LB°27 — About
Konstfrämjandet Norrbotten proudly presents the next edition of Luleåbiennalen (The Luleå Biennial) 5 March–30 May 2027. Carola Grahn, New Red Order, Lea Simma and Wolf Babe Collective are the first participants invited to develop the biennial together with new and returning collaborators. The invited artists are all Indigenous and share an interest in collective practices.
The upcoming edition of the oldest art biennial in Scandinavia takes off from collective processes and presents new artworks and collaborations throughout two years of public activities. Through a series of public gatherings, on site in Sábme Norrbotten as well as online, the biennial will offer space for dialogue and activities of various kinds to enable exchange of knowledge and experiences. Artists, collaborative partners and audiences are all invited to take part. The gatherings take off from the question of how we can imagine a future in the north, and in what ways culture can be a part of that future. The public programme takes place throughout 2025 and 2026 and will culminate with the biennial’s exhibition period 5 March–30 May 2027.
“We want to facilitate exciting, unexpected and highly relevant biennial editions, both for our local audiences and for the international art scene. At the same time, we view Luleåbiennalen as something which stretches between editions, across a longer period of time. Throughout the last several editions, we have worked with an increasing focus on new forms of collaboration which will continue to contribute to the development of the biennial.”
Carola Grahn. Photo: Erika Svensson
New Red Order. Photo: Image courtesy of Dina Litovsky, The New York Times
Lea Simma. Photo: Self portrait
Wolf Babe Collective. Photo: Tracey Lynne Photography
Carola Grahn. Photo: Erika Svensson
New Red Order. Photo: Image courtesy of Dina Litovsky, The New York Times
Lea Simma. Photo: Self portrait
Wolf Babe Collective. Photo: Tracey Lynne Photography
Carola Grahn. Photo: Erika Svensson
New Red Order. Photo: Image courtesy of Dina Litovsky, The New York Times
Lea Simma. Photo: Self portrait
Wolf Babe Collective. Photo: Tracey Lynne Photography
The artistic process is initiated by artist Carola Grahn, collectives New Red Order and Wolf Babe Collective, as well as poet and writer Lea Simma. Operating across a wide variety of art forms and methodologies, the first invited artists come together in a shared interest in collaborative practices. With humour and site specific issues as recurring features in their respective work, these Indigenous artists will shape the upcoming edition of the biennial. Additional participants and collaborators will be included as the work develops.
“Allowing the biennial to grow forth from collective processes and Indigenous perspectives means including stories, experiences and knowledge on the artists’ own premises, and letting these shape future biennial editions. Luleåbiennalen has, since its beginning, worked towards filling gaps in regards to what is made visible and what is included in the art scene. For the past few editions, this has meant an increasing presence of Sámi perspectives. Letting the biennial become a platform for Indigenous artists to meet in Sábme is important and a unique feature amongst biennials in Sweden today. There is both a need and a space to contribute valuable perspectives and exchanges. Together with practitioners who in various ways challenge current notions and conditions, we wish to engage people and contribute to continued development, facilitating even more exciting and thought-provoking experiences.”
The first public activity will take place in Luleå at the end of 2025.
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