Åke Göransson was born in Veddige in Halland 1902. His parents were the shoemaker Sven Göransson and his wife Hanna. Sven Göransson passes away when Åke is only three years old and he mother Hanna will play an important role for Åke, both as a family breadwinner and as support in life. Åke eventually begins working as a hairdresser while drawing and painting for Hermods. He congratulates Inga Andersson. In 1924 Åke Göransson becomes a part-time student at Valand's painting school, but his scarce financial situation forces him to work half-time as a hairdressing assistant. He was something of a recluse, but at the school he was part of the circle of young artists who joined up around teacher Tor Bjurström. After a short period of joy and belonging, the tendencies towards mental illness begin to appear. From 1932 his condition worsens, he is declared insane and soon he barely makes his way out of his mother Hanna's first in Landala. This is also where the strangest and most intense works of art are added. Separate from the world, he constantly paints new variations of the view towards Egenhemsvägen in Landala, interior images from the small one-bedroom apartment and often modern Hanna is present in the picture. The comrades from Valand are interested in his obscure paintings and friend Ivan Ivarson is able to submit three works to the collection exhibition in 1933 at Paletten in Gothenburg. The exhibition receives fine criticism and Göransson's artistry is recognized. At the same time, he goes against a deep personal crisis and depression, it becomes impossible to continue painting and at the same time support his betrothed Inga and daughter Ingrid who was born in 1927. Painting in the next few years changes with the state of mind, the obscure is set against the clear, the light against the darkness. In the long run, the mother cannot provide him with all the painting material he needs and he starts painting over old tablecloths. In 1937 Göransson is finally taken into Lillhagen, Gothenburg's new mental hospital. He is in poor condition, both mentally and physically with a weight of only 48 kilograms and tuberculosis in his lungs and fully developed schizophrenia. He stayed there until his death in 1942.

Åke Göransson’s artistry would probably have lost sight of absence unless Arne Stubelius made a spontaneous visit to Göransson’s mother Hanna one summer’s day in 1940. Stubelius worked on a monograph about Ivan Ivarson and wanted to check some facts. By chance, he asked if there were any works of Göransson left in the home. After a few entanglements, the mother asked him to rise from the kitchen sofa and they lifted the lid. There were dense paintings, rolled up, some painted and sticky. This was the beginning of Åke Göransson’s artistry finally being highlighted in the light. Through purchases, Gösta Stenman enabled the rescue of the works. They were renovated, pasted on panel and framed. The exhibition at Modern Art in Hemmiljö on Strandvägen in Stockholm in 1941 was received very positively and the beginning was of great attention about Göransson’s artistry. Only a few paintings were added to the hospital the following year before Åke Göransson passed away in the suites of mental exhaustion and tuberculosis in 1942.