Gjertrud Hals is considered as one of the redefining figures of textile art, liberating fiber from the loom and displaying it in space as three-dimensional sculpture. Her works have been acquired by private and public collections, such as the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo; The Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York; The Museum of Decorative Arts, Lausanne, Mobilier National Les Gobelins and the Bellerive Museum in Zürich.

In 1987, Gjertrud Hals was granted First Prize in the Metro Arts International Art Competition in New York, followed by the Grand Prix in the Kyoto International Textile Competition in 1989.

Gjertrud Hals’ upbringing on the little island of Finnøya is profoundly anchored in her art, and her relationship to the region’s nature and culture is deep and complex. Hals focuses on natural fibers that she transforms through various techniques including weaving, knitting, casting, spraying and cutting. Trained in the art of tapestry-weaving in the 1970’s, Gjertrud Hals’ interest in feminism and women’s culture associates her with the new wave of women artists exploring the sculptural potential of textile.

Gjertrud Hals’ art, both literately and symbolically. Many of her works are formed of structures made of cotton and linen crochets covered with paper pulp or resin. Often strange little objects, objets trouvés, such as animal skeletons, plants and branches are combined with metal wires or bound with papier mâché. They look a bit like the kind of “treasures” children might find. Like a spider’s web, these weavings seem to capture the traces of life as time goes by, or as Gjertrud Hals puts it “With the number of things happening in the world today, it feels right to focus on a small segment by conserving a part of it.”

Like small micro-cosmoses, inspired by mythological story-telling and children’s worlds, Gjertrud Hals’ works seem to possess their own laws and logics, moving somewhere between delicate neatness and unrestrained inspiration. In the words of the artist, they propose a reflection “…on the relationship between nature and culture, in which the lives of modern humans are moving between chaos and order. Forces of nature and war create chaos, after which a new order is elaborated, always both the same and a little bit different than the previous.“

EDUCATION :

1971-72        SLFN, degree in Art Education

1975-77        SLFO, degree in Art Education

1986-87        Art Academy, Trondheim

SOLO EXHIBITIONS :

2020        « Sanctum », Galerie Maria Wettergren, Paris

2018        Gjennom Maskene. Krona, Romsdalsmuseet

2017        DET GULE HUSET,Asker

2015        Galerie Maria Wettergren, Paris / Bærum Art Hall, Bærum

2014        Himmerland Art Museum, Aars, Denmark / Kube Art Museum, Ålesund

2012        Gallery RAM, Oslo

2011        Rauland Art Association / Molde International Jazz Festival, Festival Artist

2010        Ode to the roots, KMR, Molde

2008        Kube Art Museum, Ålesund / Norwegian Forest Museum, Elverum

2007        Vadsø Art Association, Vadsø

2006        Gallery Heer, Oslo

2005        Gallery Svalbard, Longyearbyen / Gallery HAV, Hustad

2004        Gallery Heer, Oslo

2003        Gallery III, Oslo

2002        Trondheim Art Museum, Trondheim

2000        Gallery Elvetun, Sykkylven / Nils Aas Art Studio, Inderøy

1999        Gallery Barbara, Sunndalsøra / The Bjørnson Festival, Festival of International Literature, Molde

1998        Aukra Art Association, Aukra

1994        Gallery Åkern, Kongsberg

1991        Levanger Art Association, Levanger

1990        North Norwegian Art Center, Svolvær

1989        Gallery Wang, Oslo

1988        Molde International Jazz Festival, Festival Artist / Shæffergården, Copenhagen / Gallery F15, Moss

1985        Møre og Romsdal Art Center, Molde

GROUP EXHIBITION (SELECTED):

2022        Homo Faber, Next of Europe, Venice

2022        Résaux-Mondes. Mutations / Créations 5 au Centre Pompidou, Paris

2021        The National Annual Exhibition( Høstutstillingen)

2021        In search of Japandi-Exploring East/West Design. browngrotta arts, Wilon CT

2021        Årstider-der jeg er. Hovedøya Kunstsal, Oslo

2020        TEFAF Maastricht

2019/18/17/16/15        PAD Paris, Galerie Maria Wettergren

2019/18/17/16/15        PAD London Art+Design, Galerie Maria Wettergren

2019/18/17/16/15        Design Miami/Basel, Galerie Maria Wettergren

2018        70 – 100, Baerum Art Hall

2018/17/16/15        The Salon: Art+Design NY, Galerie Maria Wettergren

2018        Threads & Fibers, Contemporary Scandinavian Design, Galerie Maria Wettergren

2017        Fiberfeber, Museum of Decorative Art, Trondheim

2016        Apent Rom, Nils Aas Art Studio, Straumen

2016/15 Art Genéve, Galerie Maria Wettergren

2015        Pãivitetty pitsi(modern lace art).Hankasalmi, Finland/ Herfra. Kube Art Museum, Ålesund / Interwoven. Merzbau Gallery, Miami / Art in Nature. Landart in Vengedalen, Romsdal / Fattig kunst-rik arv. National Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo / Art Genéve, Galerie MW

2014        The Vevring Exhibition, Vevring / Design Miami/Basel Galerie Maria Wettergren / Stavanger Art Museum, Stavanger

2012        Lost Garden, Høvikodden / Moving, Ålesund

2011        Art in Nature, Landart in Vengedalen, Romsdal / Paper Art Exhibition, Seitenstetten, Austria

2010        Goddesses II, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo / Knitting and Stitching Shows, London / The Holland Paper Art Biennial 2010, Apeldoorn and Rijswijk

2009        Art in Nature, Landart in Vengedalen, Romsdal

2005        Identity, Kube Art Museum, Ålesund

2003        Modern Masters, Munich

2002        Masterpieces –Capolavori, Turin / Norwegian Textile Artists 25 years, Notodden

2001        S0FA-Sculpture Object and Functional Art, New York

2000        International Art Festival – Art 21, Palm Spring

1998        Cellulose, International Touring Exhibition in The Nordic Countries / 9th Triennial of Tapestry, Lódz / The Annual Exhibition for Trøndelag

1997        Shelter, International Art Exhibition, Trondheim / International Triennial of Tapestry and Textile Art, Tournai / Norwegian Textile Artists 20 years, Oslo / Blue, Haugar Art Museum, Tønsberg

1996        Flax and Linnen Biennial, Rouen and Paris / The Annual Exhibition for Northern Norway

1995        Art -Material, Brandts Klædefabrik, Odense / International Touring Exhibition in Scandinavia and Spain

1994        Paper Art, Gemeente Amstelveen Museum, Amsterdam / Norwegian Art, Gallery Brandstrup, Oslo / Heimdal Art Exhibition, Trondheim

1992        Gallery “Kunst und Handwerk”, Munich / Ode de la coupe, Museum of Decorative Art, Lausanne / 3. Basketry Invitational, Michigan / Kryss-Crossing Borders, Regional Art Center, Hordaland

1991        European Craft, Stuttgart / Crossing Borders, Gallery F15, Moss

1991        Configura, Art in Europe, Erfurt

1990        Nordform, art , craft, design and architecture, Malmö / Gallery Ram, Oslo / International Biennial of Paper Art, Düren

1989        Splendid Forms, Bellas Artes Gallery, Santa Fe and New York / Nordic Textile Triennial / New Norwegian Textile Art, Museum of Decorative Art, Trondheim / ITF International Textile Competition`89, Kyoto / Perspective on Paper, Maihaugen, Lillehammer

1988        Neo Tradition, Museum of Decorative Art, Trondheim / The Tactile Vessel, Touring Exhibition in USA / Textile Art 88, Maihaugen, Lillehammer / The National Annual Exhibition (Høstutstillingen) / Metro Art´s International Art Competition, New York

1987        The National Annual Exhibition

1986        The Annual Exhibition for Western Norway (Vestlandsutstillingen)

1984        The National Annual Exhibition / The Annual Exhibition for Western Norway / The 3.Michoacan Int. Exhibition of Miniature Textiles, Mexico / 5th Int. Biennial of Miniature Textiles, Ungarn / The Annual Exhibition for Trøndelag

1983        The National Annual Exhibition / The Annual Exhibition for Western Norway

1982        The National Annual Exhibition / Nordic Textile Triennia

1981        The Annual Exhibition for Western Norway

1980        The National Annual Exhibition / The Annual Exhibition for Western Norway / The UKS Spring Exhibition / Art and Church, Trondheim

1979        The Annual Exhibition for Western Norway / The UKS Spring Exhibition Oslo / The Annual Exhibition for Eastern Norway

1975        Norwegian Contemporary Textile, Oslo Art Association, Oslo

COMMISSIONS :

2014        Kristiansund College

2013        NGLMS, Otta

2012        Teatret Vårt, Møre og Romsdal

2009        Molde District Psychiatric Centre Knausen

2006        Shell Administration Building, Aukra

2004        Stabekk School, Bærum

2002        Bjørnson Consert House, Molde / Rica Seilet Hotel, Molde

1998        Aker Stadion, Molde / Julsundet School, Aukra

1997        Statoil Administration Building, Tjeldbergodden

1994        Molde University College, Molde / Frostating Court of Appeal, Molde

1993        Brage Oil Platform

1992        Draugen Oil Platform

1987        Molde Church, Molde / Nord-Heggdal Chapel, Misund

1986        Fræna School, Elnesvågen

1986        Kleive Nursing Home, Molde

1985        Kirkelandet Chapel, Kristiansund

1984        Sunndal Nursing Home, Sunndal

1983        Ulsteinvik Day Nursery Home, Ulsteinvik

1981        Ørsta Nursing Home, Ørsta

COLLECTIONS (SELECTED) :

Mobilier National, Les Gobelins, Paris / Kube Art Museum, Ålesund / Museum Bellerive, Zurich / Museum of Decorative Art, Lausanne / American Craft Museum, New York / Erie Art Museum, Pennsylvania / Leopold-Hoesch Museum, Düren / The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo / The National Museum of Decorative Arts, Trondheim / Arts Council Norway / Bob Kelly Gallery, Gothenborg / Sør-Trøndelag County Art Collection / Nord-Trøndelag County Art Collection / Møre og Romsdal County Art Collection

Finnmark County Art Collection / Bærum Municipal Art Collection / Oslo Municipal Art Collection / Aukra Municipal Art Collection / Daiichishiko Co. Ltd. Kyoto / Aker Stadion Art Collection, Molde / Fjord 1, MRF / KS, The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities / The County Hospital, Molde / Molde University College / Ergan Coastal Defences ( World War 2 Museum), Bud

GRANTS AND AWARDS :

2014        BKH Exhibition Grant

2011        BKH Exhibition Grant

2010        Arts Councils Exhibition Grant

2007        Arts Councils Exhibition Grant

2004        Arts Councils Exhibition Grant

2002        Bærum Municipal Art Prize

2000        Arts Councils Exhibition Grant

1989        Grand Prix, International Textile Competition`89, Kyoto

1987        1.Prize, Metro Arts Intern. Art Competition, New York

1998        Ingrid Linbäk Langaard Foundation / The Inadomi Foundation

1997        The National Guarantee Income for Artists

1992        The National Work Grant for Artists (3 years)

1991        Rune Brynestad Memorial Legacy

1990        Vederlagsfondet Grant

1989        Sasakawa Foundation / Vederlagsfondet Grant

1988        Ingrid Linbäk Langaard Foundation

1986        Norwegian Artists Legacy

1984        National Grant

1981        UKS( Young Artists Association) Grant

PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED) :

2015        contemporarybasketry.blogspot.com/ July 2015

2014        Textile around the World (book) / Textiel Plus, nr 228

2010        www.ofpaperandthings.com (6.11.2010) / www.paperphine.com(june 10, 2010)

2010        Biography in Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon/World Biographical Dictionary.

2007        Kunst for alle, nr 6( magazine).

1997        Black Sun, Mona Bentzen, Norwegian Film Institute. (A film about the artist Gjertrud Hals).

1997        Art textiles des pays nordiques, No tele( film/video)

1996        Linnaissable lin, Fiber Art Synergy( film/video)

1991        Europäisches Kunsthandwerk, LGA (book) / Configura 1, Art in Europe (book)

1989        The tactile vessel, Erie Art Museum (book) / Kunst + handwerk, nr 4 ( magazine)