Artists
Bio
Ask Bjørlo (b. 1992, Hønefoss, Norway) is a visual artist specialising in traditional textile crafts, including weaving, embroidery, knitting, lacemaking, and textile sculpture. Bjørlo takes a personal interest in textile history and has a deep respect for its rich heritage. His work engages in dialogue with past traditions and practitioners, often from the queer perspective. Bjørlo draws inspiration from art history, nature, mythical creatures, and childhood memories – the works often with an underlying message about human reference points, feelings, and patience.
Bjørlo holds an MA in material-based art from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO, 2017–19). Before studying at KHiO, he attended textile schools such as Nyckelviksskolan and Handarbetets Vänners Skola in Stockholm and Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto. He also studied textile science at Uppsala University. In 2017, he was included in the archive of 89plus on invitation by founders and co-curators Hans Ulrich Obrist and Simon Castets. In the spring of 2021, Bjørlo held his first solo exhibition Tråd varsomt at OSL contemporary. In 2022, he had a solo exhibition Spent Spekter at Soft Galleri and participated in the exhibition The Queer Gaze at KODE in Bergen, and in 2023 his second exhibition at OSL contemporary together with artist Britta Marakatt-Labba. In 2024, he held a solo exhibition at Entrée in Bergen.
His works are included in collections such as The National Museum in Oslo, Stavanger Art Museum, Oslo Municipality Art Collection, KODE in Bergen, Kistefos Museum and Nordea Art Collection.
Ask Bjørlo
Selected Works
Variable dimensions
Variable dimensions
Variable dimensions
87 x 112 cm
85 x 63 cm
Unique works
Exhibition view, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway 2019
Works from left to right:
Sammen (Together)
Unbleached linen, white raw silk
34x187 cm
Skille (Separation)
Unbleached linen, black mercerised cotton
34x173 cm
Tiden (Time)
Unbleached linen, silk tread (18 colours)
34x182 cm
Hjerteslag (Heartbeat)
Bleached linen, silk dyed with fresh indigo, pink silk
34x177 cm
Røtter (Roots)
Bleached and red linen
34x187 cm
Fornemmelse (Sense)
Bleached linen, naturally dyed grey wool
34x182 cm
Unbleached linen, silk tread (18 colours)
34x182 cm
Unique work
Bleached and red linen
34x187 cm
Unique work
105 x 60 cm
Unique work
AB18-02
105 x 60 cm
Unique work
AB18-03
Unique works
Works from left to right:
Svømmehall (Swimming Hall)
Dusj (Shower)
Garderobe (Changing Room)
Bastu (Sauna)
Exhibition view, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway 2018
Part of the series Naturistbad (Naturists Bath) (2018)
Unique works
Exhibition view, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway 2018
Unique works
Works from left to right:
Garderobe (Changing Room)
Dusj (Shower)
Svømmehall (Swimming Hall)
Exhibition view, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway 2018
Unique works
Exhibition view Stavanger Art Museum (2018)
Unique works
Exhibition view Stavanger Art Museum (2018)
Unique works
Exhibition view Stavanger Art Museum (2018)
Gallery Exhibitions
CV
Born 1992 in Hønefoss, Norway. Lives and works in Oslo, Norway.
Education
2017 - 2019
Master in Material based Art, Oslo National Academy of Arts. MFA
2016
Textile Knowledge and History, Uppsala University, Sweden
2015
Kawashima Textile School, Kyoto, Japan
2015
Journeyman’s Certificate as a hand weaver, Svenska Hemsjöjdsföreningarnas Riksförbund,
Stockholm Sweden.
2012 - 2015
Handarbetets Vänners Skola (HV) «Higher Textile Craft program», Stockholm.
2011 - 2012
Nyckelviksskolan, Textile Form, Stockholm.
Exhibitions
2024
Solo show, «Livets kraft», Entrée, Bergen
2023
Duo show, «Ask Bjørlo & Britta Marakatt-Labba», OSL contemporary, Oslo
2021
Solo show, SOFT galleri, Oslo
Solo show, «Tråd varsomt», OSL Contemporary, Oslo
2019
Group exhibition, OSL Contemporary, Oslo
2019
MFA Graduation show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2019
Sandefjord Kunstforenings Kunstpris, (group show), Sandefjord Kunstforening.
2018
installation in «Frida Hansens room», Stavanger Kunstmuseum.
2018
«Ode to a dishrag, hymn to a tiger» Kunsthall Stavanger.
2017
Kunstnerforbundets Christmas Exhibition.
2017
«Ode to a dishrag, hymn to a tiger» NTK’s jubileumsutstilling, Kunstnerforbundet. Curated by John Raustein, Kirsti Willemse, Bente Sætrang og Wenche Volle.
2015
Exam exhibition, HV Gallery. Curator, Eva Asp
2013 - 2014
«A thousand threads», Lillehammer Kunstmuseum. Curator, Cecilie Skeide
Selected Press
2018
Norwegian Artist Yearbook, Text by Ann Katrin November Højbo.
2018
Stavanger Aftenblad. Exhibition review by Anne Therese Tveita.
2017
Interview in Aftenposten, written by Kaja Korsvold.
2017
Morgenbladet, Klassekampen, Dagsavisen og Billedkunst (Mentioned in reviews of «Ode to a dishrag, hymn to a tiger»)
2017
«Ode to a dishrag, hamn to a tiger» (Book)
2016
Interview in “Norsk Husflid” nr 4 (Norwegian craft magazine)
2015
Interview in “Vävmagasinet” nr 3 (Swedish weaving magazine)
2014
«Nålens øye, Samtidsbroderi», (Book on contemporary embroidery)
2013
«A thousand threads; Storytelling in textile» (Book)
Teacher/Participant
2017
Participant of «89Plus», a workshop held by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Simon Castets at the Office of Contemporary Art (OCA) in Oslo.
2016
Teacher of a three day course in digital weaving, Ringerike, Norway.
Scholarships
2019
Diversestipend for nyutdannede kunstnere 2019: Bildende kunstneres hjelpefond, Norway
2016
Buskerud fylkes Utviklingsstipend, Norway
2015
Estrid Ericssons Stiftelse, Sweden
2015
Emil, Frida och Stina Hultstrands Minnesfons, Sweden