The artist
Tanya Zafirovic (also known as Tanya Hökensdotter) is a Swedish oil painter of Nordic mystery, nature, and imagination — owls, foxes, elves, dragons and the northern light of Swedish forests and lakes. She paints in oil on canvas, linen and birchwood panels, and her work is collected in Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Slovakia and the USA.
Born and raised in Sweden, Tanya is an accomplished artist who primarily works with oil on canvas, but is also well versed in a variety of other mediums including acrylic, watercolour and sculpture.
She received the highest grade in her art education, with a special letter of recommendation from her art teacher.
With several successful exhibitions — both together with her father, Sven Arne “Höken” Hökenström, and several solo exhibitions — her art has been featured in several newspaper articles, one being a three-page newspaper report with pictures of her art on the front page.
Her paintings are now sold internationally, in countries such as Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Slovakia and the USA.
Tanya Zafirovic är född och uppvuxen i Sverige och är en konstnär som främst arbetar med olja på duk, men är även väl insatt i en mängd andra medier, inklusive akryl, akvarell och skulptur.
Hon fick högsta betyg i sin konstutbildning med ett särskilt rekommendationsbrev från sin konstlärare.
Med flera framgångsrika utställningar, både tillsammans med sin far Sven Arne ”Höken” Hökenström och flera separatutställningar, har hennes konst presenterats i flera tidningsartiklar, bland annat ett tresidigt tidningsreportage med bilder på hennes konst på förstasidan.
Hennes målningar säljs nu internationellt i länder som Sverige, Norge, Frankrike, Tyskland, Schweiz, Sydafrika, Slovakien och USA.
Behind the canvas
Exhibitions & milestones
Starts painting at the age of three, following in the footsteps of both her parents — her father, the painter Sven-Arne “Höken” Hökenström, and her mother, who also painted. Read more
Graduates with the highest grade in her art education, with a special letter of recommendation from her art teacher.
An open-air forest exhibition near Enhörna during the pandemic, with paintings hung on the pines. Read more
First joint exhibition with her father, Höken, at Andrummet in Norrtälje — and the start of sketching and painting together. Read more
Featured with her father on the front page and pages 18–19 of Mitt Roslagen: “Samtal på Hökens veranda”. Read more
Solo exhibition at Galleri T in Gamla Stan, Stockholm. Read more
Solo exhibition “Bland Sagor & Legender” (Among Fairytales & Legends) at Larssons Lada, Taxinge — the lead story on the front page of Måsen. Read more
Solo exhibition at Galleri Glans. Read more
Exhibition at Galleri Diva in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, with Stockholm Culture Week. Read more
Solo art exhibition and art workshop for school classes at Larssons Lada, Taxinge. Read more
Exhibition with her father, Höken, at Galleri Andrummet in Norrtälje. Read more
Christmas exhibition and Christmas market at Larssons Lada, Taxinge. Read more
Solo exhibition “Once upon a time” at Galleri Ekmans in Norrtälje. Read more
The forest exhibition returns to the same forest near Enhörna. Read more
Christmas exhibition and Christmas market at Larssons Lada, Taxinge: new paintings, fine art prints, Christmas cards and handmade gifts. Read more
Illustrates the fairytale book “Tales from the Island of California” by author Catherine Weaver, including its cover. Read more
Solo exhibition at Galleri Fyra Årstider on Östermalm, Stockholm. Read more
Paints full time. Her originals and prints have found homes in eight countries, from Sweden to South Africa and the USA.
Questions & answers
Tanya Zafirovic, also known as Tanya Hökensdotter, is a Swedish oil painter of Nordic mystery, nature, and imagination — owls, foxes, elves, dragons and the northern light of Swedish forests and lakes. She was born and raised in Sweden, paints full time, and her work is collected in Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Slovakia and the USA.
Figurative oil paintings in a storybook style: Nordic folklore and fairytales, crowned forest animals (the series “Royals of the Forest”), winter scenes, legends such as the selkie, and paintings about courage and freedom. She is inspired by classic fairytales, world literature, the old naturalist painters and the forests of John Bauer.
Mainly oil paint on stretched linen, canvas and gesso-primed birchwood panels, finished with varnish. She also works in acrylic, watercolour and sculpture, and makes ceramics in clay.
Yes. 27 originals are available, among them Enchanted by the Snow, Julebock sprider julmagi, Castle Secrets (Slottets hemligheter), Midsommar drömmar, Here Comes the King, Dragon Flight, Twilight Bath and Be Fierce. Use “Originals available” on The Works page to see them all, or send an enquiry through the contact page.
Yes. Many of her paintings — including sold originals such as Spirit of the North and Autumn Dawn — are available as fine art prints and as fine art prints on canvas.
Yes. Her paintings have been shipped to collectors in Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Slovakia and the USA. Write to her for shipping details to your country.
She has painted personal portraits for collectors, such as “Min Månprins”, a portrait of a much-loved dog in a golden moon. To ask about a commission, use the contact form and choose “A commissioned painting”.
Her father was the Swedish artist Sven-Arne “Höken” Hökenström (1947–2025): a scenic painter trained at the Royal Theatre in Stockholm, one of Sweden's first graffiti painters, and an artist represented at Nationalmuseum and Moderna Museet. Father and daughter painted together and exhibited together at Andrummet in Norrtälje in August 2020 and November 2022.
Hökensdotter literally means “Höken's daughter” — the artist name Tanya uses after her father, Höken.
Tanya Zafirovic has held thirteen exhibitions: a solo exhibition at Galleri Fyra Årstider on Östermalm, Stockholm (August 2024); a Christmas exhibition and Christmas market at Larssons Lada in Taxinge (December 2023); an open-air forest exhibition near Enhörna (September 2023); her solo exhibition “Once upon a time” at Galleri Ekmans in Norrtälje (May 2023); a Christmas exhibition and Christmas market at Larssons Lada (December 2022); an exhibition with her father, Höken, at Galleri Andrummet in Norrtälje (November 2022); an exhibition at Galleri Diva in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, with Stockholm Culture Week (August 2022); a solo art exhibition and art workshop for school classes at Larssons Lada (August 2022); a solo exhibition at Galleri Glans (April 2022); her solo exhibition “Bland Sagor & Legender” at Larssons Lada (August 2021); a solo exhibition at Galleri T in Gamla Stan, Stockholm (June 2021); her first exhibition with her father at Andrummet in Norrtälje (August 2020); and a forest exhibition near Enhörna during the pandemic (May 2020). See the Exhibitions page for photos.
Yes. She painted the illustrations and cover for “Tales from the Island of California”, a fairytale book by author Catherine Weaver.
The Studio page shows how a painting is made, from priming birch panels and stretching linen to the final details, varnish and framing, together with short films from her TikTok, @tanyaz.heart.
See all paintings About her father, Höken Ask Tanya directly
Dear visitor,
Thank you so much for your interest and welcome to my online art gallery. Feel free to contact me to order your paintings. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the purchase of my paintings.
Welcome to my world of colours, where I hope to write a story that touches your heart and makes you dream.
Love, Tanya
P.S. Many of my original oil paintings are available as fine art prints, as well as fine art prints on canvas.