Maja Sjöström

Maria (Maja) Sjöström (1868–1961) was a prominent Swedish textile artist from the 1890s to the 1930s. In particular, she designed intricate interior decorations for the new Stockholm City Hall. These included enormous silk tapestries which were woven at the Luigi Bevilacqua Textile Company in Venice. Following the opening of the city hall in 1923, Sjöström moved to Rome where she spent the rest of her life, ultimately in poverty, dismissed by the Swedes for her belief in Mussolini. Her reputation was however restored in the 2000s.

Early life Born on 13 March 1868 in Raus Parish, Helsingborg Municipality, Maja Sjöström was the daughter of Lars Sjöström and Amanda Landgren. She was brought up with her three sisters and three brothers in the bailiff's residence at Bårslöv. Despite the family's difficult financial conditions, she and her sisters went to school in nearby Helsingborg. In 1886, thanks to the support she received from Amanda Eriksson who worked in the statistics office, she was able to develop her interest in art at the arts and crafts school, Högre konstindustriella skolan. There she was introduced to the Friends of Handicraft (Handarbetets Vänner) establishment which, thanks to the designs she had produced, took her on in 1893. She soon became their leading designer, quickly gaining a reputation for her upholstery fabrics.

Sjöström remained in Italy for the rest of her life. After the end of World War II, she lived in poverty in her bomb-damaged studio. Always a strong supporter of Mussolini, she was no longer accepted by the Scandinavian community. She died in Hamburg on 30 October 1961 while returning from Helsingborg to Rome.

Maja Sjöström remained forgotten until her designs were rediscovered at the beginning of the 21st century. Clothes and bags inspired by her drawings were sold in Italian fashion shops and by Hayward's of New York. She is now recognized as one of Sweden's most important textile artists.