Rut Karin Zettergren (SE/FI) is a visual artist, researcher, and educator. Her works often begin as an exploration of histories and theories surrounding technofeminisms, military technological heritage, the construction of modernity, and futurism. Zettergren uses speculative fiction and science fiction as tools to weave together and explore these subjects through drawing, performance, virtual reality, and moving images, as well as through artistic collaborations.
She is a member of the collective Scylla's Opulent Noise Generator (S.O.N.G), which practices polymorphic thinking and employs strategies inspired by cyborg feminism to speculate on possible, more inclusive futures through game-making. She is also part of the performance duo Whyte&Zettergren, which creates performances to explore entangled trans-Atlantic cultural heritages. Through artistic processes, they aim to uncover methods for healing historical trauma caused by coloniality on individual or localized levels.
Zettergren is currently a doctoral candidate in art at the University of the Arts Helsinki, working on her project, Cyborg Perception, which investigates the infrared image, its military origins, and applies techno-feminist strategies to (mis)use its potential to perceive other worlds beyond the visible.
Zettergren has presented works at institutions such as CPR2 (US), Mänttä Festival, Sinne, Titanic Gallery (FI), Barbican Centre, FACT Centre, Arnolfini (UK), Oberhausen International Film Festival, Städtische Galerie Bremen, Laborneunzehn (DE), Taiwan International Video Art Exhibition (TW), Impakt Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival (NL), Havana Biennale (CU), West Space (AU), Göteborgs Konsthall, Visby Konstmuseum, Södertälje Konsthall, Tensta Konsthall, Fotografiska Museet, Galleri 54, and Konsthall C (SE).
2023:PhD student at University of the Arts Helsinki (FI), thesis: Cyborg Perception
2018: Coding for Artists, Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts, and Design) (SE)
2014: Urban Re:mix, postgraduate studies at The Royal Institute of Art (SE)
2005-2011: BFA+MFA at The Royal Institute of Art (Kungl. Konsthögskolan) (SE)
2009: Exchange studies at Instituto Superior de Arte, Havana (CU)
2007: Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University (UG)
2003-2005: Nya Domen Art School, Painting and Drawing Department (SE)
2007–2013: Crystal Beacon ⟨CrB⟩ Lena Bergendahl, Jennifer Rainsford, and Rut Karin Zettergren
2013–2019: 0s+1s Collective Chotterina Freer, Sonia Hedstrand, Anna Kinbom, and Rut Karin Zettergren
2017–: Whyte & Zettergren ⟨W&Z⟩ Olando Whyte and Rut Karin Zettergren
2021–: Scylla's Opulent Noise Generator ⟨S.O.N.G⟩ Anna Kinbom, Chotterina Freer, and Rut Karin Zettergren
2023: Nightboon, Curatorial Program for Research CPR2 New York (USA)
2023: Fungal Datascapes, Goethe Institute Gallery Glasgow during COP26 ⟨collaboration with Jens Evarldsson, Finn Arschavir⟩
2019: Herring Iron Gunpowder Humans & Sugar, Galleri Gerlesborg GIBCA Extended (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2018: The Future Was at Her Fingertips – Digital Ambivalence Cyborging and Technofeminism, Södertälje Konsthall (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2018: Inna Di Video Light, Gallery Sinne (FI) ⟨collaboration with Anna Rokka⟩
2017: The Legacy Complex, La Fábrica de Arte Cubano (CU) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2017: Inna Di Video Light, Titanic Gallery (FI) ⟨collaboration with Anna Rokka⟩
2017: Inna Di Video Light, Gallery 54 part of GIBCA Extended (SE) ⟨collaboration with Anna Rokka⟩
2017: The Legacy Complex, Gotlands Art Museum ⟨0s+1s⟩
2012: Woodland, Vita Kuben at Norrlands Opera House (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2011: Rebuild and Change Nature, Mångkulturellt Center (SE)
2011: Applied Theories of Expanding Minds, Makerere Art Gallery Kampala (UG) ⟨CrB⟩
2011: Healing of the Nations, Haninge Art Center (SE)
2010: Applied Theories of Expanded Minds, Gallery Mejan (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
Upcoming: Triennalen in Västernorrland summer (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
Upcoming: Contingency Sample, Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri Center for Contemporary Art (IS) ⟨W&Z⟩
2024: Ljuset, Konsthall C, curated by Ulrika Flink (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2024: Claws and Connections – All the World's Senses, KuvA/Tila (FI)
2023: Vävda Rum, AR artwork for Sveriges Konstföreningar (SE) ⟨S.O.N.G⟩
2023: Galleri Thomassen vår utställning curated by Nora Söder (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2022: IMMUNE, Living Art Museum (IS) ⟨W&Z⟩
2021: Phantoms of the Commons, Tensta Konsthall (SE)
2021: Something About the Reality We Share and the Realities We Don’t, Celsius Projects (SE)
2021: Crowd, TEGEN2 Stockholm (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2019: Motståndets tid – Om Dekolonisering, Tegen2 (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2018: Den Tänke Hande, Gustav III Antikmuseum (SE)
2018: Mozarts Ghost Internet Art Feminism and Resistance, Göteborgs Konsthall (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2017: SuecaKonstCuba, La Fábrica de Arte Cubano (CU) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2017: Like a Horse, Fotografiska Museet The Museum of Photography (SE)
2017: Business As Usual, Kreuzbergpavillon, curated by Mario Margani and Sascha Hundorff (DE) ⟨collaboration with Anna Rokka⟩
2016: Kabbo Ka Muwala - The Girl's Basket, (UG) Städtische Galerie Bremen (DE)
2015: Relative Distance, Intimate Space St Petersburg (RU) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2015: Caught in the Act, Sliphus Villan (SE)
2014: The Return of the Ghosts, Taiwan International Video Art Exhibition (TW) ⟨CrB⟩
2014: Mänttä Art Festival (FI) ⟨collaboration with Anna Rokka⟩
2013: Videography on tour, Lost Property (NL)
2013: Tensta Museum Rapporter från Nya Sverige, Tensta Konsthall (SE)
2012: One Night Stand, Kirsis Art Center (CH)
2012: The Crippled Dancer, Trägårn (SE)
2012: Melancholy in Progress, Taiwan Int. Video Art Exhibition Hong-Gah Museum (TW) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Husby TV, Husby festival and the Modern Museum (SE)
2012: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions, Arnolfini (UK) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: So You Say, West Space (AU) ⟨CrB⟩
2011: The Never Ending Musical, Gallery Kurant (NO)
Upcoming: Explorer Festival, Husavik (IS) ⟨W&Z⟩ /2024/
2023: Herring Iron Gunpowder Humans & Sugar, Klippan Gammelbo bruk (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2022: Historical Spiritual Vibration – A Space Traveling Program, Living Art Museum (IS) ⟨W&Z⟩
2020: Herring Iron Gunpowder Sugar and Humans, performances at; Stokes Hals Grate Housel, Fd Molyne's Sugar Estate, Fort Charles in Port Royal Harbor ⟨W&Z⟩
2019: Nina K and Connie, Talin Feminist Forum (EE) ⟨S.O.N.G⟩
2019: Motståndets tid – Om Dekolonisering, Tegen2 (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2019: Side Effects, Work Hard Play Hard Festival (BY) ⟨S.O.N.G⟩
2018: Aggressive Gesture, 3e Våningen (SE+JA) ⟨W&Z⟩
2018: Drone Dancing, Färgfabriken (SE)
2017: Transmission, Work Hard Play Hard Festival (BY) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2017: Med Fingrarna i Syltburken, Cantina Real (SE)
2015: Soft Light on Alphabet Inc, The Nordic Art Association, Malongen (SE)
2010: Applied Theories of Expanding Minds, Docky Lodge, Stockholm (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2009: The Healing of the Nations, Bastard Gallery (SE), Full Pull Festival (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2009: The Healing of the Nations, bilateral event at Havana Biennial (CU)
2023: Fleeting Figures, BFI London Film Festival (UK) ⟨S.O.N.G⟩
2022: Historical Spiritual Vibration, Reykjavík City Library (IS) ⟨W&Z⟩
2016: Beyond the Surface curated by Laborneunzehn, Laborneunzehn and Occulto Fest (DE)
2016: STOCKmotion Film Festival (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2016: Filmform News, Bio Rio Stockholm (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2016: Oberhausen Film Festival (DE) ⟨CrB⟩
2014: XL Art Space Helsinki (FI)
2013: Videography on tour, Butcher's (NL), Bar de Bois (AU)
2013: Oberhausen on Tour, Cinema Zuid (BE), Barbican Centre London (UK), Star and Shadow Cinema (UK), Los Angeles Filmforum (US) ⟨CrB⟩, Singes de Nuit (FR) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Royal Institute of Arts Research Week, Bio Rio (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: No More Westerns, Impakt Festival (NL) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: 4th Belo Horizonte International Film Festival (BR) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Artist Cine Club Africa in Science Fiction, FACT Center Liverpool (UK) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival (PT) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Greatmore Studios (ZA) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions, Arnolfini (UK) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Oberhausen International Film Festival International Competition (DE) ⟨CrB⟩
2012: Rotterdam International Film Festival (NL) ⟨CrB⟩
2011: Kort på Kino Kino art video festival (NO)
2011: Kenya International Film Festival (KE) ⟨CrB⟩
2011: Applied Theories of Expanded Minds, National Theatre (KE) ⟨CrB⟩
2011: Locker Room Film Festival, Arcus (JP), Primo Piano Livingallery (IT)
2010: The Healing of the Nations, Tupp Festival Uppsala City Theatre (SE)
2009: Applied Theories of Expanding Minds, OpenART Örebro (SE) ⟨CrB⟩
2022: IMMUNE, two weeks AIR in Iceland April 2022 part of two year online project ⟨W&Z⟩
2020: Delfina Foundation thematic residency Science_technology_society (UK)
2019: Malongen, Stockholm (SE) ⟨W&Z⟩
2017: Nordiska Akvarellmuseet (SE)
2017: BAC (Baltic Art Center), Jun Gotland (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2017: Sim Residency, May Reykjavik (IS)
2016: BAC (Baltic Art Center), Jun Gotland (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2016: The Nordic Art Association, Malongen (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2016: The Bergman Estates, Fårö March Gotland (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2015: BAC (Baltic Art Center), March Gotland (SE) ⟨0s+1s⟩
2015: PS Lagos, Jan-March Lagos (NG)
2024: Kulturbryggan (The Swedish Art Grant Committee) pre-study Owning Our Madness ⟨W&Z⟩
2024: Helge Ax:son Johnson Scholarship for the PhD project Cyborg Perception
2024: KuVa research grant for first artistic component of Cyborg Perception
2023: The Swedish Art Grant Committee, international exchange for travel to Jamaica ⟨W&Z⟩
2023: Globus Opstart, Nordic Culture Fund ⟨W&Z⟩
2023: Stockholms Stad Atelje Stöd
2022: The Swedish Art Grant Committee, international exchange for exhibition at CPR2
2021: Kulturbryggan, for The Serene Machine ⟨S.O.N.G⟩
2021: The Swedish Art Grant Committee, cultural exchange to invite artist Rosalie Yu to Sweden
2021: The Swedish Art Grant Committee's two-year working grant for 2021 and 2022
2021: Helge Ax:son Johnson Scholarship for the project To dream the technological
2021: Covid crisis grant from the Swedish Art Grant Committee
2020: The Swedish Art Grant Committee; London's artist residency scholarship at Delfina Foundation
2020: Covid crisis grant from the Swedish Art Grant Committee
2018: Kulturbryggan (Swedish Art Grant Committee) Herring, Iron, Gunpowder, Humans & Sugar
2018: Helge Ax:son Johnson Scholarship for the project Miman
2018: Taike project grant for Miman (FI)
2018: International Cultural exchange grant from Swedish Art Grant Committee for Finland
2017: Two-year artistic working grant from Swedish Art Grant Committee (IASPIS)
2017: International Cultural exchange grant from Swedish Art Grant Committee for Havana
2016: Svenska Kulturfonden with Anna Rokka for Inna di Video Light
2015: Kulturbryggan for The Legacy Complex with ⟨0s+1s⟩
2015: KONE Foundation with Anna Rokka for Inna di Video Light
2014: One-year artistic working grant from Swedish Art Grant Committee
2014: International cultural exchange grant from Swedish Art Grant Committee for Taipei
2013: The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts scholarship - one-year artistic working grant
2013: Helge Ax:son Johnson Stiftelse
2013: Swedish Film Institute for the movie Muva Farasi ⟨CrB⟩
Upcoming: Exposition/article in VIS Nordic Journal for Artistic Research issue nr 13 Brieftopia, 2025
2024: Presenting 780nm-1mm as a performance lecture at Helsinki Photo Media Conference
2024-2025: Teaching 5% as part of my full-time PhD position at University of the Arts Helsinki (FI)
2020-: Lecturer in moving images at the Royal Institute of Art (SE) (Currently on research leave for 2 years)
2023: One day workshop with Index Teen Advisory Board
2018: Head teacher in fine art at Gerlesborgs Konstskola in Bohuslän, 6 months (SE)
2018: Konsten@Internet Gerlesborgs Konstskola in Stockholm (SE)
2018: Konsten@Internet Gerlesborgs Konstskola in Bohuslän (SE)
2017: Teacher in moving image at Gerlesborgs Konstskola in Bohuslän (SE)
2016-2017: Studio visits with students at Gerlesborgs Konstskola in Stockholm (SE)
2016: Workshop at YOUYOUERS, MUSEUM MUSEUM, Modern Museum of Art (SE)
2016: Konsten@Internet, Nordiska Konstskolan (FI)
2019: Sketch commission for public artwork for Västra Götalandsregionen (SE)
2018: Winner of the art prize “Den tänkande Handen” The Royal Academy of Fine Arts (SE)
2016: Participation in Grosses Treffen 2016, Berlin
2012-2014: Participant in Stockholm Film Lab, arranged by the Stockholm International Film Festival
2012: Applied Theories of Expanding Minds special mention at the Oberhausen Int Film Festival
2009-2011: Board member of the Royal Board of the Academy of Arts