Stockholm (GNP): Before the world learns who has won a Nobel Prize, Swedish artist Niklas Elmehed already knows whose face he will be drawing. His portraits give the annual announcements a visual identity, turning scientists, writers and peace advocates into instantly recognisable illustrations that media outlets share around the world.
The tradition began as a practical fix. In 2012, finding high-quality photographs of the laureates for the announcements had become a challenge, and Elmehed chose to draw the winners himself instead of letting the problem slow the process.
His early drawings were relatively simple, but growing use by international media encouraged the organisation to formalise the approach. In 2014, Elmehed introduced the style now associated with the announcements, with a white background, bold black outlines and a gold-coloured finish.
The artist said the idea started as a solution for him, and that it felt amazing when the sketches gained international attention and media outlets began using them.
Elmehed had joined Nobel Media as art director in 2012, combining his interests in science and art. He holds two master’s degrees, one from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and another from the Royal Institute of Arts in Sweden. Nobel Media, which handled the visual content around the announcements, is now known as Nobel Prize Outreach.
The gold in the portraits is not real gold, despite their luxurious look. Elmehed said he tried different paints before settling on an ultra-thin, gold-coloured metal foil attached to the artwork with special glue. The change followed the Nobel organisation’s visual identity revamp in 2014, when gold became a prominent colour.
The process is also quicker than many people assume. Each portrait generally takes only a few hours rather than days, although the names of the upcoming laureates stay confidential until the official announcements.
Once the announcements are complete, the original portraits are mounted on a golden wall at the headquarters of Nobel Prize Outreach and the Nobel Foundation.
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Beyond the Nobel work, Elmehed explores other styles, including pop culture and playful interpretations of comic characters. He acknowledged that making a living as an artist can be difficult, even in Sweden, where many talented people compete for limited opportunities, and he regards his role at Nobel Prize Outreach as a fortunate chance to join his creative skills with the world of scientific achievement.
His profile continues to grow. Art schools have invited him to run workshops, and he receives requests from people seeking portraits, accepting some and turning down others. He has yet to draw a self-portrait in his own signature style.
Through this work, Elmehed has given the Nobel announcements a visual language of their own, placing the faces behind some of the world’s most influential discoveries and ideas into the annual global conversation.
Niklas Elmehed said, “I picked up a marker and sketched the laureates.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
