Emma Rytoft – Vivid Femininity at Teufelsberg
As part of the Power of Female Art Festival in March 2024, Swedish artist Emma Rytoft created a strikingly colorful mural on the second floor of Teufelsberg. With bold colors, surreal forms, and a clear message, her work invites reflection on femininity, care, and the natural cycle of life.
The mural features a fantastical creature—both visibly pregnant and gently holding a child. This dual portrayal of motherhood symbolizes the power of life itself, along with the deep sense of care and connection it embodies. The scene is framed by stylized plants and geometric shapes, forming a fairytale-like landscape that celebrates nature, birth, and interconnectedness. Dominant shades of pink, red, yellow, and turquoise enhance the vibrant emotional tone of the artwork.
Commenting on her mural at Teufelsberg, Rytoft said: “Let’s all celebrate the values that allow us humans to flourish alongside all other living beings on this planet: love, compassion, and nurture. We were all infants once, completely at the mercy of the kindness of others—let’s remember that and stay humble and grateful.”
Born in Sweden, Emma Rytoft was captivated from a young age by comics, flowers, and the freedom of imagination. Her creative drive led her to study architecture at Lund University. After working as an architect for 11 years in five different countries, she turned fully to art—shaped by profound travels through Mexico, where she lived with her partner, and by the vibrant colors and impressions of Shanghai, Paris, and London.
Since the birth of her daughter in 2021, Rytoft’s work has increasingly centered on themes of womanhood, motherhood, and the importance of care. “My greatest ambition is to inspire my daughter—and women in general—to stay true to themselves and help change the world through their uniqueness,” she says.
Her paintings draw on everyday experiences—playing with her daughter, cooking dinner, or taking a quiet bath. What might appear mundane at first reveals a deeper connection to something greater. Her art reminds us that we are part of a living, interconnected whole—humans, animals, plants, and dreams.
Rytoft’s distinctive style is marked by solid blocks of color, thick black outlines, and a whimsical play with proportions and perspective. Heads transform into clouds or animals, and bodies merge with their surroundings. Blending elements of surrealism with pop art, she creates dreamlike worlds that evoke both lightness and reflection.
Her work has appeared in Berlin, Malmö, Zurich, Dubai, London, New York, and Shanghai. Recent projects include a 300 m² mural at the entrance of Hotel Berlin, Berlin, and a piece for the street art gallery A-Fence at Alexanderplatz.
Now, her mural at Teufelsberg stands as a lasting invitation to pause and reflect on the values that make life meaningful: love, freedom, and belief in the power of the feminine.