Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag has developed a cult following with his hauntingly beautiful retro sci-fi art that mixes post-apocalyptic scenarios with mundane scenes of Swedish countrylife.
"The Remote Glove" from "Tales From The Loop" (2014) —
Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag has developed a cult following with his hauntingly beautiful retro sci-fi art that mixes post-apocalyptic scenarios with mundane scenes of Swedish countrylife.
Simon Stålenhag
The presence of children in the story -- which is set in an alternate version of the 1990s, not in the future -- has drawn comparisons with Netflix's "Stranger Things." The title of this piece, "Akersnuten," means "playing cops" in Swedish.
"Åkersnuten" from "Tales From The Loop" (2014) —
The presence of children in the story -- which is set in an alternate version of the 1990s, not in the future -- has drawn comparisons with Netflix's "Stranger Things." The title of this piece, "Akersnuten," means "playing cops" in Swedish.
Simon Stålenhag
The artwork, which Stålenhag creates digitally, usually begins with photographs he takes. He mixes rural Swedish landscapes with the apparently normal presence of robots, spacecraft and other sci-fi elements.
"December 1994" from "Tales From The Loop" (2014) —
The artwork, which Stålenhag creates digitally, usually begins with photographs he takes. He mixes rural Swedish landscapes with the apparently normal presence of robots, spacecraft and other sci-fi elements.
Simon Stålenhag
Stålenhag's first book "Tales from the Loop" was published in 2016, and will become a series on Amazon Prime Video.
"Invasive Species" from "Tales From The Loop" (2014) —
Stålenhag's first book "Tales from the Loop" was published in 2016, and will become a series on Amazon Prime Video.
Simon Stålenhag
The story that accompanies the illustrations in "Tales from the Loop," written by Stålenhag in Swedish, revolves around the construction of a massive particle accelerator called the Loop. Although the book is set in Sweden, Stålenhag expects the TV series to be set in the US.
"Decoy" from "Tales From The Loop" (2014) —
The story that accompanies the illustrations in "Tales from the Loop," written by Stålenhag in Swedish, revolves around the construction of a massive particle accelerator called the Loop. Although the book is set in Sweden, Stålenhag expects the TV series to be set in the US.
Simon Stålenhag
Stålenhag's second book, 2016's "Things from the Flood," is a sequel to the previous one and takes place in the same universe.
"Stereo" from "Things From The Flood" (2016) —
Stålenhag's second book, 2016's "Things from the Flood," is a sequel to the previous one and takes place in the same universe.
Simon Stålenhag
Stålenhag's latest book has a different setting, and is the result of a trip he took the American West Coast. "The Electric State" is set in a fictional megastate called Pacifica, which corresponds roughly to California, Oregon and Washington.
"Mojave" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
Stålenhag's latest book has a different setting, and is the result of a trip he took the American West Coast. "The Electric State" is set in a fictional megastate called Pacifica, which corresponds roughly to California, Oregon and Washington.
Simon Stålenhag
The book and artworks try to capture American pop culture in the late 1990s.
"The Checkpoint Scene" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
The book and artworks try to capture American pop culture in the late 1990s.
Simon Stålenhag
The movie rights were acquired last year by the Russo brothers, the directors of "Avengers: Infinity War," with the writers from that film (Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely) set to work on the screenplay.
"Ducks" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
The movie rights were acquired last year by the Russo brothers, the directors of "Avengers: Infinity War," with the writers from that film (Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely) set to work on the screenplay.
Simon Stålenhag
The director of "It," Anthony Muschietti, is in negotiations to direct, completing an impressive creative lineup.
"The Mound" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
The director of "It," Anthony Muschietti, is in negotiations to direct, completing an impressive creative lineup.
Simon Stålenhag
In "The Electric State," a girl and her yellow robot travel through an alternate US reality in 1997, with ruins of giant battle drones scattered through the landscape.
"The On Ramp" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
In "The Electric State," a girl and her yellow robot travel through an alternate US reality in 1997, with ruins of giant battle drones scattered through the landscape.
Simon Stålenhag
Among his influences, Stålenhag cites Ralph McQuarrie, whose concept art became a visual bible for Star Wars, and Syd Mead, whose production design brought "Blade Runner," "Aliens" and "Tron" to life.
"The Mascot" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
Among his influences, Stålenhag cites Ralph McQuarrie, whose concept art became a visual bible for Star Wars, and Syd Mead, whose production design brought "Blade Runner," "Aliens" and "Tron" to life.
Simon Stålenhag
"I always start by going out and taking photos, trying to find cool locations that I take tons of reference photos of. Then I play around with these images and paint on top of them in Photoshop and just try things out."
"War Machines No. 7" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
"I always start by going out and taking photos, trying to find cool locations that I take tons of reference photos of. Then I play around with these images and paint on top of them in Photoshop and just try things out."
Simon Stålenhag
"And then when I've found something I like, I start over and do these huge paintings which are basically traditional media, because I do everything with brushstrokes and don't use any photo textures," he said.
"War Machines No.8" from "The Electric State" (2017) —
"And then when I've found something I like, I start over and do these huge paintings which are basically traditional media, because I do everything with brushstrokes and don't use any photo textures," he said.
Simon Stålenhag
Stålenhag has created a set of dinosaur illustrations for an exhibition titled "4,5 billion years" at the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
"Coelophysis" —
Stålenhag has created a set of dinosaur illustrations for an exhibition titled "4,5 billion years" at the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
Simon Stålenhag
An image from Stålenhag's forthcoming book, to be published in 2019.
"ASH15" from "The Labyrinth" (2019) —
An image from Stålenhag's forthcoming book, to be published in 2019.
Simon Stålenhag