Must-See Art and Design Destinations in Stockholm

Last month I took a trip to Stockholm, Sweden to write about art and design in the Scandinavian country's vibrant capital city. I arrived in the early morning, just in time to take the same train as local Swedes going to work and enjoying the sunshine they'd been waiting all winter for. The summer months in Sweden bring with them "white nights," which means that it's basically bright and near daylight at all hours (perfect for anyone experiencing jetlag and the desire to be awake constantly). The warmth also brings with it lots of cruise ships, increased water travel throughout the archipelago, and fun outdoor dining and partying.

As someone whose idea of Sweden before this trip was based on realizing that their well-known companies (H&M, Volvo, IKEA, and Spotify, among them) strive to make simple, effective design and culture widely available, I was excited to discover the arts within the city. It didn't hurt that I got to see an Icona Pop concert on the first night, affirming to me that Scandinavian pop music is a powerful, incomparable cultural export on its own. It also didn't hurt that I got to sample the fine fare of restaurants like The Flying Elk and Fjäderholmarnas, the relaxed, design-conscious atmosphere of the Hotel Skeppsholmen, the fresh dessert of Chokladfabriken, the awesome raincoats of Stutterheim (a local brand already sported by Kanye West and Jay-Z), or the architectural history of Stockholm's City Hall and Tower. Basically, there's no shortage of culture or fun in Stockholm, even if you're just wandering and approach your time there spontaneously.

From the museums to the restaurants, specialty stores, and architecture, Stockholm is an art and design fanatic's dream. It seems that to Swedish people, an understanding of design's power to enhance one's quality of life is second nature. Whether or not you plan to be in Sweden soon or in the distant future, check out these Must-See Art and Design Destinations in Stockholm gleaned from my four-day trip, and go to VisitSweden.com in case you want more.

Address: Exercisplan 4, 111 49 Stockholm, Sweden

The Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design is a top tier museum mixing exhibitions that explore the history of Sweden with the present and future of contemporary art. The permanent exhibition, "Architecture in Sweden – Function, Design and Aesthetic through the Ages," is an excellent foundation for anyone interested in the history of Swedish design, and the summer exhibition, "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" (on view until September 22, 2013), is as much a fashion retrospective as it is an experiment in new ways to present work (think animated mannequins, rotating catwalks, artifacts in glass-less cases, and street art by local Swedish graffiti writers). Look no further than the lofted children's space, where the museum asked Gaultier to provide sketches he made as a youth for other kids to examine and be inspired by.

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Address: Bondegatan 29, 116 33 Stockholm, Sweden

Award-winning, internationally renowned industrial and furniture designer, Monica Förster, has a shop/showroom where one can view her pieces, old and new. When visiting her space, it's essential that one asks about her "Cloud" project from 2002, which created a buyable, experiential installation tent that many have since adored and copied. Another one of her famous projects is a chair ergonomically designed to fit the body of a woman, made after she discovered that the standard chair has been designed only to fit the body of a man. If nothing else, Monica's book Lateral Thinking is a treat for anyone thinking about contemporary design philosophy and the intersection of art and functionality in production.

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Address: Stadsgården 22, 116 45 Stockholm, Sweden

Although it's only two years old, the Fotografiska has a robust contemporary photography collection (and relaxing outdoor café) on the water, where after perusing floors of mesmerizing galleries, one can hit the roof for inspiring views and some picture-taking of their own. The current "Helmut Newton" and Motohiko Odani "Time Tomb" exhibitions show just how far this museum takes it in terms of breadth—on one hand, they're celebrating a renowned photographer whose legacy is immeasurable, and on the other hand, they're showing the deeply political, newer, and more abstract photographs and films of Odani. It's a space where one can go with or without caring about photography or art and come out inspired.

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Address: Exercisplan 4, 111 49 Stockholm, Sweden

The legendary Moderna Museet continues to champion the best in modern and contemporary art. Known for their early support of many American superstar artists, including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg (they have a heavily-coveted goat piece he did), they've continued to spot and show work from contemporary artists like Wade Guyton and Tala Madani. Their current exhibition, "Pop Konst Design," leads the discussion about the intersection of the Pop Art movement and its influence on design, and "Paul Thek In Process (Stockholm)" is a small, interactive space with letters from the artist to the museum's director trying to coordinate an exhibition. The downstairs "Surrealismen & Duchamp" exhibition juxtaposes the Dadaist's work with iconic surrealist works, which goes to show how all of the exhibitions at Moderna Museet are in hyper-conversation with one another. The museum has an excellent gift shop, appropriately with a headline banner in Swedish by Barbara Kruger. If the Stockholm location leaves one wanting more, have no fear, as there is also a location in Malmö, Sweden.

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Address: Hökens Gata 7, 116 46 Stockholm, Sweden

Speakeasy Tattoo Parlor is not your average tattoo shop, but it's certainly a place to check out even if you're not planning on getting a tattoo. It exists in the back of a handmade dress shop called Poplin, and it's sort of a secret. It was also started exclusively by women for women, and its decor is a mix of feminine, floral designs with tattoo sketches and '50s furnishings. The store seems to embody a style of cool girl that may only exist in Sweden, the type that effortlessly wears a floral dress with boots and full or half-arm sleeves of unique tattoo designs. It's not the most obvious choice for an art and design stop, but even if one only gets as far as Poplin, the trip is worth the trek.

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Address: Nybrogatan 16, 114 39 Stockholm, Sweden

Design Torget is pure evidence that the Swedes have an advantage over the rest of the world, and it's because of the seamless integration of excellent design into every aspect of their daily lives. Design Torget is a more advanced, expansive version of IKEA almost, with affordable kitchenware, jewelry, notepads, watches, travel items, and more, all made to make your life easier, cleaner, and more beautiful. Design Torget also specializes in items that serve multiple functions, such as convertible bags, iPhone cases, scarves, and bookcases. Don't fret if you can't get there or don't live there, because they have an easy-to-navigate online store.

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Address: Götgatan 25, 116 46 Stockholm, Sweden

The name is a dead giveaway, so just imagine that 10 Swedish Designers got together and made a store of top-notch fabrics and patterned houseware items that are inspired by the colors and styles of the '50s. After a period where Swedish design favored the monochrome, brands like 10 Swedish Designers, Svenkst Tenn, and Gallery Pascale have brought color back, and with it, a vintage look from eras past. 10 Swedish Designers made its mark by demanding creative control in their designs, from initial drawings to final printed fabrics, making sure to have a bold, expressive look in their products from day one. Not only are they a shop and design collective, they exhibit around the world and have items stocked with retailers across Europe, Asia, and the US. They've sustained their business for over forty years with nothing but the best quality of everything, and there's no doubt they have many decades of success to come.

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Address: Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden ‎

The highly anticipated ABBA Museum opened in May 2013 after years of planning and collecting artifacts and ideas for an interactive, next-level space. ABBA's influence in pop music is displayed so well at this institution that it's hard to leave without wanting to blast "Dancing Queen" or add "Mamma Mia" to one's workout playlist (seriously). The interactive component of the museum cannot be understated, since one can literally be a part of ABBA on-stage (albeit via band member holograms), do solo karaoke (after picking out an ABBA-inspired outfit to be projected with your face), and browse through a collection of Swedish pop bands that came after ABBA. The entrance is a treat in itself, featuring a Jonas Åkerlund-directed film about ABBA and the museum. Everything from how the band met to how they faced hardship, toured the world, and left a mark on music forever is a part of the incredible museum.

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Address: Djurgårdsvägen 38, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden ‎

It's hard to turn down the opportunity to visit a museum dedicated to spirits, especially one where Absolut's complex history of alcohol production and artist collaborations are displayed in stunning detail. The "Absolut Sin" exhibition underscores Sweden's own complicated relationship with alcohol historically, allowing visitors to smell spirits throughout the years and learn about how drinking culture evolved in and out of the country with drinking songs, concerns for safety and health, and general explorations about how alcohol influences one's identity. The final rooms of the exhibition are one simulating a hangover (it's strikingly accurate) and another with comfy reclined couches and overhead TV screens showing a dizzy man walking/stumbling home from party. Should the exhibition be too heavy for you, the downstairs Absolut Art Collection called "Face It!" has wonderful works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Kenny Scharf, Ed Ruscha, Annie Leibovitz, Vik Muniz, Robert Indiana, and more who have taken the Absolut logo and bottle design into new artistic territories throughout years of commissions.

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Address: Herserudsvägen 32, 181 34 Lidingö, Sweden

While it's a little farther from the city's center, Millesgården is worth the trip just to see a view of Stockholm alone. The hill-top sculpture garden is the old home of sculptor Carl Milles, who lived and worked with his wife, Olga Milles, who was also an artist. The space is now a museum meets sculpture park, where the outdoor sculptures convene around pools or, in contrast, are raised high in the air and appear to be flying like Robert Longo photographs. It's also home to an antique collection of works that inspired Milles' sculpture, which includes a lot of Greek and Italian artifacts and small sculptures, and there's a separate art gallery for works unaffiliated with Milles. Currently, Mats Gustafson's fashion drawings, in all their abstract, whimsical glory, engulf the gallery spaces and provoke discussion about bodily representations in and out of fashion. The experience of Millesgården is best had with a friend or a lover, and it doesn't hurt to sit at the café with some wine afterwards to take in the view and imagine what the grounds were like when Milles was around.

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