Sissel Aurland explores drawing as a physical trace of contact between body, material and place.

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Her work has been selected for major national juried exhibitions, including Nordnorsken (2020), Østlandsutstillingen (2012), and she was awareded the Jury´s Prize at Senjautstillinga 2025.

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Often takeing sculptural form through folding and pressing, the work are installed in dialogue with architecture or environment. Rather than depicting nature, they operate as material residues of encounter, negotiating the relation between body and place.

 

Working from a practice-based and research-led approach, she investigates how matter registers contact, rhythm and time.

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Based in Lillestrøm, Norway. 

​​EDUCATION ART

2022-2024     MA Fine Art, The Open College of the  Arts/ The Open University, UK

2018-2019     Practical training in ceramics with craft artist Ronja Allum og ceramicist Anja Borgersrud

2012-2013     Curatorial practice, University of South-Eastern Norway
2009-2013    Mentorship with Roar Werner Eriksen, Norway
2004-2005    Oslo Kunstfagskole, NISS, Billedkunst, Norway

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AWARDS / PRIZES

2025  Jury’s Prize, Senjautstillinga 2025 (juried), Norway
Jury: Päivi Laakso, Caroline Kierulf, Arnfinn Johnsen

2012   Honourable Mention for Artistic Merit, Chanciano International Art Award, Italy

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ART IN PUBLIC SPACE:

2023    Nes Kulturhus, The Naked Pine, sculpture, Årnes, Norway

2022    Cruise ship Viking Polaris*, Lines VII, Monotypi for restaurant lobby

2022    Harstad Library, Floating, sculpture, Harstad, Norway

2020   Harstad Town Hall, Mindful Lines in Red, Drawing, Harstad, Norway​

2017     Fjuk Oppvekstsenter, Ballett, painting, Fjuk, Norway

2016     Frogner Skole og Kultursal, Hvite Skygger, lithography, Lillestrøm, Norway

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PUBLICATION

2025   BECOMING-FLUID Collection, (accepted)

2025    Konserter og arrangementer høst Lillestrømkirkene,  tow-page feature on Stillhetens Landskap, Lillestrøm   
2024   Kunst2024 Art of Bodø2024, catalogue incl. Mapping the Body-Nature Connection

2024   LOOK NORTH. Each Other. artist presentation, NNBK

2022   The Naked Pine, Artist book with essay by Kjetil Røed

2022   Viking Polaris* Art Collection, featuring Linjer VII 

2021    LOOK NORTH. A Horizontal State of Mind, artist presentation, NNBK

2015    Hendelser i Form og Linjer, Artist book 

2014    Sørum Magasinet, interview

2012    Stereo. Not Mono. Østlandsutstillingen catalogue

2012    Chanciano International Art Award,  exhibition catalogue

2011     Linje Føring, artist book

2009   Biennale di Chanciano, catalogue

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GRANTS

2025   Statens Kunstnerstipend / Norwegian Government Grants for Artists, Diversetipend for nyutdannede kunstnere

2023   North Norwegian Art Center, Nordland County Council, Bodø2024, for Kunst i Arktisk Natur

2021    Kunstsentrene i Norge (KIN), Regional project support for SEFF! art group 

2021    Norwegian Arts Council - project support

2017    Norwegian Arts Council, Publication grants for "Rom for Drømmer" Barnas KunstSkanse

2017    Norwegian Arts Council, NK, Sørum Municipality; Project support workshop Barnas KunstSkanse

2016    Sørum Municipality - project support 

2012    Østlandsutstillingen - travel grant Stadtgalerie im Elbefforum i Brunsbüttel, Germany

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POSITIONS:

2023-2026   Chair of the board, Kunst i Arktisk Natur, Norway

2023-2027   Board of Representatives, KunstSkansen, Norway

2021-2025    Art Consultant for Public Art, Nedre Gangsås Center,  Harstad, Norway

2024               Selection jury, Nes Kunstforening, Norway

2022-2023   Head of Jury, The 77. North Norwegian Art Exhibition, Norway

2022-2023   Deputy board member for the Jury, The Association of North Norwegian Visual Artists (NNBK)

2016 -2022   Board Member, KunstSkansen, (nominated from BOA) Norway

2018-2020   Board Member, Norske Kunstforeninger, Oslo, Norway

2015-2016     Art Consultant for Public Art, Fjuk Oppvekstsenter, Sørum, Norway

2015-2016     Art Consultant for Public Art, Blaker Bo- og Omsorgssenter, Sørum, Norway

2019, 2015     Selection jury, Annual exhibition, Rælingen Kunstforening, Norway

2014                Curator, Den kulturelle spaserstokken, travel exhibition, Sørum, Norway

2007-2016   Curator and Project Manager , Annual Group Exhibition SørumArtFestival, Norway

2011-2015     Project Manager, Annual Art Competition, SørumArtFestival, Norway

2013                Initiator and Founder, StasjonsGalleriet, Sørum, Norway

2012-2018    Chair of the board, Sørum Art Society, Norway

2012-2013     Board member, SørumArtFestival, Norway

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RESIDENCY (AIR):

2025   Troms Fylkeskultursenter, Tromsø, Norway

2025   Dyrøya Kunstnervilla, Dyrøya, Norway

2019    Finnmark County Council AiR,Vadsø, Norway

2017    Palazzo Stabile, Piemonte, Italy

2016    Henningsvær, Norway

2014    Castelvittorio, Genova, Itali

2008, 2005, 2002 AiR, Can Serrat, Barcelona, Spain

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COLLECTION* / ARTWORK PURCHASED:

2023  Nes Municipality - THE NAKED PINE , Nes Kulturhus, Årnes, Norway

2022  Cruise ship Viking Polaris* - Linjer VII, Monotypi for restaurant lobby

2022  Harstad Municipality - FLOATING , Harstad Library, Norway

2020  Harstad Municipality - Lines in Red, Drawing, Harstad Town Hall, Norway

2020  Lillestrøm Municipality - painting for "SørumPrisen 2010", Norway

2018   Sørum Municipality - Hvite Skygger, lithography, Friggveien Botilbud, Norway

2017   HM Queen Sonjas`s Jubilee Collection* - Hvite Skygger, Lithography

2017   Sørum Municipality - Ballett, painting for Fjuk Oppvekstsenter, Norway

2016   Sørum Municipality - lithograph for Frogner Skole og Kultursal, Norway

2016   Sørum Municipality - painting for Cultural Price 2016, Norway

2014   Sørum Municipality - three paintings, Norway

2011    Sørum Municipality - painting for Environmental Prize, Norway

2011    Fet Municipality - painting for Cultural Prize, Norway

2006  Frogner Primary School - painting, Norway

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PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS / LECTURES

2025  Panelist, NK Viken Professional Seminar, Samarbeidsarenaer som mulighet for formidling, synlighet, inspirasjon og økonomi, Blaker, Norway
2023   Public conversation (as head of jury of "Nordnorsken"), Galleri Nord-Norge, The 77th North Norwegian Art Exhibition, Harstad, Norway

2018   Public Presentation,  the Art Societies in Akershus; Jessheim, Norway

2013   Public Presentation, Nordic Conference on the future of the Art Societies, Malmö, Sweeden

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ARTIST TALKS

2016   Public presentation of artistic practice, Studio presentation at KunstSkansen, Norway

2017   Public presentation of artistic practice, StasjonsGalleriet, SørumArtFestival, Norway

2012   Public presentation of artistic practice, Galleri F15,  Østlandsutstillingen, 

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WORKSHOPS

2019   Vadsø Kunstforening, Norway

2017   Barnas KunstSkanse, with Hege Bratsberg and Ronja Allum, Blaker Skanse, Norway

2016   Frogner primary school, Frogner, Norway

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PRESS 

2026  Folkebladet, review of Senjautstillinge (critic Arne Ivar Hansen), with special mention of Material Traces.

2025  Kunsthåndverk Magazine (no.3. 2025), "Store muligheter og uoppfylte behov "- review of Tromsø Open 2025, featuring documentation of Mapping the Body–Nature Connection. Text by  Henrik Sørlid ,Norway

2025  Hakapik,  “Store muligheter og uoppfylte behov” - review of Tromsø Open 2025, featuring documentation of Mapping the Body–Nature Connection. Text by Henrik Sørlid, 26.11.25, Norway

2023  Raumnes, "Med  kønn som kunst ", feature article. Text by Elisabeth Johansen, 04.03.2023, Norway

2023   Klassekampen, Perspektiv, 04.03.2023, Norway

2022   Klassekampen, Perspektiv, 23.02.2022, Norway

2021   Harstad Tidende, "Det har vært en drøm", feature article. Text by Gisken Amanda Eriksen, 12.11.2021, Norway

2020  iHarstad, "Sissel med på Nordnorsken"  feature article. Text by Andreas Ursin Hellebust, 22.08.2020, Norway

2020  Harstad Tidende, "Sissel med på Nordnorsken, feature article.  Text by Andreas Ursin Hellebust, 20.08.2020, Norway

2020  Klassekampen, Perspektiv, 17.01.2020, Norway
2015   Dagsavisen Fremtiden, "Ny kunst - gamle metoder" interview 26.11.2015, Norway

2015   Østlandets blad, "Sanselig linjeføring i Rådhusgalleriet", feature article. Text by Ole Kjeldsberg Endresen, 16.10.2015, Norway

2012   Indre Akershus Blad, "Aurland til Østlandsutstillingen" , feature article, 14.09.2012, Norway

2010  Romerikes Blad,  "Fra Frogner til verden"  feature article, 31.10.2010, Norway

2009 Harstad Tidende,  "Til Italia med samtidskunst", feature article, 04.09.2009, Norway​

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MEMBERSHIP

NBK / NNBK - North  Norwegian Visual Artists Association

NK     - Norwegian Assciation for Arts and Crafts 

NBF  - Norsk Billedhoggerforening / Norwegian Sculptors Society

PAB   - Performance Art Bergen

KunstSkansen artist organization

SEFF! art group