Peter Geschwind

Peter Klingberg Geschwind (1966–2021) was a Swedish contemporary artist based in Stockholm.

He played a pivotal role in artistic developments during the early 1990s. He presented his work in significant exhibitions both in Sweden and internationally, contributing to the reshaping of expression and form. Geschwind was recognized for his ability to blur the lines between artist, producer, and educator, fostering collaboration and creating new combinations of artistry. He delved into a diverse array of materials and techniques, frequently repurposing ordinary objects such as clothing, sneakers, food and beverage packaging and furniture pieces. He reworked these items, bringing them with fresh significance and new layers of meaning. He collaborated closely with artist , and on several occasions in the 1990s with Thomas Elovsson, as well as .

Education Geschwind was educated at the Royal Institute of Art (Kungl. Konsthögskolan), Stockholm (1995–1998), and Konstfack, University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Department of Sculpture, Stockholm (1992–1995). From 2008–2018 he was a professor of fine arts with a focus on sculpture at the Royal Institute of Art (Kungl. Konsthögskolan), where he also was the school’s rector from 2016–2017. Ynglingagatan 1 was an influential hub for art in 1990s Stockholm, playing a crucial role in shaping an active, open artistic attitude. Rooted in the contemporary fascination with art as a reflection of social relations, it adopted a disarming approach that emerged from the interplay with the popular culture of the time.

Geschwind participated in work with Swe.de (the Swedish department at Y-1), which was a group of twelve artists Johanna Billing, Markus Degerman, Ingrid Eriksson, , Erla Haraldsdóttir, , , Gunilla Geschwind Klingberg, Bo Melin, Bella Rune, and . The group exhibited regularly at the gallery and produced Wednesday happenings as well as group shows like “Stuffit” at Y-1. Their ambition was to present, through different projects, contemporary art from Sweden.

From 2008 to 2018, Geschwind held the position of professor of art, with a specialization in sculpture, at the Royal Institute of Art. As an educator, he used playful forms of learning grounded in the tangible act of creating art within workshops and studios. His educational approach was a counterforce to a rigid and bureaucratic educational system.

Many of his sculptures had kinetic elements that referenced slap stick. Several of his videos were edited according to the sound, creating a sometimes brutal effect. He developed a distinctive method for crafting "reality animations," employing sound and light to generate animations of real objects within physical space.

Private life Peter Geschwind was married to fellow artist and collaborator Gunilla Geschwind Klingberg. They have a son together, Theodor Klingberg Geschwind, who was born in 2006.