Excerpts from Publications
"Holtquist enjoys a great advantage. He approaches his plastic representations without any academic censorship, is spontaneous and free, often showing naive charm, and is obsessive in dealing with his subject matter. This artist has the ability to joke with society and with himself, which he derives from his erotic spontaneity and diverse life experiences."

"The show "Edges in the Art Space" aims at the diffusion of the knowledge of contemporary art by introducing the works of a selected group of young artists, offering them the prestigious space "Le Capriate" inside the Chiostro del Bramante in Rome…. Holtquist has participated in collective shows and has realized personal shows in Europe and the United States. He has received numerous prizes, including Best of Show, ML Visual Awards 2007 in the United States."

"Holtquist combines a new and deeper reflection on the human status with the transient nature of our passions and vicissitudes. This has led him towards a more intimate and introspective analysis where the mystic dimension broadens to an understanding of the sacred…inviting us to pause, to reflect and to meditate on the fragility of our existence, a lucid evocation attempting a synthesis between opposites: life-desire, death-annihilation, birth and death. For his conviction and for his deep understanding of transition, the words of a famous Islamic mystic suit him well:  "I take flight. My dust will be what I am."

"Holtquist has realized this difficult union between western ideas of sculpture and the oriental concept of Ikebana, combining in works a perfect synthesis of two opposites, of two worlds, of two civilizations. Creating beauty and strength from hard work in eternal stone, marble, bronze or steel that are founded in meditation, solitude, and quiet, Holtquist is like the ancient Samurai who before battle creates an original work in a moving harmony of line, color and balance."