My feet are firmly planted on two continents. I grew up in a small town on the West Coast of Norway, nearby the city of Aalesund, and I am currently living in Asheville, North Carolina (USA) where I have spent most of my adult life. Both regions are characterized by expansive mountain ranges and strong traditions of crafty people. It has given me a fluctuating sense of being rooted and uprooted at the same time, a fertile ground for exploration and questioning.

 

 

Currently I am working in my studio located in the River Arts District in Asheville. My art career started as a weaver in Norway, but in 1998 I received a BFA in Painting from the University of North Carolina, Asheville and have since continued to explore mixed media painting. A weaver’s interest in texture and patterns is evident in my paintings and a juxtaposition of geometric and organic shapes is my preferred artistic language.

 

 

The textured surfaces in my paintings are created by combining a collage of embossed paper and layering of acrylic paint. The papers I prefer to use are paintable wallpapers. For me, incorporating something intended for domestic use and bringing it into the realm of fine art gives the finished painting a connection to everyday life. The spirit of my art is however loftier, and I  strive to reach for what can be felt but not seen.