From Lillehammer to New York
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 4
Sometimes things happen that feel a little unreal.
This is one of those things.
Yesterday, I received a message from Art Queens Gallery inviting me to participate in the international exhibition Women Beyond Borders in New York.
I don't think I've fully processed it yet, and I still find myself pinching my arm a little. But it means that one of my paintings will be displayed digitally in Times Square on August 15th.
I have to admit, it feels a little strange to write that.
Because it wasn't that many years ago that I was painting purely for myself, without showing my work to anyone. And even though I still feel like I'm only at the beginning of this journey, this is a milestone I want to stop and appreciate.
Celebrating female artists
Women Beyond Borders is an international exhibition bringing together women artists from around the world.
My artwork will be displayed both on the screens of Times Square and in Art Queens Gallery’s Metaverse (virtual) museum. In addition, I will be featured in the exhibition catalogue and receive a professional review of my work written by an art curator.
What made me want to say yes was not only the opportunity to present my work internationally.
It was also the theme.
Much of my art is about connection. Between people. Between memories and the present. Between nature and ourselves. And about the stories we carry with us throughout life.
I also think Art Queens is doing a wonderful job of highlighting women artists from around the world, and that is something I truly appreciate.
Even though we have come a long way in terms of equality, I still feel that there are areas where women have to work a little harder to be seen and taken seriously.
That is one of the reasons why the theme Women Beyond Borders resonated so strongly with me.
The next question therefore became: Which painting would represent me in Times Square?
The painting I chose for New York
It was actually much harder than I expected to choose which painting would travel to New York.
I considered several, read every comment you left, and listened to my intuition to see which one felt right.
In the end, I chose NÆRVÆR (presence).
It was simply the painting that felt right for this particular exhibition.
The painting is inspired by moonlight. It is about connection. About the feeling of being close to someone—not necessarily in a physical sense, but on a deeper level.
This painting also means a great deal to me personally. It was inspired by something my grandmother used to say: Take a walk together in the moonlight if you want to keep your love alive. ❤️🌙
And I have to admit, it feels rather special to think that a little part of her—someone who rarely travelled beyond Norway's borders—is now making the journey all the way to New York. 💙
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