Lasse Svanberg (1937-2006) had a long career in photography and film, and his archive includes photographs, lithographs, collages and other material documenting his life and work.

Born in Nederkalix, northern Sweden, he grew up in a family engaged in the Social Democratic labour movement. From an early age, Lasse was deeply drawn to animals and nature, and later to the urban life in Stockholm. He was a humanist with a love of art and curiosity for other people. He was influenced by the ideas and philosophy of the Bauhaus and saw creativity as a way of understanding both oneself and the world.

Svanberg trained photography at Stockholm School of Photography and Konstfack before continuing his studies at the Institute of Design in Chicago in 1961–62, There, he explored graphics, photography and film under the guidance of Aaron Siskind and Art Seagal, and with Richard Avedon in New York.

His photographs include portraits and experimental studies, as well as images of the streets of New York and Chicago, their vibrant jazz scenes, architectural environments, and social and political life.

He had twin daughters, Clea and Gabrielle (1964), with American artist Nancie Swanberg; a son, John (1970), with fashion designer Cari Bengtsson; and a daughter, Sanna (1981), with film professional Susanne Roger to whom he was married until his death in 2006.

Black Notebook (Svarta skrivboken) is an ongoing writing and research project that began with a book Lasse and his daughter Sanna planned to write together already in 1996. The project takes its name from a notebook inherited from his mother Ester and brings together questions of memory, family history and artistic legacy.

For inquires, please contact:
sanna.svanberg[a]gmail.com