"Everything I paint is a talisman." — Holly Biörklund
Holly Biörklund (b. 1987 Kent, England) is an artist and muralist known for her romantic hand-painted murals, which have become a signature element of her work. Born and raised in the English countryside, she studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art in London before living in Paris and New York. She now resides in Stockholm, where she works alongside her family.
Using traditional painting techniques with a focus on gilding and trompe l'oeil, Biörklund’s work speaks to our deep relationship with fantasy, memory, and—above all—storytelling. “Everything I paint is a talisman,” she notes. From large-scale wall and ceiling murals to smaller paintings on silk and linen, she creates immersive worlds for the viewer to step into, inviting them to live inside a painting.
Taking inspiration from mythology and legend, she blends figurative and surrealistic imagery—drawing animals and elements of nature—to weave narratives that evoke a sense of magic and wonder.
In 2023, Mnemosyne Projects invited Holly Biörklund to participate in the Hydra Art Residency at the Old Carpet Factory. During her time on Hydra, she created a site-specific commission—a hidden mural delicately woven into the walls of the 18th-century historical landmark.
In 2025,Biörklund further immersed herself in Hydra’s cultural landscape by collaborating on the cover for Hydra: Island in the Sound EP. Drawing inspiration from Hydra’s rich artistic and religious heritage, the artwork is based on the gold-embroidered epitaphios from 1808, held in the collection of the Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum of Hydra.
Biörklund’s artistic journey on Hydra continues in 2025 with her participation in the "Marble Riddles" art exhibition curated by Tatiana Gecmen-Waldek at the Old Carpet Factory historical mansion on the island of Hydra.
PROJECTS
Hydra: Island in the Sound is an imagined mythology crafted for an island that has long lacked an origin myth of its own. Drawing on archival research, field recordings, and intimate conversations with Hydra’s local community, the project offers a textured exploration of the island’s cultural traditions and historical memory. From liturgical rites and maritime lore to seasonal customs and everyday gestures, it traces Hydra’s evolving identity and preserves the voices that have shaped its rugged landscape across generations. Six original sonic compositions reimagine the island’s aural heritage, blending sacred and vernacular musical forms into a mythic soundscape that serves as an auditory companion to the book, deepening the reader’s immersion in Hydra’s cultural continuum.
