EWK Prize

EWK Prize
Native nameEWK-priset
Awarded forArtistic work in the spirit of political cartoonist Ewert Karlsson
DescriptionSwedish art and illustration prize
Sponsored byEWK-sällskapet
CountrySweden
Established2000
Websiteewk.se/ewk-priset/

The EWK Prize (EWK-priset) is a Swedish award presented annually to artists and illustrators whose work continues the tradition of political cartoonist Ewert Karlsson (EWK).

Background

Ewert Karlsson (EWK)

Ewert Gustav Adolf Karlsson (1918–2004), known by the signature EWK, was born in Mogata parish in Östergötland and became one of Sweden's most internationally recognized political cartoonists. His political drawings frequently appeared in Aftonbladet and Land, and his ability to depict political and social issues with clarity and emotional force earned him international acclaim. A selection of his works has been exhibited widely in Sweden and abroad.[1]

EWK Society

The EWK Society (EWK-sällskapet) was founded in 1993 with the goal of establishing an EWK museum in Söderköping, near Karlsson's birthplace; a permanent gallery of his work ultimately opened at the Museum of Work in Norrköping in 2009. The society works to promote knowledge of EWK's work and encourage political illustration art.[2]

The prize

In 2000, the society established the prize as a way to recognize and encourage artists working in the spirit of Ewert Karlsson. Winners are selected by a jury composed of active political cartoonists and representatives from the Museum of Work and Fullersta gård, a historic manor house and municipal art center in Huddinge, Sweden, where Karlsson lived for many years.[3][4] In addition to the monetary award of 10,000 SEK, recipients receive an EWK plaque designed by sculptor Thomas Qvarsebo.[3]

Recipients

Year Recipient Country
2000 Riber Hansson Sweden
2001 Finn Graff Norway
2002 Janusz "Mayk" Majewski Poland
2003 Leif Zetterling Sweden
2005 Siri Dokken Norway
2008 Ulf Frödin Sweden
2010 Sara Granér Sweden
2011 Robert Nyberg Sweden
2012 Magnus Bard Sweden
2013 Liv Strömquist Sweden
2014 Lars-Erik "Lehån" Håkansson Sweden
2015 Saad Hajo Sweden
2016 Zapiro South Africa
2017 Charlie Christensen Sweden
2018 Max Gustafson Sweden
2019 Karin Z. Sunvisson Sweden
2020 Doaa el-Adl Egypt
2021 Ann Telnaes United States
2022 Julie Leonardsson Sweden
2023 Ulf Lundkvist Sweden
2024 Mohammad Sabaaneh Palestine
2025 Pontus Lundkvist Sweden

25th anniversary

In 2025 the EWK Society celebrated the 25th anniversary of the prize with a commemorative publication featuring contributions from all recipients. In 2025–2026, exhibitions featuring earlier laureates such as Robert Nyberg were held in Stockholm, and Museum of Work announced updates to the permanent EWK gallery.[5]

References

Bibliography

  • "Med satiren som livsstil" (in Swedish). Dagens Arbete. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "Mot årets EWK-pristagare" (in Swedish). Arbetets museum. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "Ann Telnaes är årets EWK-pristagare" (in Swedish). Dagens Arbete. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "Udden sitter i detaljerna" (in Swedish). Dagens Arbete. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "EWK-priset". EWK-sällskapet (in Swedish). EWK-sällskapet. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "EWK-priset". Arbetets museum (in Swedish). Arbetets museum. 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "Om EWK". EWK-sällskapet (in Swedish). EWK-sällskapet. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "Nyheter". EWK-sällskapet (in Swedish). EWK-sällskapet. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  • "EWK-sällskapet". EWK-sällskapet (in Swedish). EWK-sällskapet. Retrieved 14 June 2026.