About
Inghild Karlsen is a renowned Scandinavian visual artist, set designer, curator and organiser. She works in a range of media, including painting, print, sculpture, textile, installation, performance, theatre, scenography and photography and video. Karlsen’s artistic practice is multimedia-based, exploratory and diverse.
She has participated in exhibitions in Norway and abroad, including the Henie-Onstad Art Centre in 1983, 1991, and 2020, the São Paolo Biennale in Brazil in 1994, and was the festival artist at the Bergen International Festival in 1999.
She was a recipient of several artist residency stipends, such as the PS1 in New York, 1984 – 85, Cité in Paris, 1988 and Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, 1995 – 96. Her work is in the collections of numerous museums and private collectors, and she has completed several public art commissions. Between 1999 and 2003, she served as the director at Kunstnernes Hus, where she organised several international exhibitions, including “Hot Pot,” featuring contemporary Chinese art.
Movement is a central concept to Inghild Karlsen: “The only thing I know for sure that I desire is movement. Standing still is not far from movement. This is the way I want my works to function – not on a pedestal, but informally, everywhere” (UK, 1979)
Solo Exhibitions (Selection)
2023
Followers /Persecutors, Galleri Blaker, Skanse, Lillestrøm, Norway
2021—2022
Krysset/X The Cross/X , Work and Installations in 1979-2021 Cotton Factory Art Hall, Arendal, Norway
2020
Epoch of the Crab. Barents Spektakkel, Kirkenes, Norway
2016
Our Inner Beasts. Gallery Christinegaard, Bergen, Norway
2013
Kristian’s House, Museum for Northern people, Manndalen in Kåfjord, Norway
2013
Blindsight, Obrestad Fyr, Norway
2012
Catch the Moment, The Art Bank (Kunstbanken) – Hedmark Art Center, Hamar, Norway
2009
The Redeyed Dogs, Bødø Art Association (Kunstforening), Bødø, Norway
2008
Left Overs, Berg Museum Kragerø, Summer Show, Kragerø, Norway
2008
Catch Eyes, Pickled Art Center, Beijing, China
2003
Bricoleurenes Messe, Lillehammer Art Museum, Norway
1999
Who can say no to three good wishes? Begen International Festival artist, Bergen Art Hall, Norway
1998
Nomadic Travelling, Summer show, Tromsø Art Association (Kunstforening), Tromsø, Norway
1987
White Trash, Otto Plonk Gallery, Bergen, Norway
1989
The Polygonal Journey (Den flerkantede reise), Art Space Momokan, Kyoto, Japan
1988
Namadis, Bergen Art Association (Kunstforening), Art hall, Norway
1987
Metro and Aero, The Art Hall / Brands Clothing Factory (Klædefabrik), Odense, Denmark
1985
Metro, Moma, PS1, NewYork, USA
1982
227 Threads, Kanal 2, Copenhagen, Denmark
1980
Scrarecows, Henie-Onstad Art Centre, Høvikodden, Norway
Education
1970-1971
Textile School of Craft, Tromsø, Norway
1972-1974
National Academy of Art and Design, Oslo, Norway
1974-1975
State College of Design, Tapestry, Oslo, Norway
1976-1981
Vestlandets Art Academy, Bergen, Norway
1981-1982
Art Academy in Stockholm, Sweden