Gunnar Nylund was a Swedish ceramist and designer of Danish-Finnish origin, recognized as one of the major figures in 20th-century Scandinavian design. Born in Paris to a Danish ceramist mother and a Finnish sculptor father, he grew up in an artistic environment that would profoundly influence his career.

After studying architecture in Copenhagen in the 1920s, Nylund turned to ceramics, first working at Bing & Gröndahl in Copenhagen. In 1930, he co-founded the Saxbo studio with ceramist Nathalie Krebs, where he experimented with new forms while Krebs developed innovative glazes. Their collaboration resulted in iconic pieces of Scandinavian design, characterized by matte glazes and clean lines.

In 1931, Nylund joined the Swedish manufacturer Rörstrand, where he became artistic director in 1937. There, he developed chamotte stoneware with matte glazes, introducing innovative techniques that would leave a lasting mark on Swedish ceramic design. His works included stylized animal sculptures and decorative pieces with modernist lines.

After his time at Rörstrand, Nylund worked for the glassworks Strömbergshyttan and the Nymölle ceramics factory in Denmark. He also carried out numerous public commissions, creating reliefs and sculptures for public spaces in Sweden. His works are now featured in several European museums, including the National Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres, France, and in the Norki collection of vintage objects.