Simon Westling
Simon Westling is a metal artist and second-generation blacksmith from Dalsland, Sweden.
Learning metalworking in his early teens as a blacksmiths apprentice to his father, Simon later moved on to study art and silversmithing at Stenebyskolan and Konstfack, University of Arts, Craft and Design in Stockholm, graduating 2011.
His art is often centered around metalworking crafts and traditions, and aims to problematize and question norms and prejudices found within the field of metalworking. In one of his latest works “AI-Craft Study” (2022), traditional blacksmithing is combined with AI-produced silverwork. This portrays the duality and ambivalence of old traditions meeting new technology.
CV
Current
Active as an artist specializing in jewelry art, corpus, and public art commissions since 2011.
Owner and manager of Dingelviks Smedja – Metal workshop and gallery since 2024.
Upcoming Exhibitions & Commissions
Panel participant in discussion on the future of silversmithing, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, November 2025
“Mellan tuggorna” – Hallwylska Muséet, Stockholm Craft Week, October 2025
“Mörkret 66695” – Stockholm Craft Week, October 2025
Employment
Silversmith, Swedish Royal Household, Stockholm, 2015–2018
Head teacher in Metal, Nyckelviksskolan, Fall 2017 & Spring 2018
Lecturer in Metal Techniques, Konstfack University of Arts, Stockholm, 2018–2024
Exhibition Coordinator, Steneby Konsthall, 2023–2024
Exhibitions
Natten – Halmens Hus, Bengtsfors, 2025
Uppståndelsen – Konstakademien, Stockholm, April 2025
Deco/Demo – Nutida Svenskt Silver ställer ut på Liljevalchs, Stockholm, Oktober 2024
Nutida Svenskt Silver – Galleri Montan, Köpenhamn, November 2024
”Mörkret Vandrar” – Craft week, Stockholm, Oktober 2024
”Mörkret” – Dingelviks Smedja och Galleri, Maj 2024
”Nutidanatten” – Kulturnatt Stockholm, April 2024
”Continuation” – Ferrous festival, Hereford, United Kingdom, Mars 2024
”Bankett” – Galleri Sebastian Schildt, Stockholm, December 2023
”Vintersalong” – Nacka Konsthall – Nacka, November 2023
”Tillfälligheter” – Steneby konsthall – Dals Långed, November 2023
”Recipes for Craft Research” – ”Pölen” Konstfack Stockholm 2023
”Studio Talks/Studio 5th Wall” – Galleri Platina Stockholm 2022
”ANIMATE” – Not Quite Fengersfors Maj 2019
”Julutställning” – Galleri Sebastian Schildt 2017
”Corpus Maximus” – Galleri Sebastian Schildt 2017
”Taking Space” – Ädellab Konstfack Stockholm Mars 2016
”ÖPPEN KONST” – Bengtsfors Konsthall Juli 2016
”X Years with SILVER” – Galleri Montan Köpenhamn November 2015
”Animism” – Galleri LOD Stockholm Maj 2015
”The fork” – Galleri LOD Stockholm Mars 2015
”LODs 15 års jubileum” – Örnsköldsviks Konsthall Dec 2014/2015
”LODs 15 års jubileum” – Galleri LOD Stockholm Dec 2014
”Nivå 125´s Jubileumsutställning” – Galleri Nivå 125 Båstad 29 maj – 31 Aug 2014
”P I C N I C” – Galleri LOD Stockholm 30 Apr – 25 Maj 2014
”Cabinet 1948,3 km” – Not Quite Fängersfors 1 – 25 maj 2014
”En sked till gröten” – Galleri LOD Stockholm 30 Nov – 23 Dec 2013
“Highlights” – Galleri Montan, Köpenhamn 7 – 30 Nov 2013
”Kunstmaand Ameland” – Ameland, Holland 1 – 30 Nov 2013
”Från Ingegerd till Estelle – en prinsessutställning” – Sigtuna Museum 1 Jun – 31 Dec 2013
“Flora och Fauna” – Galleri LOD Stockholm 20 April – 19 Maj 2013
”Ädel Metall” – Ame Gallery Hong Kong 11 – 15 Dec 2012
“Ädel Metall” – BOOM Gallery Hong Kong 29 Nov – 9 Dec 2012
”Dalslands Konstvandring” – Dingelvik 2012
”Dalslands Konstvandring” – Dalslands Konstmuseum 2012
“State of things” – Pinakothek der Moderne München Tyskland 2012
”Dalslands Konstvandring” – Dingelvik 2011
”Dalslands Konstvandring” – Åmåls Konsthall 2011
“Koncentrat 2.0” – Galleri Nivå 125 Båstad 2011
”Konstfacks vårutställning 2011” – Konstfack Stockholm 2011
“RRH Jewlery Award” – Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim Tyskland 2011
“Bockat och snott” – Åmåls Konsthall 2009
“Understudy” – Konstfack Stockholm 2008
Solo Exhibitions
”Containers” – Galleri Kaleido Uppsala 6 – 28 April 2013
”Simon Westling” – Galleri LOD Stockholm 15 – 25 Nov 2012
”The Box” – Tibbey & Co Stockholm 2012
“The Arm” – Prof. Karen Pontoppidans Office Stockholm 2009
Teaching Experience & Assignments
Course leader in Silversmithing, Medborgarskolan Stockholm, 2009–2012
Guest lecturer at Nyckelviksskolan, Oct 2013, Sep 2014, Mar 2015, Mar 2016
Guest lecturer at Stenebyskolan, Nov 2013
Substitute teacher at Nyckelviksskolan, Oct 2014 – Mar 2015
Guest lecturer at Folkuniversitetet, 2016
Substitute teacher in Silversmithing, Stenebyskolan Foundation, Sep–Oct 2020
Public Commissions
Bon för stora småvarelser (Nest for Large Small-Creatures) – Göteborg, 2021
Awards
RRH Jewelry Award – Third Prize, Pforzheim, 2011
Årets Guldkorn, Finalist, Stockholm, 2013
Education
2008–2011 – Konstfack University of Arts, Stockholm
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Metal Art, Ädellab
2006–2008 – Stenebyskolan, Dals Långed
Metallhantverk – Smide
2001–2004 – Karlbergsgymnasiet, Åmål
Technical Program, Computer Technology (High School Diploma)
Artist Assistant Assignments
Assistant to Master Blacksmith Ingvar Westling, 2005–2006
Assistant to Tobias Birgersson at LOD – Sensual, Nutida Svenskt Silver, Stockholm, 2009
Assistant to jewelry artist Ted Noten, June 2011
Voluntary Engagements
Board member, Stenebyskolan Student Union, 2006–2008
Student representative, Ädellab Educational Board, Konstfack, 2009–2010
Board member & Secretary, Konstfack Student Union, 2009–2011
Board member, Union ST at Konstfack, 2022–2023
Safety representative, Union ST at Konstfack, 2023
Related Work & Commissions
Former member, Galleri Ateljé Silverlod Cooperative, LOD Stockholm, 2012–2015
Supplier of metal-related services for ALMI Företagspartner Stockholm
Design commission: Award statuette for Audience Prize, Guldbaggen Awards, 2018–2019
Assistant & metal constructor for artists Thomas Nordström & Annika Oskarsson, since 2012
Additional Information
Running own sole proprietorship since 2012
Driver’s license (B), Forklift license, Lift operator license
Languages: Fluent in Swedish and English