Olle Eksell

Olle Eksell

Olle Eksell (1918-2007) is seen as one of the first modern graphic designers in Sweden. Olle has participated in the largest international exhibitions and has been awarded an honoraryRead more professorship by the Swedish government. Olle Eksell imaginatively created direct and geometrically abstract works that were ahead of their time. Time has now caught up and Olle is actual and current with previously unused illustrations in a collection at Photowall called New Classics.

New classics by cocoa eyes creator Olle Eksell

In the early 1990s, Olle Eksell created motifs for a Swedish paper mill. The paper mill was going to produce paper with high print quality and needed a brochure to demonstrate this. Olle worked with the design of the brochure to the concept "the paper ignites the color". The paper mill was sold and the motifs were not used until a quarter of a century later.

Photowall now want to let the color ignite and have in close collaboration with www.olleeksell.se recreated Olle's work from his books.

Based on Olle's humorous and optimistic design, we have reconstructed and drawn the motifs with the utmost respect for details and in the spirit of Olle Eksell created new digital originals, keeping the graphic touch. Olle's wife Ruth Eksell has through the whole process been involved in the project and has been very enthusiastic and happy about the opportunity to create wallpaper from her late husband's work.

Olle Eksell and a studio picture with the classic cocoa eyes Besides being an excellent designer and writer, Olle Eksell was a great visionary. This can be seen in his book Design = Ekonomi (1964) where he in a clear and elegant discussion brought forth the important relationship between design and economy. Good design is not just aesthetic – it is also good economy. Good design is not just cool – it is bloody serious!

Olle Eksell participated in international exhibitions such as at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Louvre in Paris, and the Biennale in Venice. He was a member of the world jury of typography – the International Center for Graphic Arts in New York. In Sweden, Olle was nominated to the advertising world’s Platinum Academy in 1985. In 2001, the Swedish Government bestowed Olle with the title of Honorary Professor for his significant contribution to the field of design.

The collection New Classics consists of 8 wallpapers and 5 motifs for posters, canvas prints och framed prints.

To the collection
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