In 2018, long before digital art galleries were a trend, friends Helena Carlberg and Anna Lukins joined forces over their love of art and interior design. They started The Ode To, an online gallery of curated & handmade paintings, sculptures, drawings, and interior design pieces.
Carlberg and Lukins believe that having their curation online makes the art more attainable. They said that before they founded The Ode To, they longed to replace their cheap art and interior design pieces with original, quality art but found many galleries unapproachable. They imagined The Ode To as an original, attainable, and affordable place for anyone.
Little did they know, just two years later, their method of finding artists through social media, college shows, and online art publications would be standard practice by 2020, a trend accelerated by the pandemic.
With an office and showroom in Stockholm, Sweden, The Ode To is named for the idea of giving tribute to artistry and design, especially that of women. The pair feels inequality in the art and interior design field among women, who, they said, are often get paid and credited less than their male counterparts. While they curate and commission both male and female artists, they say they work harder to give platforms to creative women in art and interior design.
Three incredible women run the board; Karolina Modig, Ivania Carpio, and Linnéa Salmén. Modig is a journalist, editor, and writer who has published two art books, “The Value of Art” and “Hang it Low.” Her unique talent is finding art that arouses feelings or provokes emotion. Carpio is an art director and consultant, focusing on product design and photography that skew toward contemporary minimalism and visual communication. Linnéa Salmén is an interior design stylist who favors diverse materials, irreverent objects, and bold shapes. She is a self-proclaimed “picky treasure hunter” with a love of vintage and craft pieces.
The Ode To has enjoyed success and even plans on expanding to offer a Pro Service program for those looking for more bespoke interior design advice and handpicked décor. For this service, they work with architects and interior designers to help connect the space with art, an artist, or a particular style.
With all the success here in Europe, The Ode To plans to expand into the US market in 2021, thanks to high demand. We will surely be keeping an eye on them.
