Joakim Ericsson began his formal study of art in 1993 at the Stockholm Art School. Disappointed by the school’s lack of emphasis on traditional technique, he left after one year to pursue independent study. Over the next four years, he was often frustrated by his artistic isolation, yet sometimes heartened by the success of the very few contemporary artists who shared in his classical ideas. In 1998, Ericsson was thrilled to discover The Florence Academy of Art. After studying there for three years, he returned to Sweden to paint and in 2002 began spending summers in Norway under the tutelage of Odd Nerdrum, who had been such an inspiration to the artist as a young man. After two years of work in Sweden, he returned to Florence to teach at the Academy, during which time he was co-Director of the Painting Program. In 2006, Joakim was asked to become Director of The Florence Academy of Art’s first branch outside of Florence, in Mölndal, Sweden, where he has been teaching and painting since its opening in January 2007.