The seventh edition of Charity Art Expo brought artists, collectors and creative communities together in Stockholm, transforming personal stories, artistic expression and cultural exchange into a shared commitment to humanitarian solidarity.
An Arts & Culture Feature by DESIGNER Magazine Global
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN | 7 November 2026
Beyond the Canvas: Art with a Human Purpose
Art has always possessed the extraordinary ability to communicate what words cannot fully express. It preserves memories, challenges perceptions, reveals emotions and creates connections across cultures and generations. Yet when artistic creativity meets humanitarian commitment, its significance extends beyond the walls of a gallery.
On Saturday, 7 November 2026, the seventh edition of Charity Art Expo brought this philosophy to the heart of Stockholm. Hosted at ABF-huset on Sveavägen 41, the exhibition presented a diverse encounter between visual art, personal storytelling and philanthropy, with proceeds supporting Médecins Sans Frontières (Läkare Utan Gränser).
Founded and organised by artist and cultural entrepreneur Alex Colard, Charity Art Expo has developed into a platform connecting emerging and established artists with collectors, galleries, creative professionals and the wider public.
The event offered more than an opportunity to discover and purchase original artworks. It invited visitors to consider the relationship between creativity, human experience and social responsibility.
A Meeting Place for Artists, Collectors and Communities
The exhibition brought together artistic disciplines ranging from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed media.
Rather than presenting art exclusively as a luxury commodity, Charity Art Expo encouraged an accessible encounter with creative expression. Each artwork represented not only an individual artistic vision but also an opportunity to support a humanitarian cause.
Under the event’s charitable model, 10% of artwork sales were allocated to Läkare Utan Gränser, while the organisers also announced that 50% of ticket proceeds would support the organisation.
The programme extended beyond the exhibition itself, with fashion, dance and musical performances forming part of the broader artistic experience.
The Maritza Pahanic Excellence Award was also included in the programme, recognising artistic achievement and creative contribution.
Together, these elements reflected the ambition of Charity Art Expo to function not simply as an exhibition but as a meeting point for culture, entrepreneurship and collective responsibility.
The Stories Behind the Artworks
Perhaps the most compelling dimension of Charity Art Expo was the deeply personal character of several works presented at the exhibition.
Art is often discussed through technique, composition, colour and market value. Yet its emotional significance frequently lies in the experiences that inspired its creation.
Among the exhibiting artists was Sofia Alamartimo, whose painting Peony emerged from an intimate experience of grief and remembrance.
According to the artist’s accompanying statement, the work was created following the death of her father in April 2026.
Against a deep black background, a blooming peony in shades of pink and white becomes a powerful symbol of resilience. Touches of green and gold introduce an additional layer of meaning, with gold representing the memories of her father.
The contrast between darkness and vibrant colour transforms the painting into a visual meditation on mourning, love and the possibility of renewal.
Rather than concealing grief, Alamartimo allows it to become part of the creative process.
Her work reminds us that art can provide a language for experiences that remain difficult to articulate.
Memory, War and the Responsibility to Remember
Another deeply affecting artistic narrative was presented by Jeanette S. Grandell, whose accompanying exhibition text explored family memories connected to the Second World War.
The story begins on 24 February 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
That day, the artist’s mother recalled experiences from her childhood in Luleå, Sweden, including memories of German military activity in northern Scandinavia, wartime displacement and the humanitarian efforts of ordinary families.
Through this personal testimony, Grandell connected the historical trauma of the Second World War with contemporary European experiences of conflict and displacement.
Her artistic narrative also highlighted the importance of intergenerational memory: how stories transmitted within families can preserve experiences that might otherwise disappear from collective consciousness.
The accompanying message, Make Love and Peace Great Again, expressed a desire for compassion and peace in a world still marked by violence.
At a charity exhibition supporting medical humanitarian work, this connection between art, memory and human suffering carried particular significance.
AURELINA: Searching for Harmony Beyond the Visible
The exhibition also featured works by AURELINA, identified in the programme as Lina Aurelina.
Her paintings Whispers of Atlantis, Celestial Passage and Golden Portal explored themes of transformation, introspection and the relationship between visible and imagined worlds.
Through abstract compositions, atmospheric textures and layered colours, the artist invited viewers to move beyond literal representation.
Whispers of Atlantis suggested an underwater world of silence, memory and subtle perception. Celestial Passage introduced a contemplative sense of movement and transition, while Golden Portal explored the symbolic possibility of entering another dimension of experience.
The works demonstrated how abstraction can function as a space for personal interpretation, allowing each viewer to discover a different emotional or philosophical meaning.
In contrast to the explicitly autobiographical narratives of other exhibitors, AURELINA’s artistic language offered a more meditative encounter with the unknown.
Elisa Svensson and the Expressive Power of Figurative Art
Among the participating artists was Elisa Svensson, whose presentation included a striking depiction of a lion.
The animal’s direct gaze and carefully rendered features emphasised the expressive potential of figurative painting.
Animal portraiture has long occupied an important position in artistic traditions, communicating ideas of strength, vulnerability, dignity and the relationship between humanity and nature.
Svensson’s work provided another dimension to the exhibition’s diversity, demonstrating how recognisable subjects can become vehicles for emotional engagement.
A Diverse Artistic Community
The official ABF Stockholm programme also identified several additional participating artists, including Rolf Håkansson, Maliheh Yousefi, Agneta and Alva Ydfors, Mikaela Sundberg, Pierre Noren, Victor Lemus, Elahe Jalili and Robert Oldergaarden.
Their inclusion reflected the range of artistic voices represented within the Charity Art Expo community.
Founder Alex Colard was also listed among the exhibiting artists.
The broader event brought together galleries, creative organisations, business networks and media partners, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in developing opportunities for artists.
Such platforms can play a valuable role in connecting independent creators with audiences beyond their immediate professional circles.
For emerging artists in particular, visibility, meaningful relationships and opportunities to present work publicly can be as important as commercial success.
When Creativity Meets Philanthropy
The relationship between art and charitable giving is not new. Throughout history, artists, patrons and cultural institutions have supported social causes through exhibitions, auctions and collaborative initiatives.
However, contemporary charity art events increasingly reflect a broader understanding of cultural responsibility.
Artists are not merely contributors of objects for sale. They are storytellers, observers and participants in public conversations about identity, memory, social change and human dignity.
At Charity Art Expo, the decision to allocate part of artwork sales to Läkare Utan Gränser created a direct connection between artistic exchange and humanitarian support.
The organisation provides independent medical humanitarian assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
In this context, the exhibition’s charitable purpose resonated with the emotional themes present in several of the artworks.
A painting about personal loss, a narrative about wartime memory or an abstract exploration of transformation may appear to belong to different artistic worlds. Yet each can contribute to a wider conversation about what it means to be human.
Art, Culture and the Value of Connection
For DESIGNER Magazine Global, the significance of initiatives such as Charity Art Expo lies in the relationship between cultural expression, creative entrepreneurship and social engagement.
The contemporary art ecosystem depends on more than artistic production. It requires spaces where ideas can circulate, where independent voices can be discovered and where creative communities can establish lasting relationships.
Events that bring artists into direct contact with audiences help bridge the distance between the creation of an artwork and its reception.
They also challenge the perception that art belongs exclusively within established institutions or elite collecting circles.
The value of an artwork cannot always be measured by its price.
Sometimes it is found in the memory it preserves, the conversation it begins or the emotional connection it creates.
And sometimes its value extends even further, contributing to humanitarian work beyond the exhibition space.
The Art of Making a Difference
The seventh edition of Charity Art Expo offered a reminder that artistic creativity and human solidarity need not exist as separate pursuits.
Through individual artistic voices, deeply personal narratives and a shared charitable commitment, the event connected the emotional language of art with the practical importance of humanitarian action.
From Sofia Alamartimo’s deeply personal Peony to Jeanette S. Grandell’s reflections on war and remembrance, from AURELINA’s abstract worlds to Elisa Svensson’s figurative expression, the exhibition demonstrated the many ways artists interpret human experience.
Ultimately, Charity Art Expo represented more than a gathering of paintings, sculptures and creative professionals.
It reflected a simple but enduring idea: art becomes especially meaningful when it creates connections — between people, between generations and between creativity and compassion.
And in a world where division so often dominates public discourse, the ability of art to bring people together remains one of its most valuable contributions.
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Event Information
Charity Art Expo No. 7
7 November 2026 | 11:00–16:00
ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41, Stockholm, Sweden
Founder and Organiser: Alex Colard
Humanitarian Beneficiary: Médecins Sans Frontières / Läkare Utan Gränser
Official websites:
Editorial: DESIGNER Magazine Global
Arts, Culture, Creativity & Humanitarian Engagement
Halina Rosa
2026.11.10 Stoclholm