Wonderland
– a magical world of imagery by Kirsty Mitchell
Discover the amazing work of British art photographer and artist Kirsty Mitchell.
Here, you step into a fairy-tale world filled with large, colorful images of magical creations and enchanting forest scenes.
There are also several costumes and some other props on site that you'll recognize from the photos.
On view May 14 – October 11, 2026
Included in the admission ticket to the castle
Sorrow, forests, and fairy tales
Wonderland is based on the love between a daughter and her mother. When her beloved mother Maureen dies of cancer in 2008, Kirsty falls into a deep depression. She retreats to her home in the English countryside and spends more and more time in the surrounding forests.
Out in the woods, Kirsty begins to create fairy-tale worlds, with characters and scenes inspired by stories from her childhood. It’s a way for her to process her endless grief and longing. She photographs her worlds—and eventually decides to turn the photos into a book, dedicated to Maureen Mitchell.
The Wonderland Book will be an exclusive volume featuring all 74 works from the Wonderland series, plus a number of behind-the-scenes features. It is printed on the highest-quality paper and weighs approximately 4.5 kilograms.
Successful exhibition in large format
The images will also feature in the Wonderland exhibition, which has enjoyed international success in recent years. Here, Kirsty Mitchell displays her works in large formats – several of them over two meters in size. In Sweden, Wonderland has been shown at Fotografiska in Stockholm and at Läckö Castle, among other venues.
The exhibition at Örebro Castle features around 40 works of art. It consists primarily of images from the original series, but also includes some more recent works inspired by Kirsty’s next life challenge—when she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her son’s birth.
Creates everything – from costumes to photos
Kirsty Mitchell has a background in fashion design and costume making, something she naturally brings to bear when creating her grandiose and incredibly detailed works of art. Mitchell, a multi-talented artist, makes all the spectacular costumes and props herself by hand—and it can take months to prepare all the material for a single scene.
When she's ready, she takes everything with her and heads out into the woods with her team: her husband, a model, and a makeup artist. Once they're in the right spot, they work together to build the set. It's often colorful and always fascinating.
Finally, Kirsty Mitchell steps behind the camera and captures it all: color and imagination, dreams and reality. But also deep sorrow and longing.
Don't miss Wonderland. By Kirsty Mitchell. At Örebro Castle.
