News

We are delighted to announce that Toril Johannessen has been nominated for the Lorck Schive Kunstpris 2025.

Selected as one of four nominees, she will be part of an exhibition at Trondheim Kunstmuseum opening 27th September 2025.

Initiated by the Lorck Schive and Spouse Trust, the Lorck Schive Kunstpris is considered to be one of the most prestigious art prizes within Norway, its aim to encourage discourse and debate on contemporary art.

The other nominees are Marthe Ramm Fortun, Silje Linge Haaland, and Anawana Haloba.

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'Vanessa Baird: Go Down with Me' at MUNCH is now open to visitors.

For her extensive solo exhibition Baird is presenting over five hundred works across the museum’s third floor.

The show is a kaleidoscopic manifestation of her views, ideas and themes ranging from the intimately personal, to the political, and the global. Merging the surreal and figurative, Baird is frequently revealing and confrontational whilst maintaining candour and humour. In addition to the depictions of routine in daily domesticity, her works also expand to deal with human suffering caused by war and conflicts.

The exhibition is curated by Kari J. Brandtzæg, and is open until 31st December 2024

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We are excited to announce that Ahmed Umar will be participating at the upcoming Toronto Biennial of Art 2024 with a new video installation ‘Truth Bears No Scandal (الـواضِح مو فـاضِح)’.

The work depicts the artist performing three Sudanese songs that were originally written by poets about their same-sex lovers. These types of narratives - often masked to erase the queer side of the Sudanese culture - are presented by Ahmed with a direct and unapologetic approach.

Ahmed has performed each song visually inspired by the original singers in their respective eras, describing his presentation as Sudanese drag.

Visitors can experience Umar's installation at Collision Gallery between 21.09 – 01.12.2024

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We are delighted to announce that Ragna Bley has been nominated for the Ars Fennica Award 2025. Awarded in recognition of artistic work of excellence, it is considered to be Finland’s most prestigious visual arts prize.

The other candidates are Roland Persson, Jani Ruscica, and Hanna Vihriälä, and a joint exhibition showcasing all the nominees’ works will be on display at Helsinki Art Museum between 24.10.2025–15.03.2026.

The winner will be selected by Mami Kataoka, Director of the Mori Art Museum and the director of the National Center for Art Research (NCAR) in Japan. The nominees for 2025 have been selected by the award panel consisting of the chairperson, Dr. Leena Niemistö, visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Dean Leevi Haapala (University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts), and Museum Director Arja Miller (HAM Helsinki Art Museum).

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Ragna Bley is currently part of the group exhibition 'After the Sun—Forecasts from the North' at Buffalo AKG Art Museum in Buffalo, New York.

"After the Sun—Forecasts from the North surveys a generational response to the precarious state of our natural environment. Historically, art from the Nordic region has been closely tied to depictions of nature. It is no surprise, then, that a diverse group of artists with strong ties to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden question what it means to depict landscape today in a time of intensifying climate crisis. After the Sun considers how emergencies at a Northern latitude reverberate globally and asks what images are generated in response."

This exhibition is curated by Helga Christoffersen.

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Ane Mette Hol's solo exhibition 'Midtkarriere retrospektiv (Mid-career retrospective)' is now open at Haugar Kunstmuseum, presenting a comprehensive introduction to Hol's practice.

The show is in conjunction with the group exhibition ‘Arbeidstittel: The Workers’, where they overlap thematically and conceptually related topics concerning various dynamics in the art field, such as how art is distributed, presented and communicated.

Hol approaches the medium of drawing conceptually. One of the central questions in artistry is how the relationship between original and copy has been affected by the entry of the readymade object into art and what consequences this has had for the objects considered to have value.

The exhibition is curated by Erlend Hammer.

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OSL contemporary is delighted to announce that Ahmed Umar has been awarded the 25th Baloise Art Prize for his presented work ‘Forbidden Prayers’ at Art Basel 2024.

Since 1999, the Baloise Art Prize has been awarded every year by the Baloise group to two participant artists in the Statements sector at Art Basel.

As part of the prize, Umar’s work ‘Forbidden Prayers’ will be acquired and donated to Museum für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt.

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Toril Johannessen will be presenting her solo exhibition ‘Deterrence and Reassurance’ at Bergen Kunsthall as this year’s selected artist for The Festival Exhibition in Bergen.

Considered to be the most important solo presentation for a Norwegian artist domestically, Johannessen will present a new installation for the exhibition including a new large-scale woven carpet made from military textiles.

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Britta Marakatt-Labba's solo exhibition 'Moving the Needle' is now open at The National Museum in Oslo, Norway.

The expansive exhibition presents Britta's impressive body of work, ranging from never-before-shown works on paper, textiles, and installation works – including her iconic tapestry work 'Historjá'.

As an artist and activist, Britta has become an inspirational figure in advocating environmental issues and the rights of the Sami people.

The exhibition will be open until 25 August 2024.

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The exhibition ‘Cadmium Orange Red Violet Lamp Black’ by Callum Innes is now open at Kode in Bergen, Norway.

Located within the museum’s Tower Room in Lysverket, Innes presents a selection of works, including site-specific wall paintings, oil paintings, and an installation of forty watercolours.

As part of the exhibition, Innes will also present a light installation by the artist on the historic building’s exterior facade.

The exhibition will be open until 28 April 2024.

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OSL contemporary is delighted to announce Ahmed Umar's participation at the Venice Biennale 2024, opening on 20th April.

Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, he will be part of the biennial's 60th International Art Exhibition titled 'Foreigners Everywhere'.

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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Leonard Rickhard.

Leonard Rickhard is recognised as one of Norway's most essential contemporary painters, with a celebrated and significant career spanning over 40 years. Rickhard's works have been exhibited extensively across major Nordic institutions and included in numerous collections. Rickhard's distinctive expression has captivated viewers and has a unique position in Norwegian contemporary art.

Our most caring thoughts go to his family and friends. It has been an incredible privilege for OSL contemporary to work closely with Leonard for many years. He will be dearly missed as an artist and friend.

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Leonard Rickhard (1945–2024)

Det er med stor sorg vi har mottatt meldingen om kunstner Leonard Rickhards bortgang. Leonard Rickhard er anerkjent som en av Norges fremste malere, og hans enestående karriere strekker seg over 40 år. Rickhard har representert en helt særegen og tydelig stemme i norsk samtidskunst.

Våre varmeste tanker går til hans familie og venner. Det har vært et fantastisk privilegium for OSL contemporary å arbeide tett med Leonard i mange år. Han vil bli dypt savnet som kunstner og venn.

Image: Leonard Rickhard in his studio, May 2023. Photo: Helle Holm

OSL contemporary is happy to announce that Vanessa Baird will open her first exhibition at the Munch Museum in October 2024, where she will fill the impressively spacious galleries on the museum's third floor.

Vanessa Baird (b. 1963) has established herself as one of our foremost visual artists since the 1990s. The exhibition demonstrates how Baird's art evolves through repetitions and variations of the same themes, but also how they are influenced by private and political events.

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Leonard Rickhard's large-scale solo exhibition Between Construction and Collapse, opening at the Astrup Fearnley Museet 26. January 2024. Curated by Solveig Øvstebø.

"Throughout a long artistic career, Rickhard has cultivated a distinctive, easily recognisable style—a visual signature all of its own within recent Norwegian art history." - Excerpt from AFM website.

Photo: Leonard Rickhard, Figure Against Red Bird Cabinet, 2006-2007. Astrup Fearnley Collection. © Leonard Rickhard, 2023. Photo: Jens Hamran

Read more on Astrup Fearnley Museet website

Ahmed Umar will be part of the upcoming Toronto Biennial of Art 2024, alongside artist Sonja Boyce and Cecilia Vicuña among others. The Biennial is curated by Dominique Fontaine and Miguel A. López, and will take place between 21.09.2024 - 01.12.2024

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Emily Gernild will have a solo exhibition at the historic art center Gammel Holtegaard in Denmark, opening on 17.11.23.

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On the occasion of his upcoming exhibition ‘Glowing Phalanges’ opening Friday 15 Sept, 20.00, at Bergen Kunsthall, it is with pleasure to announce that OSL contemporary is now representing Ahmed Umar.

Ahmed Umar (b. 1988, Sudan) is a cross-disciplinary artist living and working in Oslo. He received his MFA degree in medium- and material-based art from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 2016. Through his work, Umar has become an important figure for queer communities in both Norway and Sudan. He has exhibited at The Biennale of Sydney and is currently nominated for the Lorck Schive Art Prize at the Trondheim Art Museum.

Umar’s works are in the permanent collections of the National Museum, Drammens Museum and City of Oslo Art Collection. In 2023 has had a solo exhibition at Kunstnernes Hus, and his work has been on view at Trondheim Art Museum in connection with his nomination for the Lorck Schive Art Prize.

His debut solo exhibition at the gallery is scheduled for the fall season in 2024.

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Hosted by The Association of Norwegian Sculptors Vibeke Tandberg’s sculpture ‘Hestebarrikade’ (2023) will be unveiled at Øvre Slottsgate, Friday 15 September, 3 pm. Attendance at the sculpture zone.

The title ‘Hestebarrikade’ (Horse Barricade) refers to a combination of two elements in the cityscape of Oslo today; the police horses (the equestrian corps) and concrete barriers (the iron and/or concrete flower boxes), both of which are measures to protect the citizens of Oslo. In the sculpture, these safety measures are visualized in a barrier that must be able to withstand vandalism, harsh weather and violence.

The ceremony will reveal five new sculptures. This year's artists are Vibeke Tandberg, Yamile Calderon, Aleksander Stav, Gisle Harr and Ingrid Solvik.

The sculpture zone in Øvre Slottsgate is a collaborative project between The Association of Norwegian Sculptors, the Oslo Municipality Agency for Cultural Affairs and Agency for Real Estate and Urban Renewal.

Opening Thursday 17 August, Per Barclay will be having an extensive solo exhibition entitled 'Soft Sweet Vortex' at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, with representative works from his 40-year artistic career. Barclay’s practice encompasses photography, sculpture, and installation, using materials such as stone, steel, aluminium, glass, water, and waste oil.

The exhibition is curated by Ana María Bresciani.

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Vanessa Baird, Vibeke Tandberg and Toril Johannessen part of ‘LOL - humor i norsk kunsthistorie’ ( LOL- Humour in Norwegian Art History)’ at Haugar Art Museum in Tønsberg. On view this summer and until 17th September 2023.

Curated by Erlend Hammer, the exhibition explores the theme of humour within art history of Norway, ranging from the historical to the contemporary. Coinciding with the exhibition is the release of the exhibition catalogue.

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New publication ‘The Hollow Man’ by Bjarne Bare, published by Hassla in New York, January 2023.

'...The Hollow Man is inspired by the forms and figures that are hand-shaped from scraps of cardboard and on view in a piñata factory near the artist’s home in industrial downtown Los Angeles. Like much of what we have built to keep up with late-stage capitalism’s relentless aggression, the empty paper man in the window will soon be filled with bright, cheap, plastic parts and sugar...’ - Excerpt from text by Jennifer Piejko

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Per Barclay has unveiled a public installation in Oslo where he revitalised the iconic ‘Love Carousel’ structure, located in the lower slopes of Stensparken in Fagerborg (St. Hanshaugen). This was a result of a collaboration between the Norwegian Cultural Agency, the Norwegian Environmental Agency and the Norwegian Antiquities Agency.

Completed in 1937, the public urinal was built in a functionalist style, and was also used as a meeting place for gay men during a time when homosexuality was not only seen to be socially unacceptable in Norway, but also illegal. Its reputation as a gay cruising spot in combination of its circular shape assigned the structure the aforementioned moniker. Other nicknames included ’The Wheel of Fortune’ and ’The Umbrella’. In 2009, it was declared a monument, and Per has had to privilege to lease it a new artistic life. The installation will be possible to experience until 01.06.23.

Ane Graff will be defending her doctoral research work and PhD thesis ‘The Wound In Its Entanglements’ at Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) on 06.12.22.

Ane Graff is a PhD scholar in the doctoral program for artistic research at the department of Fine Arts. As part of her thesis, she presented an exhibition under the same name at Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, Netherlands, becoming the first Norwegian artist to have a solo show in the country.

Toril Johannessen has created a permanent installation Representation (for people and those who represent them) at Bergen City Hall, commissioned by the City of Bergen.

The work consists of woven textiles with a design including computer generated portraits.

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Jone Kvie is participating at this year's edition of documenta fifteen and present two works as part of the ‘Jimmie Durham & A Stick in the Forest by the Side of the Road’.

documenta fifteen will be held in Kassel, Germany between Jun 18, 2022 – Sep 25, 2022.

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Ane Graff’s solo exhibition ‘The Wound in Its Entanglements’ at Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Exhibition duration: Friday 6 May — Sunday 21 August 2022

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For Artica Svalbard’s first artists edition A K Dolven has created a unique limited edition. Exclusive to Artica Svalbard the edition entitled NOW, features a drypoint print and sound piece. The work is an edition of 25 plus 2 AP.

All profits from the sale go directly to supporting future Artica residents, the public programme and projects.

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Toril Johannessen will be showing as part of the group exhibition 'Spor af Niels Bohr' at Sophienholm, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.

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Jone Kvie as part of the exhibition 'A Stick in the Forest' at Labinac, Napoli.

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Jone Kvie takes part in the exhibition Marble at Kunsten, Aalborg

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Solo exhibition 'Stranger's Eye' at Kunstnernes Hus

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Ane Mette Hol

Following her solo exhibition at Vienna’s MUMOK Museum, Hol will showcase both new - and older works in the temporary OSL viewing room. Amongst others, a series of new “editions” of original drawings featured in her Mumok exhibition catalogue, as well as selection of sculptures will be displayed in the show.

The presentation will be available from Thursday January 20.

A K Dolven

Dolven, who is currently working towards her large scale retrospect at the new National Museum of Norway in 2025, as well as a solo exhibition at OSL contemporary 2023, will be presenting a series of new sculptures and paintings. The new work will be in dialogue with a selection older works, such as ‘A Other Teenager’ and ‘Warmth II’. The presentation will be available from Thursday 10 until Saturday 26 February.

View Ask Bjørlo's 'Studio Visit' presented by Norwegian Crafts

View the film

Ane Graff solo exhibition at Kunstinstituut Melly

For more information

Jone Kvie will take part of Documenta 15, as part of the collective 'By the side of the road'

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Ane Graff, A K Dolve and Per Barclay to take part in the exhibition Subterranean at Helsinki's Amos Rex.

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A K Dolven and John Giorno's transatlantic dialogue and duet, 'JA as long as I can' at Cinemateket Oslo. The event is in collaboration with Cinemateket and Kunstenreshus.

For tickets and further information visit Cinemateket

Norwegian artist and author Vibeke Tandberg’s newest film, Old Man Dancing, premieres Saturday 25 September at 20:00. The premiere is a collaboration between the Astrup Fearnley Museet and the Norwegian Opera & Ballet. In addition to the screening, there will be a live performance at the Astrup Fearnley Museet and a digital film premiere on the Opera’s website that same evening.

To view the digital premiere

Ane Graff in conversation with Tal Danino
Moderated by curator Martha Kirszenbaum
Introduction by Executive Director, Rhizome, Zachary Kaplan

The Armory Show 2021
10 september at 1pm EST/ 7pm CET

The talk is co-hosted by OSL contemporary, Rhizome and Kistefos, and is supported by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General and Office for Contemporary Art Norway, OCA

Sign up for the talk

'As far as my Eyes can Sea – The Expedition Exhibition' at Bomuldsfabriken, Arendal

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Solo exhibition at Entrée, Bergen

'Falm varsomt, hold om oss'

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Bjarne Bare takes part of the exhibition Rites of Passage, The National Museum at Kunstneres Hus, Oslo

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Bjarne Bare solo exhibition at No Moon LA

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Toril Johannessen takes part in Sustainable Societies for the Future at Malmö Kunstmuseum

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A K Dolven takes part of STILL ALIVE at Sammlung Hoffmann, Dresden

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Ann Iren Buan exhibition at Kristiansand Kunsthall

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Solo exhibition by Vanessa Baird at Kunsthall Stavanger

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New artist book by Vanessa Baird, published on No Comprendo Press

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Ane Mette Hol solo exhibition at Mumok, Vienna

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A K Dolven takes part in the group exhibition "STILL ALIVE": Werke aus der Schenkung Sammlung Hoffmann at Albertinum, Dresden

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Solo exhibition by Vanessa Baird at Drawing Room, London

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Ane Graff takes part of 7 x 7. A collaboration between New Museum, Rihzome and Kunsthall Stavanger

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New permanent site-specific sculpture by Lawrence Weiner unveiled at Kistefos. As part of the Kistefos Sculpture Park

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Leonard Rickhard Før og etter solnedgang at Trondheim Kunstmuseum

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Untuned Bell, now installed at Honnørbrygga, Rådhusplassen, Oslo. Produced by KORO

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Solo exhibition 'A modernistic endpoint' at The Vigeland Museum, 31. January – 16 May 2020. Exhibition opening Thursday 30 January, 6 pm

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Part of the group exhibition 'Brainwashed' curated by Jana Baumann, at Haus der Kunst, Munich

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Ane Graff part of the upcoming Liverpool Biennial 2020

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Ragna Bley exhibition at Malmö Kunsthall, 1 February - 13 April 2020. Exhibition opening Friday 31 January, 6 pm and Artist Talk Saturday 1 February, 3 pm.

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Ann Iren Buan takes part of the 2019 Drawing Triennial, curated by Helga Marie Nordby. Organized by Tegnerforbundet and produced in collaboration with Kunstnernes Hus

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Jone Kvie Her, her solo exhibition at Stavanger Kunstmuseum

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A K Dolven takes part of the exhibition ETHEREAL. PHOTOGRAPHIC ART FROM NORWAY at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt

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Vanessa Baird takes part of the 2019 edition of Coast Contemporary

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A K Dolven takes part of the Helene Schjerfbeck Symposium, Royal Academy of Arts, London

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Site specific sculpture by Lawrence Weiner at KODE Bergen

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Niekolaas Johannes Lekkerkerk on Liquid Properties

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Ann Iren Buan takes part of the exhibition 'mind moves with matter, body blends into space' at Kunsthall Trondheim

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'Skogsaken' a Two-Part Exhibition at Entrée and Trykkeriet, Bergen

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Ragna Bley takes part of 'Tempo Tempo Tempo' curated by Rhea Dall, Kistefos-museet 

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"Vibeke Tandberg: art and literature", part of Dramatikkenshus (The Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting) lecture series spring 2019. 

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Per Barclay will be in conversation with Tone Hansen, Chair of the Norwegian Arts Council and Director of the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter; and Beatrice Galilee, Daniel Brodsky Associate Curator of Architecture and Design at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The event is in collaboration with The Armory Show VIP program and The Royal Norwegian Consulate General New York

Saturday April 6, on the last day of the exhibition seng og sekund  and as part of OSL series, A K Dolven has invited contemporary dancer Tale Dolven to perform live within the exhibition. 

Tale Dolven has collaborated with A K since the age of 12, then in the work to you (1994) up until most recently in A Other Teenager (2016). Dolven is based in Brussels and work internationally with theatre, dance and choreography. She performed at the opening of the Turbin Hall, Tate Modern, London as well as the Centre Pompidou, Paris together with acclaimed choreographer and dancer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker of the Rosas Company. 

Dolven currently works with the Nature Theatre of Oklahoma, co-produced by Ruhrtriennale and Dusseldorfer Schauspielhaus

Jone Kvie takes part in the exhibition 'The Gifts of Tony Podesta', Curated by Klaus Ottmann and Jennifer Sakai at the American University Museum, Washington

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In conversation: Ann Iren Buan & Thomas Phongsathorn

Read the conversation here

A K Dolven takes part in the 2018 Thailand Biennale, Krabi, Thailand

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Ann Iren Buan 'Around Us Surround Us' at The Vigeland Museum

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Ragna Bley takes part of the 2018 edition of the Moderna Exhibition, Moderna Museet, Stockholm

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Bjarne Bare is nominated for this years Sparebanken Sør Artist Award. All nominees are currently showing at Sørlandets Kunstmuseum (SKMU)

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In conversation: Per Barclay & Jarle Strømodden

Read the conversation here

Take part in Manifesta 12 Collateral Events

Read more on Barclay's participation

Read more on Buan's participation 

A K Dolven takes part in the symposium, Women in Conceptual Art, at Chelsea College of Arts

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'Litteratur på Blå' invites to a conversation between Vibeke Tandberg, Matias Faldbakken and Stian Gabrielsen with regards to Tandberg and Faldbakken's artistic and literary practices.

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Toril Johannessen takes part of Dak'Art - La Biennale de Dakar Edition 2018

Artist talk at Museum Kunst der Westküste

Ane Mette Hol + Richard Venlet at Sint-Lukasgalerie in Brussels. As part of Off-programme at Art Brussels 2018

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A K Dolven is nominated to produce a public work for the new Munch Museum alongside nominees Olafur Eliasson, Tracey Ein, Matias Faldbakken, Cristina Iglesias, Ragnar Kjartansson and Adrian Villar Rojas

Vibeke Slyngstad at Kristiansand Kunsthall

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Dag Erik Elgin's Museum Work at The National Gallery, Oslo

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Vibeke Tandberg, Aase Texmon Rygh and Leonard Rickhard take part in the group exhibition Det Felles Eide at Oslo's Kunstnernes Hus.

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Dag Erik Elgin and A K Dolven take part of the group exhibition Norway Contemporary! at Museum Kunst der westkuste

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Vibeke Tandberg takes part in the group exhibition Troløse Bilder at the National Gallery, Oslo.

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Bjarne Bare takes part in the Grand Opening of Annex at M+B, Los Angeles

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Ragna Bley takes part in the group exhibition REPEAT FORWARD at Galleri F 15, Moss

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Vibeke Tandberg takes part in the group exhibition Journeys with 'The Waste Land' at Turner Contemporary, Margate UK

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Callum Innes at Chateau La Coste

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Ragna Bley solo exhibition at Kunstmuseet Kabuso

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Vibeke Tandberg takes part of the exhibition HEN- Flytende kjønn at Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum

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Bjarne Bare takes part of the exhibition Belt Friction at Kopeikin Gallery, Los Angeles

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Unveiling of A K Dolven's utferdstrang/wanderlust at Skansekaia, Ålesund

Ane Mette Hol takes part in Original Copy's 'A Ditto, Ditto Device', Wien, Austria

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