contact@fredrikprost.com
svnsen

About me

Fredrik Prost is a Sami artisan and craftsman from Vihkusjávri, a small village in the northernmost part of Sweden. In Vihkusjávri he has his workshop and smithy. Prost’s traditional upbringing, in a family of skilled artisans and handicraftsman, inspired and taught him to make beautiful, intricate, and detailed Sami handicrafts. Since the young age of 15, he has been using the tools of his ancestors to craft traditional Sami knives, drums, bowls and cups, jewelry, and more. While he learned a great deal from working with the skilled handicraftsman in his family, to hone more abilities he went on to study at the prestigious Sámi education center in Jokkmokk for three years during 2001-2004.

Prost is constantly aiming for the perfect balance between beauty and function in his work. The detail of every part of each object is significant. Prost forges his own blades. Like his ancestors, he makes leather and thread from reindeer skin and tendons. He collects wood and antler from nature to use in his handcrafted traditional objects and avant-garde artworks.

What has been his passion for over two decades continues to be his livelihood. His work has been displayed at major galleries and institutions all over the world such as the National Art Gallery of Canada and The University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI). In Scandinavia his work has been shown at some of the biggest art institutions like Liljevalchs and The East Asian Museum in Stockholm among others. In 2017, when he was given the prestigious Asa Kitok-award,  he had a solo exhibition at the Winter Market in Jokkmokk. He has also received many other notable awards such as two first Places during the knife competition at the Knifeweek in Ludvika Sweden in 2013.
 
Photo by Rebecca Lundh