Ann Iren Buan (b. 1984) lives and works in Oslo. In her practice, Buan explores the notion of decay and destruction through drawing and sculpture. Monumental, delicate, sensuous and haptic, her work investigates the materiality of drawing in a three-dimensional sculptural expression. Her sculptures refer to decay and ruination, a process further reinforced by her choice of materials. Edging towards a point of collapse, the works insist on a continued existence and are often used as elements in new artworks in a cycle of decay and renewal. Buan experiments with conceptual aspects of drawing and is interested in the limitations and possibilities of the two dimensional surface. With monumental works made by using materials including dry pastels, paper, plaster and metal, she challenges the conception of what drawing can be. Her sculptural expression retains the meditative quality of drawing and adds corporeality to the medium.

In the work process, she draws layer upon layer of dry pastel, creating unique shades and paper textures. The colour palette includes shades of pink, yellow, green and blue. In some works, the colour is reminiscent of skin, dry hands or bruises; in others, blue reminds us of deep and dark oceans. The desire to know if what the eye sees corresponds to what the hand might touch is always present in Ann Iren Buan’s work, where the tactile and physical component plays an important part both in the creative process and in the works. Buan’s sculptures act as both remnants and foreign bodies; they simultaneously reinforce and exert pressure on their surroundings, liberating architecture from static and chronological history. The works are massive yet light, sophisticated and tender. They are never entropic in their abstraction, mirroring something from life – a person, a landscape or a piece of skin.

Buan holds an MFA in Visual Art from The Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo (2011). Previous solo exhibitions include The Vigeland Museum (2018) and OSL contemporary, Oslo (2021, 2018); Kristiansand Kunsthall, Kristiansand (2021); Apalazzo gallery, Brescia (2019). Buan has participated in a number of group shows including the Drawing Triennial hosted by The Norwegian Drawing Association at Kunstnernes Hus (2019); Trondheim Kunsthall, Trondheim (2019); Palazzo Mazzarino, Palermo (2018); Stavanger Art Museum, Stavanger (2015); and The Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo (2015). In 2024, she holds a solo exhibitions at Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo and Museum for Papirkunst, Blokhus. Her works are part of several public and private collections, including the National Museum (Oslo), Oslo Kommune Kunstsamling, The Versace collection, Storebrand Art Collection, Equinor and the Norwegian Parliament Art Collection.

Hudsult, 07.06-17.08.24

Pusten risper i stillheten, 01.10–06.11.21

Along the Folds, 13.04-19.05.18

Born in Stjørdal, Norway 1984.
Lives and works in Oslo.

Education

2009-2011

MFA Visual Art, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway

2009

BFA Exchange China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China

2008

BFA Exchange The Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm, Sweden

2006/2009

BFA Visual Art, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway

Residencies

2022

Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France

2015-2017

Oslo City Hall Residency for emerging artists

2012-2013

Circolo Scandinavo, Rome

Solo Exhibitions

2026

Apalazzo Gallery, Brescia, IT
Siegfried Contemporary, London, UK

2024

Kom du bare nærmere, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, NO
Hold hold grasp grasp stay stay, Museum for papirkunst, Blokhus, DK
Hudsult, OSL contemporary, Oslo, NO

2021

Falm varsomt, hold om oss, Entrée, Bergen, NO
Hendene våre rakner, Kristiansand Kunsthall, Kristiansand, NO
Pusten risper I stillheten, OSL contemporary, Oslo, NO

2019

Ghost Protectors, CHART - Charlottenborg Kunsthall, soloshow OSL contemporary, København, DK
Stay, A Palazzo Gallery, Brescia, IT

2018

Retracing Postures, Bazament, Tirana, AL
Along the Folds, OSL contemporary, Oslo, NO
Around Us Surround Us, The Vigeland Museum, Oslo, NO

2017

Tide Follows, Prosjektrom Normanns, Stavanger, NO
Castles, Oslo City Hall, Oslo, NO

2016

Tether, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker, NO

2015

A Pull of the Sun and Moon, Noplace, Oslo, NO
The Wait, Punkt Ø, Gallery F15, Jeløy, NO
Keepers, Nord Trøndelag Art Museum, Namsos, NO
Echoes, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, NO

2014

Deep Sky Crashing Waves, Trøndelag Center of Contemporary Art, Trondheim, NO

2013

Five Monologues From the Past. Walk Around Here, Look Through There, Listen Akershus Kunstsenter, Lillestrøm, NO

2012

SETTLE SOFTLY, collaboration Tone B. Størseth, One Night Only, Oslo, NO

2011

Ann Iren Buan - Bunker 51, The Hove festival, Arendal, NO
Follow. Through with Tone B. Størseth HOLODECK, Oslo, NO

2010

A Release of Energy in 15 Colors, collaboration Tone B. Størseth, Galleri Storck, Oslo, NO
Cold, but wrapped in plastic, The Drawing Association, Oslo, NO

2008

para_site, Borderline Centre for Foreign Contemporary Art, Stockholm, Sweden
res•o•nance, collaboration Sonny Sanjay Vadgama, Fredsgatan KKH Stockholm, SE

Group Exhibitions

2019

Human Touch, Drawing Triennale 2019, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, NO

CHART, Charlottenborg Kunsthal, Copenhagen, DK

mind moves with matter, body blends into space, Kunsthall Trondheim, NO

2018

Telemarksgalleriet, NO

2017

Cowmoscow, with Prosjektrom Normanns, Moscow, RU
Så i Asken, Slik at Ingenting går Tapt, curated by Eivind Hofstad Evjemo, Oslo - Harpefoss - Levanger, NO
Untitled Art Fair - Monuments, with Prosjektrom Normanns, San Francisco, US
Untitled Art Fair, with Prosjektrom Normanns, San Francisco, US

2016

Artissima Torino, with Apalazzo Gallery, Torino, IT
Form Matter, Matters Forms, Apalazzo Gallery, Brescia, IT
MIART, with Apalazzo Gallery, Milano, IT
NN-A NN-A NN-A New Norwegian Abstraction, Stavanger Art Museum, Stavanger, NI

2015

Artissima Torino, with Apalazzo Gallery, Torino, IT
NN-A NN-A NN-A New Norwegian Abstraction, The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo, NO

2014

MARKEN VI STÅR PÅ, The North Norwegian Art Center, Svolvær, NO

2013

BUAN, YSTAD, YSTAD AND LØNSETH, Nils Aas Kunstnerverksted, Inderøya, Norway En Kollektiv Kraftanstrengelse For Tapte Saker, Podium, Oslo, NO

2012

Introduction Barflyfriends, Barflyfriends Berlin, DE
Drawing Biennale 2012, Oslo, NO
The Cold of Winter, Galleri Format Oslo, NO
Spring Exhibition 2012, Charlottenborg Kunsthal, Copenhagen, DK

2011

Le Printemps de Septembre—à Toulouse, Festival of contemporary arts, Toulouse, FR
(E) = Motion Galleri Van Bau, Vestfossen, Norway The Act of Making as an Act of Making, Ann Iren Buan og Janne Kruse, RAM Galleri, Oslo, NO
The MA graduate show 2011, Galleri Seilduken, Oslo, NO
The annual Østland exhibition, Akershus Kunstsenter / Kunstbanken Hamar, Norway Stunt, Søylegalleriet, Oslo, NO

2010

Captain, oh captain, O.N.N.Y.A, Oslo, Norway The annual Trøndelag exhibition, various cities, NO

2009

Love, Drunk, Decay, the Hove festival, Arendal, NO
Salongutstilling, Galleri Nb8, Oslo, NO
THE SKIN OF A BOYBAND IMMORTAL, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, CN

2008

ANONYME ZEICHNERE #9, Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Bethanien, Berlin, DE
1+1=2, Galleri Konstfack, Stockholm, SE
The only hard thing is to begin: A grass blade’s no easier to make than an oak, Galleri Nb8, Oslo, NO
IN FRAGMENTS, Ada Street Gallery, London, UK
Sylt imorgon sylt i dag, Vårutstellningen, KKH Stockholm, SE
res•o•nance, KIT tv, Vienna, AT
res•o•nance, Loop video-art festival, Barcelona, ES

Public Commissions

2017

Sunnaas Hospital

Membership

NBKThe national organisation for Visual Artists in Norway
UKSThe Young Artists Society
BONONorwegian Visual Artists Copyright Society

OSL series: In conversation
In conversation: Ann Iren Buan & Thomas Phongsathorn Read the conversation here
13.11