Arkö comes to Bethany from Garsås in Dalarna, Sweden. The teacher and artist has studied art history, archaeology, and ethnology at the University of Stockholm College of Design and Fine Arts, and he has a Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in free art and graphic design from the Royal Institute of Arts.
Arkö has exhibited around the world, including across Sweden and in the U.S., England, Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, and Japan. His well-known artworks include etchings entitled Samtal med Goya, “Conversation with Goya,” a 295-foot long tapestry depicting Frans G. Bengtsson’s Viking novel Röde Orm, “The Long Ships,” and over 100 lithographs illustrating the same novel. Arkö has also designed Swedish postage stamps and Nobel Prize diplomas, and he recently designed a new antependium for the Mora church in Dalarna, Sweden.

Artist and scholar
In addition to making art, Arkö is currently serving on the Swedish Post Design Advisory Committee and is appointed as the artistic expert on the jury for the new Swedish banknote design competition. He is also serving as the vice chairman on the Swedish Fine Art Print Society board at the National Museum in Stockholm, on the Dalarna county council as consultant of fine art, and as chairman of the Mörksugge foundation of Rättvik Culture Centre library. Arkö has previously held positions as teacher of graphic arts at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, guest teacher at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland, and artistic director at Grafikens Hus, Swedish Print Center, in Mariefred, Sweden. Arkö has also authored literature and catalogs about contemporary printmaking art and artists, such as Swedish artist Anders Zorn.

Artist-in-residence
While at Bethany, Arkö will be an artist-in-residence at the Mingenback Art Center and will participate in several public events, including a public address on September 25 about printmakers and printmaking in Sweden; a panel discussion at Lindsborg’s Svensk Hyllningsfest on October 8 to 9; a presentation at Pearson Lakes Art Center in Lake Okoboji, Iowa, on October 20; and a public address on organizing large art projects on November 1.
The Pearson Distinguished Professorship in Swedish Studies is endowed by a gift from the late Gerald “Bud” Pearson. It was created so that students, faculty, staff, and community members can explore and understand ways in which modern Swedish culture and experience can be learned and incorporated into their own lives.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning and service.

For more info on Bethany College, see Bethany College

Learn more about higher Swedish education in the USA: Lär dig svenska / Study Swedish and,
learning Swedish on all levels: Swedish language programs