Nils Olof Bonnier(Gothenburg)
Artist
Nils Olof Bonnier (1945–1969) was a Swedish conceptual artist and writer, born and raised in Gothenburg. He studied at the School of Design and Crafts in Gothenburg, Konstfack and the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, and concluded his studies at Valand Art School, where he joined the artist collective Björnligan.
In his brief yet impactful career, Bonnier exhibited at venues such as Galleri AE (Gothenburg) and Galleri Bleue (Stockholm), published artists’ books, and wrote art criticism for Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning. One of his public artworks, a green-lacquered steel structure, was installed in Gothenburg in 1968.
Shortly after midnight on May 22, 1969, Bonnier vanished without a trace from the ferry Birger Jarl, returning from a student trip to Leningrad with Valand. He was 24 years old. His disappearance sparked various theories—accident, suicide, or politically motivated foul play. He was officially declared dead in 1986.
Bonnier’s work is represented in the collections of Moderna Museet and the Gothenburg Museum of Art. His life and disappearance have been the subject of the 2012 documentary The Artist Who Disappeared by Johan von Sydow, as well as several radio features and cultural discussions.
