Lap-See Lam

The work of Swedish artist Lap-See Lam interprets traditional storytelling forms such as Cantonese opera and shadow plays to grapple with the translation – and mistranslation – of cultural heritage. Lam’s practice, ranging from film to virtual reality, sculpture, and installation, addresses a process she describes as ‘generational loss’. Her work traces a line through histories of 18th Century Chinoiserie through to the decor of Chinese restaurants in modern-day Sweden, including the one established by her grandmother on her arrival to Stockholm from Hong Kong in the 1970s. Lam’s art also reflects her family's migration history. She represented the Nordic Countries at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024 and has upcoming shows at PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal (2025), Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2025) and Vienna Secession, Vienna (2026).

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The Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award honours the contribution of an outstanding international artist with a significant body of work whose practice resonates with our time and ignites meaningful conversations. The Award is intended to mark a pivotal milestone in an artist's career and is selected by an international jury of experts. Lam is the fourth award recipient, following Alia Farid in 2023, Guadalupe Maravilla in 2021 and Otobong Nkanga in 2019. Lam’s exhibition at the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter will open in June 2026 and will be the most extensive presentation of her work to date.

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Lap-See Lam said: “My work often unfolds through large-scale, collaborative processes – bringing together diverse voices, materials and histories to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Receiving the Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award is not only an affirmation of this way of working, but also a reminder of the vital role art plays in shaping how we see, remember and imagine the world. More than anything, this award makes it possible to continue the work – building, questioning and creating with others, giving form to the unseen and the possible. It is a great honour.”

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The Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award is intended to mark a defining milestone in an artistic career, and the jury unanimously agrees that Lam’s extraordinary work is at a pivotal stage. The jury hopes the award will contribute to the further development of Lap-See Lam’s practice and holds high expectations for her future work.”

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Paulina Rider Wilhelmsen, Founder and Jury Member, said:

“It is with great joy that we welcome Lap-See Lam as the new laureate of the Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award, which is so meaningful for our family. When we first encountered Lam’s work, it stayed with us — stirring conversations, emotions, and curiosity. That, to us, is what truly powerful art does. Her practice is deeply personal yet widely resonant — there’s a certain magic in how she explores identity, migration, family, and memory. We were especially moved by how her work is intertwined with her own family’s story, honouring those who came before her and inviting them into the creative process. We’re delighted to share this moment in her artistic journey and can’t wait to see what she creates next.”

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Lap-See Lam (b. 1990) lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden. She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm (2020). Working across video installation, sculpture, and performance, Lam draws on the aesthetics and cultural codes of the Cantonese diaspora — from shadow play and Cantonese opera to the décor of Western Chinese restaurants — blending contemporary technologies with traditional forms and mythologies.

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Recent solo exhibitions include the Hammer Museum (Los Angeles), The Power Plant (Toronto), Studio Voltaire (London), AKG Art Museum (Buffalo), Swiss Institute (New York), Portikus (Frankfurt), Bonniers Konsthall (Stockholm), Trondheim Kunstmuseum, and Moderna Museet Malmö. She represented Sweden at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024 with The Altersea Opera, a site-specific installation for the Nordic Pavilion commissioned by Moderna Museet, created in collaboration with composer Tze Yeung Ho and textile artist Kholod Hawash.

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Upcoming solo exhibitions include PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art (Montréal, 2025), Moderna Museet (Stockholm, 2025), Vienna Secession (Vienna, 2026), and Henie Onstad Kunstsenter (2026).

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