The Swedish Academy of Realist Art, SARA

Sanna was born in Sweden and studied drawing and painting at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy between 1996-1998. Afterward, she studied briefly with the painter Odd Nerdrum in Norway, together with Hans-Peter Szameit, they being the first students coming from an classical atelier background to connect and study with Nerdrum and his Norwegian school. In 2001, Sanna, together with Hans, founded Pantura Studios in the United States, and taught a growing group of students while establishing her painting career and taking commissions. In early 2006, Sanna returned to Sweden and founded The Swedish Academy of Realist Art, along with Hans. Since then, Sanna has devoted her time to teaching and developing SARA’s education as well as her own artistic work. One of her most prominent paintings is a monumental ceiling painting executed for Bååtska Palace in Stockholm.  Measuring over seven meters by four meters, the massive commissioned painting was mounted into the palace’s 16th-century ceiling and inaugurated in the presence of Sweden’s King, Carl XVI Gustaf, in 2012. She has also done a number of formal portrait commissions, including one of Sweden’s Prince Bertil, which hangs in the Royal Swedish Palace.  Sanna’s paintings and drawings can be found in public and private collections throughout the world.

Hans-Peter was born in the United States from European immigrant parents. Intending to study Fine Art at Augustana University (SD,USA), its modernist approach was not what he was seeking, so he instead earned his degree in Literature and Philosophy. Later, he once again focused his attention on art and studied drawing and painting at The Florence Academy of Art, in Italy from 1995-1998 where he also received a scholarship to teach there while still a student. In 1999, he studied with the painter Odd Nerdrum in Norway. In 2001 he founded Pantura Studios in the United States, together with Sanna Tomac, where they worked and taught a small group of students coming from across the country and abroad. In early 2006 they moved to Sweden and founded The Swedish Academy of Realist Art (SARA) in Stockholm. Hans has been a primary teacher and lecturer at SARA since it’s foundation and has a deep passion for teaching and sharing knowledge. Hans-Peter’s paintings, drawings and etchings can be found in public and private collections throughout the world. 

Theodora was born in Bucharest, Romania. She currently lives and paints in Vaxholm, Sweden. Theodora studied at The Swedish Academy of Realist Art (SARA) and graduated in 2013. During her studies, she worked as an intern at the gaming company EA DICE in Stockholm, and has been teaching at SARA since her graduation. She is a working fine artist and freelance illustrator, and a two time winner at The American Portrait Society (2014 Certificate of Excellency and 2015 Exceptional Merit).

Having previously worked as an architect, Jacky Chan left to study classical realist painting at the Florence Academy of Art for 3 years. After graduating, he was awarded a 4th year scholarship to stay on and then continued to teach for the following 2 years as a principal drawing instructor for the painting and sculpture program.
He returned to Australia during the pandemic and worked at the Rockhampton Museum of Art for 3 years.
Jacky not only teaches painting at SARA, but also leads the anatomy program.

Isabel is a Swedish painter who received her classical training at the Florence Academy of Art (Mölndal branch), where she studied drawing and painting for 4 years. She has experience teaching art in both Italy and Sweden, and has exhibited her works publicly on numerous occasions. For the past two years she lived in Rockhampton, Australia, before moving back to Sweden and joining the faculty of SARA.

Karl was born in Lund, Sweden, where he currently resides and has his studio. He graduated from the The Swedish Academy of Realist Art (SARA), studied illustration at Mälardalen University and art history at Lund University. Karl has been teaching at SARA since 2015 and has also worked as a drawing instructor at Uppsala University. His work has been exhibited in galleries and institutions in Europe and the US, such as the MEAM museum in Barcelona, Liljevalchs in Stockholm and Sotheby’s in New York City. He was also selected to be included in the Lunar Codex project with an image of his work sent in a capsule to the moon.