Sverre Bjertnæs

Sverre Bjertnæs (1976) studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo, and then continued his education at the AKI Academy of Fine Art in Enschede, Holland. He is celebrated as a prominent figure in Norway's contemporary art scene with a strong artistic identity.

As a young figurative painter and draftsman, Bjertnæs made his mark after attending the Norwegian "Nerdrum School" as a teenager. His paintings often feature portraits that combine a playful tone with images of complex relationships. In recent years, these perspectives have formed a unique language that balances classical figuration with conceptual experimentation, which focus on the communication between the artwork and the viewer as an aesthetic experience. This transition between styles has had a groundbreaking effect on Bjertnæs’ body of work, where the focus is on the exploration of both art's own possibilities and himself.

Bjertnæs' first solo exhibition was held at the Norwegian gallery Anarchist Fraction, run by Bjarne Melgaard in 2000. In 2011, he was part of the exhibition "After Shelley Duvall '72 (Frogs on the High Line)," curated by Melgaard at Gallery Maccarone in New York. The exhibition received great reviews from the media, including Roberta Smith who ranked it among the 10 best that year. Bjertnæs and Melgaard first worked together artistically at The Armory Show in New York that same year, which was also featured in the same newspaper. In 2013, Bjertnæs opened the exhibition "If you really loved me, you would be able to admit that you're ashamed of me," arranged and curated by Melgaard at White Columns in New York. In 2017, Bjertnæs was featured in the New York Times article "What to See at New York's Art Fairs This Week."

Bjertnæs works with painting, drawing, film, and wooden and bronze sculptures. His varied use of media has resulted in a maximalist approach to presentation, where each exhibition creates a unique world that enhances the aesthetic experience. In January 2014, Bjertnæs held a much-celebrated solo exhibition at the Oslo-based Stenersen Museum, followed by his first solo exhibitions at Galleri Brandstrup "Nå. Ingenting. To" in 2015.

Bjertnæs has completed numerous public and private commissions, including Aller Media, NSB (Norwegian Railways), Cubera, Grieg International, Wahl Eiendom, Eføy Investering, and Redningsselskapet.