Art moves! The power of art - top experiences in Norway for art lovers

On October 22, 2021 the new Munch Museum finally opens in Oslo. It will be one of the highlights in Norwegian cultural life when one of Norway's most well-known artists finally will get his new "home", where more of his art can be on display than ever before.

Art affects us in different ways. Art evokes feelings. Excitement. Happiness. Anger. Revulsion: You can feel so included. So estranged. It opens you up, and closes you down. You can see yourself mirrored in the strangest elements. A stranger's face. A bird. An empty chair. The radiating sun....

Art can broaden your horizon. Make you think differently. Reflect. Associate.

Art can change how you see the challenges of society, politics, consumerism. Make you see our lives and how we live them from other angles, including the its struggles... Life. Death. Hope. Decay.

Art can also have a healing power. It can give you comfort. Inspiration. Energy. Or even a whole new perspective on the world and your daily life. Sometimes art can even provide respite in tough times.

See also: The power of art - and how it moves you (Visitnorway.com)

But it is not only in Oslo visitors to Norway can experience great art. Here are some of the many interesting art institutions in the country.

Munch, Oslo
Check out no less than four versions of the iconic painting The Scream in the brand new Munch museum in Oslo, opening October 22, 2021.

13 floors are dedicated to the famous expressionist painter Edvard Munch’s life and art. The highly distinctive museum building, designed by Estudio Herreros, has been specially designed for major art exhibitions.

With its 26,313 square metres and 11 galleries, the museum is tailor-made for the world's biggest collection of art by Munch, as well as works by other Modernist and contemporary artists, often related to Munch's art.

National Museum, Oslo
More iconic Munch paintings await in the new National Museum, next to Rådhusplassen, the square by Oslo City Hall.

Once it opens to the public on June 11, 2022 the biggest art museum in the Nordic countries will exhibit highlights from its collection of more than 47,000 art works and objects. Here, you can experience art from famous international artists like Renoir and Monet, and of course works by Norwegian masters, including Harald Sohlberg’s Winter Night in the Mountains – sometimes referred to as "Norway’s national painting".

The museum's collection includes the earliest versions of The Scream, by Edvard Munch.

Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
At the Tjuvholmen area with a unique architecture, is home to the Astrup Fearnley contemporary art museum, which features key works by artists including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard, as well as major temporary exhibitions. 

You will also find a number of Norway's most cutting edge contemporary art galleries in the area.

Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, Oslo
When Ekebergparken in Oslo was officially opened in September 2013, the vision was to “create a unique and diverse heritage park for the enjoyment and enrichment for the city’s population, and as an attraction for visitors”. That goal has been realized, largely due to an amazing combination of artworks and location.

Ekebergparken offers a stunning panoramic view of the city and the Oslofjord, and the 40 sculptures and installations include works by international art icons such as Renoir, Rodin, Dali, and Hirst. Among the park’s prominent Norwegian artists you’ll find Per Ung, Knut Steen, Dyre Vaa, Hilde Mæhlum, and Per Inge Bjørlo.
Ekebergparken |

Kistefos Museum, Hadeland
Combine the perfect day out in nature with an amazing art experience at the Kistefos Museum, which celebrates the best of Norwegian and international contemporary art with its industrial museum, two big indoor art galleries, and impressive sculpture park.
Take in the unusual sight of the architectural masterpiece and gallery named The Twist.

Afterwards, stroll through the sculpture park, which is home to sculptures by international artist including Yayoi Kusama, Fernando Botero, and Anish Kapoor, to name a few.

The museum is located in Hadeland, less than an hour’s (beautiful) drive from Oslo.

KODE, Bergen
Ride the scenic and iconic Bergen Railway line across the country to the cultural hub of Bergen, and explore the city's KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes, which hosts one of the biggest collections of art, arts and crafts, design, and music in the Nordic countries.

Almost 50,000 pieces are exhibited throughout the four museum buildings KODE 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the city center of Bergen, and in the homes of the famous musicians and composers Ole Bull, Harald Sæverud, and Edvard Grieg.

Head straight to KODE 3 if you want to see Jealousy and The Woman in Three Stages by Edvard Munch. In KODE 1 and KODE 2 you’ll find temporary exhibitions featuring artists ranging from Paul Cézanne, Nikolai Astrup, and Paul McCarthy, as well as contemporary Norwegian artists.

The Kaviar Factory, Henningsvær, Lofoten
In Norway, you can find world class art in the most surprising places.

After winding your way along one of the world’s most beautiful roads in Lofoten, you enter the tiny fishing village of Henningsvær, where you can visit a truly unique international venue for contemporary art - The KaviarFactory.

The venue exhibits works by artists including Olafur Eliasson, Marina Abramovic, and Bjarne Melgaard. Until October 2022, you can experience an Ai Weiwei solo exhibition – and maybe even some northern lights, if you are lucky! The building itself is a landmark on the approach to Henningsvær.

Artscape Nordland
In Northern Norway, the extensive project Artscape Nordland, or Skulpturlandskap Nordland in Norwegian, is worth tracing. In 33 municipalities in Nordland county (and one in Troms), sculptures and installations were put up between 1992 and 2015. Artists that have contributed to the project include Kjell Erik Killi Olsen, Anish Kapoor, Bård Breivik, and Sissel Tolaas.

The basis for Artscape Nordland is the idea that a work of art, with its presence, creates its own place. The sculpture also makes its surroundings visible, so that the place gets a new dimension. The dialogue that happens between the work and the viewer will show different ways to understand or interpret art.
The project (skulpturlandskap.no)

Northern Norway Art Museum, Tromsø
Through art, the museum gives a multitude of perspectives on the North, life and the people inhabiting this landscape. In the galleries you visitors experience art from the Norwegian masters like Munch and Tidemand, contemporary stars like David Hockney and OC Jenssen, and everything in between. The museum also focuses on contemporary Northern and Sámi art and craft. They regularly present new, contemporary exhibitions of both Norwegian and international art, in addition to works from their own collection.
Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum | (nnkm.no).They want visitors to be co-creators of the exhibitions. The museum does not want to present turnkey understandings but inspire to wonder, new interpretations and participation. 

NuArt, Stavanger
Norway is more colourful than ever! All over the country, from remote spots above the Arctic Circle to bustling neighbourhoods in the largest cities, you can witness a vast variety of walls and corners adorned with stunning street art.

One of the first places where street art became a part of the cultural scene is Stavanger. This is where Pøbel, one of the most internationally recognized Norwegian street artists, comes from. A good thing about the street art in Stavanger is that everything is situated within a 10-minute walk, making it easy to explore. Stavanger is also the host of the annual Nuart street art festival, which attracts the best public art practitioners in the world. 

Ever since it was arranged for the first time in 2001, the Nuart street art festival has held its position as the world’s leading street art festival. During the whole month of September, street art buffs from all over the world can enjoy a series of citywide exhibitions, events, performances, and workshops. NuArt (nuartfestival.no)