To spend time with one of Pieper Bloomquist’s paintings is to be surprised and delighted. At first glance, you may think you’ve stumbled on a long-lost Nordic painting, full of muted egg tempera colors and folk-art figures. But looking closer, you’ll notice the figures are playing baseball, and the medieval script next to them is in modern English. It’s a moment that prompts a double take: What is going on here?
Bloomquist has dedicated her life to two traditional Swedish folk art painting practices, dalmålning and bonadsmålning. Along the way, she has found a way to blend these historic techniques with contemporary stories to create something all her own.
What makes Swedish folk painting unique, Bloomquist explains, is its narrative quality. While the tradition of Norwegian rosemaling focuses on decorative floral and scrollwork, Swedish styles incorporate storytelling, often showing Bible stories or other meaningful events.
In 18th-century Sweden, traveling artists painted scenes on cloth to decorate wooden farmhouses. These paintings weren’t just art—they were personal and functional, often marking important moments in people’s lives.
It’s the storytelling aspect of dalmålning and bonadsmålning that Bloomquist loves most. After working as an oncology nurse for years, she has spent much of her life listening to people’s stories and helping them through difficult times. Art became a way to manage stress and express her thoughts.
Bloomquist’s artistic journey was shaped by two key mentors: Karen Jenson, a master folk artist who introduced her to Swedish and Norwegian painting traditions, and Judy Nelson Kjenstad, a Minneapolis-based painter known for intricate murals. These mentors passed on the technical skills of the craft, including how to make handmade paint, prepare the flour-based gesso, and stretch linen canvases.
But Bloomquist’s work didn’t stop with tradition—it evolved to include modern narratives. Her paintings show scenes like elders sipping coffee at a local Cenex, children climbing apple trees, or a North Dakota community rallying to move a church. Each piece bridges the past and present.
“I want the original paintings to be valued as tools that have allowed us to tell our stories,” Bloomquist explains. “But I’m very careful not to romanticize those old paintings. I recognize this tradition needs to stay relevant.”
One of her most meaningful projects involves working with elders in nursing homes to create community paintings. Bloomquist interviews residents to gather personal stories, sketches their stories onto a large canvas, and holds open painting sessions where participants contribute to the artwork. In the end, the finished piece reflects residents’ lives and hangs in their home—a lasting tribute to their stories.
Bloomquist also shares the history of dalmålning and bonadsmålning through teaching, both in the United States and in Sweden. “I want people to know about this tradition. I’ve been vocal to make sure it’s not forgotten,” she explains.
Through her work, Bloomquist ensures Swedish folk painting remains a living, evolving tradition—rooted in history but reflecting today’s world. “If something I’ve done has touched someone,” she reflects, “that’s my legacy.”
Pieper Bloomquist is a 2024 recipient of the Midwest Culture Bearers Award, which celebrates and financially supports the work of Midwest culture bearers and folk arts practitioners.
The Midwest Culture Bearers Award is supported by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts for project management.