Photo: Aleksi Wildhagen
Education from The National Academy of Art and Design, Diploma in textile 1973, Oslo Norway, University of Oslo, Bachelor degree Art history, 1995. Work in my own studio since 1975. Member of different Norwegian Art Unions; Norwegian Association of Visual Artists, The Norwegian Association of Textile Artists, The Norwegian Drawing Association and The Association of Norwegian Painters. Works presented at numerous solo shows, group exhibitions in museum and galleries in Norway, France, Holland and Poland. Work of the artist decorates public buildings in Norway. Board member of different national Art Committee and work as an art consultant of public art.
I am a visual artist. I work both as a painter and textile artist, as well as with drawing on paper.
My textiles are often large, monochrome surfaces which show an abstract minimalist approach. The format is experienced as a physical presence revealing the strength of expression and maximum perception of colour. The colour fields are built up through several stages of working with different colours and tones.
My concern is with simple, repetitive details and with a minimalist expression where form and content are reduced to simple geometric fields. The compositions are made of horizontal and vertical elements where contrasts occur between transparent versus opaque strokes, expressionistic versus static areas – and also how the surface receives light.
The content of a work of art, in my view, find their expression in composition, in the sum of the inner tension.
In my textiles I use different kind of canvas/fabrics for my media which are subsequently prepared for painting. I use acrylic in my textiles. I also paint on plywood and MDF upon which I glue different textile qualities, depending on what I want to express.
CURRICULUM VITAE
JORUNN STEFFENSEN, born 1950 in Skien, Norway.
MEMBERSHIPS
The Norwegian Association of Visual Artists (NBK)
The Norwegian Association of Textile Artists (NTK)
The Norwegian Drawing Association (TF)
The Association of Norwegian Painters (LNM)
Visual Artist in Telemark (BIT)
EDUCATION
2007,08 Oslo National Academy of Arts. Continuing education for artists, The reactive painting, Photoshop.
1996,97 Department of Art in Space, Oslo. Art in Space Course I + II
1993,95 University of Oslo, Norway. Philosophicum and Bachelor degree in Art history
1969-73 The National Academy of Art and Design, Oslo, Norway.
GRANTS
2018 The Relief Fund for Visual Artists (BKH), Exhibition Grant.
2017 The Relief Fund for Visual Artists (BKH), Exhibition Grant.
2016 The Norwegian Association of Artist (NBK), Project support.
2015 The Norwegian Art Council, Exhibition Grant.
2014 Skien Town Council, Travel Grant.
2013 Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (NK), Support from The Norwegian Foreign Ministry.
2000-17 The National Guaranteed Income for Artist.
1996 Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (NK), Fund for Visual Artist, 1 year Study Grant.
1990-92 The National Work Grant for Artists.
1990 Telemark County, Equipment Grant.
1986 The National Material Grant for Artists.
1984 Skien Town Council, Travel Grant.
1983 The Norwegian Art Council, Equipment Grant.
1980 The National Travel and Study Grants for artists.
1978 Telemark County Artist Bursary.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 I PROSESS, Skiens kunstforening / Committee of Art, Ibsenhuset, Skien Norway.
2017 FARGER I FLATEN, Soft art gallery, The Norwegian Association of Textile Artists, Oslo Norway.
2015 ABSTRAKTE FORMER, Telemark Kunstsenter, Regional Art Center, Skien Norway.
2009 Telemark kunstsenter, Regional Art Center, Skien Norway.
2003 Norske Tekstilkunstnere, The Norwegian Association of Textile Artists, Oslo Norway.
1997 Kunstnerforbundet / art gallery, Oslo Norway.
1991 Porsgrunn Kunstforening / Committee of Art, Øvre Frednes Kulturhus, Porsgrunn Norway.
1989 Skiens Kunstforening / Committee of Art, Ibsenhuset, Skien Norway.
1985 Galleri Sørhalden / art gallery, Halden. Norway.
1984 Kongsberg Kunstforening / Committee of Art, Kongsberg Norway.
1983 Galleri Kaserna/ art gallery, Skien Norway.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2018* Paintings, a walking Art exhibition produced by Telemark Art center [2018,17,16,15,14]
2017* Annual Art Exhibition [2017,16,15,14,13,11, 10] Regional Art Center, Skien Norway
2017 Det store mjuke øyeblikket, Finnskogutstillingen 2017, NTK 40 år, Finnskogen Norway
2016 Oslo Town Hall Gallery, Artist Association, Oslo Norway
2015 Sørlandsutstillingen 2015 på Bomuldsfabrikken Art hall, Arendal Norway
2014 Sørlandsutstillingen, Annual Art Exhibition, Southern Norway [2014,12,03 and 1992].
2014* Sørlandsutstillingen, Annual Art Exhibition, Southern Norway [2014,12,03 and 1992]
2013 The 14. Internasjonale Textile triennale, Lódz, Poland.
2009 Telemarksutstillingen, Art Exhibition at Skien-, Kragerø-, Tinn- and Seljord Commitee of Art.
2009 Hommage a Jytte Lindhard, Galleri Gaia, Art Gallery Bornholm Denmark
2008 A.S.A.P. jubileumsutstilling for kunstnere i Telemark, Skiens Art Commitee, Skien Norway
2005 Det var en gang..- eventyret i kunsten, Telemarksgalleriet, Art Gallery, Notodden Norway
2004 Galleri Stadskleiv, Art Gallery, Bø Norway
2004,02 Agder Biennalen, Christiansands kunstforening., Kristiansand Norway.
2003 Jubileumsutstilling, Telemark Fylkesgalleri. Art Gallery, Notodden Norway
2002 Oslo kunstforening, Art Commitee, Oslo Norway
2002* Sommerutstillinga i Seljord. [2002,1988,87,85] Anual Art Exhibition, Seljord Norway
2001 Novemberutstilling, Skiens kunstforening, Kunstbanken, Art Commitee, Skien Norway
2001 Artist from Norway – Germany, Rendsburg, Germany.
1997-04 Potpourri, Telemark regional Art center, Øvre Frednes Culture House, Porsgrunn Norway
1998 Sommerutstilling, Skiens kunstforening Art Commitee, Ibsenhuset Skien Norway
1997 Vårutstilling, Galleri Osebro, Art Gallery, Porsgrunn Norway
1995 Telemark med nye øyne, Telemark fylkesgalleri, Art Gallery, Notodden Norway
1993 Fysstepremi, Samtidskunst med røtter i Telemark, Skiens Art Commitee, Skien Norway
1992 Kryss-Crossing border, Bergen Norway
1991 Taiga, Norsk Skogbruksmuseeum, Regional Exhibition, Elverum Norway
1991 Kunst til enhver pris, Format Oslo Norway.
1990 12 uit Telemark, Slot Zeist, Holland.
1989 Tendenser, Gallery F15, Art Gallery, Moss Norway
1989 Landsdelsutstillingen NK Agder/ Telemark, Regional Exhibition, Kristiansand, Grimstad og Skien.
1988 Tekstil & Tegning, different Art Commitee in Telemark.
1988 Tre tanter med følge, Kunstindustrimuseet, Oslo Norway
1987 Tekstil i rom, Textile Exhibition, Telemark regional Art Center in Porsgrunn and Art Center in Oslo.
1987 Fra folkekunst til kunsthåndverk, Regional Exhibition, Lillehammer Norway
1986 Design textile scandinave 1950-1985, Mulhouse France.
1985 North/South, Regional Exhibition, Svolvær Norway
1984 Varmland Lens Museum, Sweden
1976-98 Norske Kunsthåndverk, Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts Anual exhibition. 15x, Norway.
PUBLIC PURCHASES
2018 Telemark County, Hjalmar Johansen High School, Skien Norway.
1992 Norsk Matforskningsinstitutt, University of Ås Norway.
1990 Telemark sentralsykehus, Regional Hospital, Skien Norway.
1989 Skien Art Gallery, Art Collection.
1989 Telemark County, Art Collection.
1983 Norsk Hydro, Art Collection.
1983,85,87 The Norwegian Art Council, Art Collection.
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2000 Porsgrunn Fire Station, Porsgrunn Norway
1999 Lilleaker School, Oslo Norway
1994 Telemark District College, Bø Norway
1990 Brønnøysund Town Hall. Brønnøysund Norway.
1987 Bamble High School. Stathelle Norway
1986 Notodden Institution for Psychiatric care. Notodden Norway
1981 NRK, Porsgrunn. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Count dept. Porsgrunn Norway.
SELECTED BOARD MEMBER OF NATIONAL ART COMMITTEES
Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Telemark Art Center (2017-21)
Board Member of The Relief Fund for Visual Artist 2015 -2019 and 2019-2023
Board Member of The Norwegian Association of Textile Artist and The Regional Association of Visual Artists.
Chairman of The State Grant Committee, The regional Art Center and The Regional Committee for Public Art.
Member of Price Committee At The Annual Art Exhibition for The Norwegian Association of Visual Artist (2018,16,15)
© Jorunn Steffensen / BONO