ABOUT
Helena Calmfors is a queer artist, performer and BDSM professional based in Brooklyn. Originally from Sweden, she has worked and performed in New York since 2014.
The act of creating intimate scenes and experiences is present in all aspects of her work, ranging from watercolor paintings and digital work to performance and photography. Helena’s work is centered around taking control of the male gaze through the practice of femdom. She addresses issues around reclaiming ownership of body and identity through the hierarchical power play present in BDSM.
Helena’s performances explore female domination through BDSM rituals. She uses instant photography as a means of representing the ephemerality of performance rituals and the intimacy of the Dominant/submissive relationship. By using fluid strokes of watercolor and ink in her paintings, she illuminates the stark contrast between the rigid structure of BDSM and the beauty of ultimate trust in the depicted scenes.
GROUP SHOWS & ART FAIRS
bloom, create magazine, online exhibit curated by gita joshi, july - august, 2023
cadaf crypto & digital art fair, web3 nyc gallery, new york, november 11 – 13, 2022
the rebel exhibit, the untitled space, new york, october 5 - october 27, 2022
well behaved, culture lab lic, new york, august 2 - august 28, 2022
they he she, brooklyn waterfront artists coalition, brooklyn, june 18 – july 17, 2022
neon night pavilion, european digital art fair, metaverse, may 31 – dec-31, 2022
seattle erotic art festival, seattle, april 29 - may 1, 2022
word of mouth, woman made gallery, chicago, january 15 - february 12, 2022
small works show, 440 gallery, brooklyn, december 1, 2021 - january 7, 2022
vices, arc gallery, san francisco, november 20 – december 18, 2021
small works show, main street arts, clifton springs, november 13 – december 23, 2021
seattle erotic art festival, seattle, october 29 – 31, 2021
viva la memento mori, aha gallery, brooklyn, october 15 – november 7, 2021
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
foreplay/house of love, house of yes, new york, recurring monthly performance pieces, 2018-2020
high priestess, the palace, new york, two-part performance featuring wax play, 2019 & 2020
how did our dreams end up like this, governors island, BDSM performance and installation, 2018
hollow earth, opal onyx music video, performance, 2018
EDUCATION
shillington school of graphic design, graphic design certificate, 2020
stockholm university, art history & interpretation of art, BA, 2012-2014
the danish institute in rome, renaissance studies and humanist literature, certificate, 2013
ESC rennes & umeå university, branding & visual communication, MBA, 2008-2012
CONTACT
helena.calmfors (at) gmail.com