From Depression to World-Famous Artist with Sabina von Essen

In this episode, we are joined by the incredible artist Sabina von Essen, one of Sweden’s fastest-growing artists.

Sabina sold her very first painting in 2018. Just three years later, she had left engineering behind, was running her own gallery full-time in Stockholm and had built an international collector base.

Today, her work has been exhibited in London, Paris and New York, with exhibitions repeatedly selling out. In 2025, her exhibition TEN debuted in New York inside a $30 million Beaux-Arts townhouse, welcoming more than 400 collectors and guests after interest exceeded capacity.

But behind the success is a deeply personal story.

We talk about what it truly means to rebuild yourself when life forces you to start over. Sabina shares her experience of losing her mother at a young age and how that shaped the person and artist she would become.

She opens up about how creativity became a form of therapy and expression that helped her navigate difficult periods in life and transform pain into something meaningful.

We also talk about trusting your intuition, believing in yourself and what it takes to move through identity shifts, uncertainty and self-doubt.

As a self-taught artist with a Master of Science in Engineering, Sabina is proof that creativity and analytical thinking can strengthen one another. Her journey from engineer to internationally recognized artist is a powerful example of what can happen when passion, courage and persistence come together.

At its core, this conversation is about healing, transformation and the courage to create a new chapter when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Thank you so much Sabina for sharing your story and being part of The Mind Behind Podcast!

You can follow Sabina and explore her beautiful work on Instagram @sabinavonessen. And stay tuned - she is currently writing a book!

P.S. If you want to join our upcoming workshop for aspiring female founders, make sure to sign up here.