About
Represented By:
Kristin Hjellegjerde
Hans Alf Gallery
I’m deeply connected to the craft of painting; the techniques, the materials, and the process of making my own paints. Each layer I apply is a study, and an exploration at the same time. Even after all these years, I still follow painting courses to refine my skills, because painting for me is a lifelong study. I use raw materials and fillers to have complete control over the texture, giving my paintings a quality that sometimes resembles ancient cave paintings.
The stories I paint come from personal experiences, yet I believe they carry a universal touch. We all go through life’s challenges, and in some way, I think these stories resonate with most of us. My work often pulls from dreams and nightmares, especially those that have lingered since childhood. There are moments when I even wonder if those dreams from the past were real or imagined.
I’m inspired by naïve painters and folk artists, like André Bauchant, Camille Bombois, and Grandma Moses, who, like me, often taught themselves the craft step by step. The process of learning and making at the same time brings me immense pleasure. I also draw inspiration from early Renaissance painters like Masolino, Sassetta, and Ghirlandaio, who constantly reinvented themselves to keep their practice evolving. I might always feel like I live in the shadows of these great painters, but my goal is to become the best version of a contemporary painter I can be.