Featured Exhibit · Vilhelm Moberg

Celebrating Vilhelm Moberg and The Emigrants at The Night Art Gallery – Lindström, MN

This fall, The Night Art Gallery in Lindström, MN presents a special exhibition honoring one of Sweden’s most revered 20th-century authors: Vilhelm Moberg. Best known for his powerful four-part novel series The Emigrants, Moberg's work chronicles the courageous journey of Swedish immigrants who left their homeland in search of a better life in America.

The exhibition explores Moberg’s deep connection to Lindström—a city often called "America’s Little Sweden"—and celebrates the enduring legacy of his writing in the region. Through archival displays, historical context, and visual interpretations of the novels, visitors can immerse themselves in the emotional and physical trials of emigration as seen through the eyes of Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson, the central characters in The Emigrants.

Moberg's work is notable for its historical accuracy and emotional depth. Drawing on personal letters, diaries, and emigration records—some from the Minnesota Historical Society—he paints a vivid portrait of 19th-century Swedish pioneers. The series captures everything from the crushing poverty and social unrest in Småland to the grueling Atlantic crossing and the uncertain promise of the American frontier.

Whether you're a longtime fan of Moberg or new to his work, this exhibition offers a moving tribute to the struggles and triumphs of those who helped shape Swedish-American history. Don’t miss this chance to walk through the story that helped define the identity of Lindström and beyond.