deeply enriched my artistic thinking. I have a particular affinity for the Renaissance—especially Leonardo da Vinci, whose ability to bring life into faces has long fascinated me. Another major influence is Odilon Redon, whose color palette and symbolic and also surrealistic compositions have been inspiring. I am drawn to a form of symbolic painting where the underlying thoughts and emotions seek visual expression.
Carmela Loiacono – What do you think about shared art on social media? Could it be an alternative way of communicating contemporary art?
Tina Hellblom-Thibbin – I believe social media can serve as one of several important platforms for sharing art and reaching a broader audience. It offers the opportunity to engage with people who may not usually visit galleries—especially in our screen-centric world. However, exhibiting art physically remains a powerful and irreplaceable experience. The physical presence of a painting allows for a deeper existential connection and a more immersive dialogue with the surrounding space.
Carmela Loiacono – What are your future goals and/or projects?
Tina Hellblom-Thibbin – I feel a deep passion for working in my studio and for giving form to all the images that have yet to emerge on my canvases. One of my key goals is to hold a solo exhibition, where I can present a broader body of work and share more of my visual language with a wider audience. It is a way of bringing together not just individual paintings, but the ideas and emotions that weave through them all.
