Swedish-born Henrik Sjöström, also known as "el bastardo," is recognized for injecting a dynamic energy into the typically orderly confines of square canvases, pieces of paper, and white cube galleries. His work draws inspiration from graffiti and street art, often displaying a mosaic-like quality where colors and lines form interconnected words to convey complex statements. This mosaic approach permeates both his abstract and figurative works, allowing different planes and energy areas to converge without overwhelming the overall unity of a painting.

Sjöström primarily employs fast-drying acrylics, enabling him to make swift and impactful decisions. He complements this with other media, including spray paint and pen-ink, all of which reflect an affinity for writing. This written, streetwise aspect lends his images an ideogrammatic significance, as they not only depict but also comment on their subject matter.

The essence of Sjöström's practice lies in his ability to deftly navigate between the representational and non-representational, street art and fine art, enriching each mode through the influence of the other. His more figurative works possess an iconographic quality, drawing from art-historical portraiture traditions and the layered lettering inherent in graffiti.

Exhibition History:

• 2023: 'Illuminated Bastardz' at Gallery Svea, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2023: 'Bastard Fragmentz' at Art Portable, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2022: 'Bastard Traditionz' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2022: 'A Bastard Proclamation: The Uyghurs' at Gallery Svea, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2021: 'Bastard Legendz' at gallery Svea, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2020: 'Bastard Renegadez' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2020: 'Besieged By Bastardz’ at gallery Svea, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2019: 'Bastard Revolutionz’ at gallery Svea, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2019: 'Bastard Revelationz' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2018: 'State Declared Bastardz: The Rohingya (II)' at gallery Svea, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2018: 'State Declared Bastardz: The Rohingya' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2017: 'Bastard Sisterz' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2016: 'Bastard Odyssey' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2015: 'A Bastard Xmas Conspiracy' at gallery Ekvall/Törnblom, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2015: 'Borderline Bastardz' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2015: 'A Bastard Enterprize' at restaurant Vitriini, Porvoo, Finland.

• 2014: 'Bastard Politicz' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2013: 'Being a Bastard Worx' at gallery Galaxy, Stockholm, Sweden.

• 2013: 'Bastard Visionz' at gallery Art Frida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2012: 'Don’t You Know Who I Am?' at gallery ArtShortcut, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2012: 'Bastardizm' at gallery ArtFrida, Helsinki, Finland.

• 2008: 'el bastardo' at Liike 6, Helsinki, Finland.