It’s the early 1900s, and the world belongs to men. The art world in Stockholm, Sweden, is no different, until Hilma af Klint brings together a mysterious group of female painters and writers—Anna, Cornelia, Sigrid, and Mathilda—to form their own emotional and artistic support system. The members of the Friday Night Club find themselves thrust into uncharted territory when Hilma and her best friend, Anna, begin dabbling in the occult, believing that through séances they can channel unseen spirits to help them achieve their potential as artists. “The Five,” as Hilma referred to them, was a group of immensely talented, fascinating women whose lives and work were cast into obscurity… until now.
Over a century later, an associate curator at the Guggenheim Museum, Eben Elliot, brings the Hilma af Klint show to New York where he uncovers questions about the Five and how the modern day art world is funded, which puts him in a precarious position both emotionally and professionally, as he witnesses how history can be manipulated.
With rich characterizations, evocative language, and a seamless narrative, Lundberg, Richman, and Rose bring to life Hilma af Klint and her creative circle, who influenced the course of modern art but whose stories have never been told before.
New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian, Marie Benedict, says, “Co-authors Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose have unearthed the captivating story of the ground-breaking Swedish artist Hilma af Klint, arguably the world’s first abstract artist who may well have inspired male painters like Wassily Kandinksy who typically receive credit for pioneering abstraction. This spell-binding exploration of the life and legacy of a long-forgotten woman and the circle of gifted friends who worked alongside her is a must-read.”
This program will take place in-person at Scandinavia House. Registration is recommended; please sign up at the link above.
About the Authors
Sofia Lundberg is a journalist and former magazine editor who has been acclaimed for her heartwarming—and heart-wrenching—Scandinavian fiction. She lives in Stockholm with her son.
Alyson Richman is a USA Today and #1 international bestselling author. An accomplished painter, her novels combine her deep loves of art, historical research, and travel. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two children.
M.J. Rose is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She grew up in New York City exploring the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park.