matilda forsberg (b. 1976, sweden) based in new jersey, is a visual artist whose figurative paintings engage with themes of family, migration, and the passage of time. her practice is rooted in her own story of migration and motherhood of a multiracial child, exploring multicultural intersections while honoring individual family experiences as part of larger narratives.forsberg's work operates as a space of internal dialogue and contemplation—a place where intuition and intention converge to connect the past to the present. for years, she has worked with old family photographs sourced from relatives and friends, transforming these personal archives into paintings that celebrate and amplify overlooked histories and shared familial experiences.

during her time at dot.ateliers, forsberg experienced a significant shift in her approach. while her work remained deeply human-centric, she moved away from archival imagery and began creating paintings based on spontaneous photographs of her immediate surroundings. this transition opened new territory—exploring how light, shape, texture, and color inhabit the physical and geographic spaces we move through.

the local community became both subject and inspiration. forsberg captured a portrait of a food vendor, engaged with the vibrant food culture of the area, and allowed the environment to guide her process. working independently in her studio space, she created multiple smaller works while developing larger pieces, balancing spontaneity with intention and letting the rhythm of daily life inform what appeared on the canvas.

the residency reinforced what forsberg has always known—that her practice is not fixed but constantly shaped by the places she inhabits and the people she meets. whether drawing from historical photographs or present-day environments, her work continues to explore what it means to hold memory, to witness the everyday, and to find meaning in both the personal and the universal.