Hello is it me i’m looking for

New solo show at WAY gallery in Stockholm. Opens September 25th. To attend the opening, please request a formal invitation.

Hello, is it me I'm looking for

– A solo exhibition by Maria Sandström

The exhibition Hello, is it me I’m looking for poses a question both sentimental and mercilessly contemporary: who exactly are we trying to reach when we broadcast ourselves?

In a society where identity has become an endless project performed for an ever-present audience, Sandström’s works serve as both commentary and resistance. Her recurring, strangely familiar ape-like figures embody fragmented identities—physical metaphors of identity as role, construct, and commodity. Neither caricatures nor traditional self-portraits, they reflect how identity is shaped by external gazes, hovering in the psychological spaces between authenticity and role-play, vulnerability and control.

Sandström’s art navigates visual clarity and dramatic sensitivity. Her figures exist in a quiet crisis, balancing the desire to express themselves against the fear of exposure. Frozen in a silent monologue between laughter and scream, between the urge to be seen and the instinct to hide, they invite viewers into a space of reflective self-examination.

The ape-like characters are almost human—close enough to evoke recognition, yet distant enough to expose identity's constructed nature.

The exhibition’s title, Hello, is it me I'm looking for, encapsulates a pressing contemporary question: What happens to the self when we never stop reflecting ourselves through others' eyes?

This exhibition does not provide answers but opens a dialogue—simultaneously humorous and profound—questioning what we choose to reveal, what we conceal, and ultimately, who it is we hope to find.

Odalisque Magazine:

Maria Sandström is the multi-talented artist known for her colorful and characterful portraits.

ART

AUCTION

Renowned artist Maria Sandström is generously donating one of her artworks to Warsalongen, an exclusive art exhibition and auction dedicated to supporting children affected by war. Her piece will be auctioned alongside works by Lars Lerin, one of Sweden’s most celebrated artists, as well as other esteemed contemporary artists.

Uppsala Auktionskammare, Nybrogatan 20, Stockholm
February 11
5:00–7:00 PM

Don’t miss this chance to support a meaningful cause while acquiring a unique artwork. Visit the exhibition, place your bid, and be part of something truly impactful. Online bidding is available from February 11–18 at uppsalaauktion.se.