CRAFTED

What is craft? How do craftspeople work in Norway today?

This exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to explore the field of Norwegian craft through a rich selection of works from the museum’s collections. More than 100 artists are represented, in a wide range of materials, formats and forms of expression. The exhibition explores contemporary craft and challenges us to see things – and the world around us – in constantly new ways.

In today’s art world, the distinction between art forms can be perceived as irrelevant. Visual artists weave, industrial designers carve and craftspeople create video pieces and installations.

Artists’ freedom to move between disciplines and genres has led to a trend where an increasing number of art forms are simply labelled contemporary art, and the unique understanding of the craft is forgotten.

The exhibition ART-HAND-WORK explores contemporary crafts through the themes of materiality, craft traditions, everyday life, decoration, reuse and post-industrialism. Visitors will experience different voices and perspectives through audio stories, texts, activity zones and videos that showcase work processes.

Anniversary collaboration

In 2025, the Norwegian Association for Craft Artists (Norske Kunsthåndverkere) celebrates its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Kode, the National Museum and the National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design have joined forces to create an exhibition that presents crafts as a current and important art form. The exhibition is mainly based on the three museums’ collections, with an emphasis on works from the last 25 years.

The exhibition will first be shown in Oslo, before travelling on to Bergen and then Trondheim.

Artists represented in the exhibition

Anna Talbot, Anne-Helen Mydland, Ansgar Ole Olsen, Arne Åse, Aron Irving Li, Ask Bjørlo, Aslaug Magdalena Juliussen, Bjørn Båsen, Bjørn Mortensen, Borghild Rudjord Unneland, Bouke de Vries, Britt Haldis Fuglevaag, Caroline Slotte, Cathrine Maske, Cato Løland, Corrina Thornton, Daniela Bergschneider, Edith Lundebrekke, El Anatsui, Elisabeth Engen, Elisabeth von Krogh, Elise Kielland, Elke Karnik Kolbjørnsen, Erlend Leirdal, Eui Jeong Yoo, Faig Ahmed, Franz Petter Schmidt, Fredrik Nielsen, Gesine Hackenberg, Gitte Jungersen, Gunvor Nervold Antonsen, Hanne Friis, Hanne Tyrmi, Hans Stofer, Heidi Bjørgan, Hella Jongerius, Ida Helland-Hansen, Ina Vang, Inger Johanne Rasmussen, Ingrid Askeland, Ingrid Becker, Ingrid W. Berven, Irene Nordli, Jan-Eric Wold Skevik, Jens Erland, John K. Raustein, Kaja Solgaard Dahl, Karen Klim, Kari Håkonsen, Kari Dyrdal, Kari Steihaug, Karin Forslund, Kit Paulson, Kjell Rylander, Kjetil Aschim, Konrad Mehus, Kristine Fornes, Leana Quade, Leif Stangebye Nielsen, Liilian Saksi, Lillian Dahle, Linda Jansson Lothe, Lippa Dalén, Liu Jianhua, Liv Midbøe, Liv Blåvarp, Margrethe Loe Elde, Maria Bang Espersen, Marianne Bredesen, Marianne Moe, Marit Tingleff, Martin W. Godal, May Bente Aronsen, Nellie Jonsson, Nina Malterud, Ole Morten Rokvam, Philipp Spillmann, Paul Scott, Putte Helene Dal, Pål Vigeland, Regien Cox, Robert Dawson, Rui Sasaki, Ruta Pakarklyte, Sarah V. Lindström, Sidsel Palmstrøm, Sigrid Espelien, Sigurd Bronger, Simon Klenell, Siri Ensrud, Sissel Blystad, Stian K. Ruud, Takumi Morozumi, Tim Ekberg, Tina Jonsbu, Torbjørn Kvasbø, Torhild Berg, Toril Bonsaksen, Toril Johannessen, Trine Hovden, Trond Kasper Mikkelsen, Vidar Koksvik, Yinka Shonibare, Åse Ljones, Åsne Kummeneje Mellem.

Production

Curator: Peder Valle
Co-curators: Morten Spjøtvold og Anne Britt Ylvisåker
Curators National Museum: Knut Astrup Bull and Inger Helene Stemshaug
Curator National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design: Steffen Wesselvold Holden
Project Manager: Mira Kahrs
Public Programmes / Education: Mette Bolkan and Eli Okkenhaug
Registrar: Maiken Raftevoll and Úna Hamilton Helle
Conservation: Marte Løvset (Kode), Sian Pirnie, Heleen Van Santen, Liesa Berens, Philippa Moxon, Emma Hartikka, Emma Smith, Alice Meigh, Kine Haug Skjoldli, Anders Gjøls-Andersen
(Bevaringstjenestene)
Head of Technical Department: Ole Morten Schau
Technical Area Managers: Ketil Brattlid, Anders Elsrud Hultgreen, Tim Ekberg
Installation Coordinator: Sturla Heggdalsvik
Lighting Design: Thomas Taylor Bugaj
Museum Technicians: Frank Ove Christensen, Gabriel Johann Kvendseth, Ylva Bi Elisabeth Larsson, Jarle Hordvik, Thomas Taylor Bugaj, Nina Eriksson, Sónia Marina Mendes Barreiro Andrén, Karla Lesley Jæger, Pedro Moreira, Henning Dyrkolbotn, Arild Søvik, Alphie Hubbard, Leif Ole Stampa, Frede Hilton, Sebastian Grøvdal, Adam Martyniak, Tine Adler Teixeira Jørgensen, Michael Stumpf, Joachim Mathiesen Eide, Johnny Amundsrud, Kaia Holm Loriente, Lea Myrene Aurvåg, Kjartan Skår

Exhibition Design: Kine Liholm and Brynjulf Krokstrand, Logic Interactive
Exhibition Graphics: Vera Gomes, Knowit
Text contributors: Tor Eldevik, Gabriele Leonie Schwarz, Ruth Lillegraven, Christopher Haatuft, Margot K. Birkeland and Kine Ulvestad, Svein Anders Tjernsbekk, Mathias Danbolt, Einar Nilsson, Gerda Sørhus Fuglerud, Vilde Østerholt Willeke, Vigdis Vandvik, Sandra Lorentzen, Lauritz G. Dorenfeldt
Audioguide texts: Mette Bolkan, Morten Spjøtvold og Peder Valle, narrated by Peder Valle and Simon Gilbertson

The exhibition is a collaboration between Kode, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design (MiST).