About my work

Curiosity is probably the main force for me to make my next painting. How will one experience the painting if it is the same size but a bluish black instead of red? What if the painted field is slightly larger or smaller or wider - or a different size canvas, but the same size of the painted field? What if I put two canvases together - or three?
The only way to experience the differences is to make a new painting with those changed qualities. So I do.

In these paintings I use a thin brush for the last four to eight layers of translucent paint. It results in an uneven layer of paint (strokes), reflecting the small difference of colour-shades and light, and hence, gives life to the matte painted parts. The traces of the brush strokes emphasize the identity of the paintings as painted paintings.

There is a meditative aspect when I paint them. It takes time, and I try to focus on every stroke - over and over again. Is there a rhythm I agree with? Is it interesting enough - if not - why not?

Finding the right colour can be a long process. The reasons for choosing a specific colour are, for me, more a subconscious matter. There is a certain quality in the colour-shade I look for, but I can't explain what that quality is or for what reason.
How to find that specific colour is another story. I must admit that over time I have amassed boxes filled with strange, "useless" colours in my studio, as a result of trying to find a colour I feel is interesting enough to work with.

I believe there are two ways (at least) of viewing my paintings. The first one is purely formal - stretcher, canvas and paint - how it is made. But I really like the possibilities in the atmospheric quality in the painted fields. As the Norwegian freelance curator Per Gunnar Tverbakk writes about my work: "It is possible to lose oneself in the spacious areas suggestive of water and air. The illusion is within reach for anyone willing to see it. As viewer, you can shift perspectives, recall and revoke the mirage. You can turn the "perception switch" back and forth, depending on what you wish to see. Neither perspective takes priority over the other. The two ways of viewing the paintings are equally weighted, producing an ambiguity the artist does not want to clear up. The artist paints his works with a "double brush", thereby declaring a pragmatism that releases him from the tenets of any manifesto. It is a language of having it both ways, which identifies him with current artistic realities."

I also know it takes time for a viewer to really see and take part in my paintings. Doug Ferarri, director of SICA, and curator for the exhibition "Paint it black", writes about my works: "I have found that the more I "live" with Lars work, the more their translucency and luminosity take hold of my interaction with these works and the less apparent their formal approach becomes".

These are paintings of experience. Reproduction, photography or slides can never capture or replicate them. It is only through presence, together with the paintings, that you can take part in them.

Lars Strandh, 2005

BIOGRAPHY

Born 1961 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Lives and works in Oslo, Norway since 1986.

Artists website

Education

1996-1997, Master-Student at The National Academy of Fine Arts, OsloThe National
1992-1996, Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo (Spring 1995 Ecole Superieur d´Art, Bourges, France)

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2018, ”Joe Barnes - Lars Strandh - Der präsenz der Monochromen”, Galerie Nanna Preussners, Hamburg, Germany
2017, ”Lars Strandh, Malerei - Sabine Straub, Stahlskulptur, Galerie Kautsch, Michelstadt, Germany
2017, ”Selcted Poems - works on paper”, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2016, ”Et le ciel etait bleu...”, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg, France
2016, ”Paintings”, Flaménska Galleriet, Borås, Sweden
2015, ”Im Kabinett”, Galerie Wenger, Zurich
2015, ”Listen to your eyes” (Nordland Music Festival Exhibitor), Bodø Kunstforening, Bodø, Norway
2015, ”Recollections from the north”, Factory 49, Sydney, Australia
2015, ”Recollections from south west”, Galleri Gann, Sandnes, Norway
2015, ”Lars Strandh à l´honneur chez Radial”, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg, France
2015, ”Behind the Horizon», Museum of Modern Fine Art, Minsk, Belarus
2014, ”Behind the Horizon», Vitebsk Art Museum, Vitebsk, Belarus
2014, ”Behind the Horizon”, Siauliai Art Gallery, Siauliai, Lithuania
2014, ”Behind the Horizon”, Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, Latvia
2014, ”Night Visions”, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg, France
2014, ”Trace Elements, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2014, ”Exsisto”, Akerus Kunstsenter, Lillestrøm, Norway
2012, ”Being there”, Galleri Dag Andersson, Norrköping, Sverige
2012, ”Kind of blue”, Galleri Åkern, Kongsberg, Norway
2012, ”Simpicité Complexe” Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg, France
2012, ”It’s all about the sea”, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2012, ”Side by side”, Galerie Renate Bender, Munich, Germany (with Manfred Jäger)
2011, Galerie Oijens, Gothenburg, Sweden
2010, ”Hidden Places”, Buderup Ødekirke, Denmark (with Elle-Mie Ejdrup Hansen)
2010, Åminne Bruks Museum. Värnamo, Sweden
2009, Galleri LNM, Oslo, Norway
2009, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2009, Galerie Schlegl, Zurich, Switzerland
2008, Galleri Semmingsen, Oslo, Norway
2008, Haugesund Billedgalleri, Haugesund, Norway,
2007, 2003, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden
2007, Galleri Åkern, Kongsberg, Norway
(With design from Ron Arad, Verner Panton, Alvar Aalto),
2006, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, Norway
2004, Studiogalerie Kaditzsch, Höfgen, Germany
2004, 2002, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, Norway
2004, 2001, Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen, Norway
2003, Gothenburg Art-association, Gothenburg, Sweden
2001, Tromsø Art-association, Tromsø, Norway

Selected Group Exhibitions

2018, “Hydrography V“, e9a, Projectspace for Minimal and Abstract Art, Freiburg, Germany
2018, “Summer in the city “, Galerie Kautsch, Michelstadt, Germany
2018, “Black Box(es)“, Saarländishes Kunslerhaus, Saarbrücken, Germany
2018, ”Feed Your Soul - Le Noir et Le Rouge”, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg. France
2018, -17, -16, “ART KARLSRUHE ”, Germany, (Galerie Renate Bender and Radial Art Contemporain)
2017, -16, -15, -14, -13, -12, -11, -10, -09, “ART MIAMI”, (Galerie Renate Bender)
2017, -16, -15, -14, -13, -12, “ST-art”, Strasbourg, France (Radial Art Contemporain)
2017 ”En konstruktiv Tendens”, Tomarps Kungsgård, Kvidinge, Sweden
2017, “Black Box(es)“, Faux Mouvement, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Metz, Fance
2017, “Roter Kunstsalon“, Museum Villa Rot, Burgreiden, Germany
2017, ”Her Majesty Queen Sonja’s Anniversary Collection”, The Queen Sonja Art Stable, Oslo, Norway
2017, ”Luminous Animals” Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2017, ”Art New York ”, NYC, NY (Galerie Renate Bender)
2017, “SNO 130: A Cross-section of Current Scandinavian Non Objective Art“, (Curator) Sydney Non Objective Contemporary Art Projects, Sydney, Australia
2016, ”Small is Beautiful”, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg. France
2016, “Fiction.(With Only Daylight Between Us.) v.2.“, Boecker Contemporary, Heidelberg,DE
2016, -15, ”ART.FAIR Cologne”, (Radial Art Contemporain)
2016, “Roter Kunstsalon“, Museum Villa Rot, Burgreiden, Germany
2016, “Fiction. (With Only Daylight Between Us.) v.2.“, Corridor, Dayton, Ohio, USA
2016, -14, -13 , “Summer Exhibition“, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg, France
2016 ”Zeitgeist Retrospective”, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2016, ”Kinder wie die Zeit Verghet”, Galerie Renate Bender, Munich
2016, ”Fifty Shades of Red», Galerie Renate Bender, Munich
2016 ”En konstruktiv Tendens”, NP 33, Norrköping, Sweden.
2016, “Nonobjective reality - Different strategies“, (Curator) Kunstbanken Hedmark, Hamar, Norway
2015, “ALLE”, Galerie Wenger, Zurich
2015, ”Presence - Stillness - Moment - Reflection”, (Curator) Trafo Kunsthall, Asker, Norway
2015, ”Therely Bare Redux”, Clara M. Eagle Gallery, Murray State University, Kentucky, USA
2015, ”En konstruktiv Tendens”, Åminne Bruks Museum. Värnamo, Sweden
2015, ”Therely Bare Redux”, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2015, ”Radical Abstraction”, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg. France
2015, ”Anual Group Show”, Factory 49, Sydney, Australia
2015, ”Capetillo/Tegtmeier/Strandh”, Kunstbygningen i Vrå, Vrå, Denmark
2015, ”Mostly Monochrome ”, Galerie Renate Bender, Munich, Germany
2015, -14, -13, -12, -11, -10, “ART KARLSRUHE ”, Germany, (Galerie Renate Bender)
2015, “4th Anniversary Show“, 2014, NOoSPHERE Arts, New York, USA
2014, “After St-Art“, Radial Art Contemporain, Strasbourg. France
2014, “Faszination FARBE “, KUNSTHAUS Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany
2014, “Blottr “, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2014, ”3 years + 3 days”, NOoSPHERE Arts, New York, USA
2013, “The assemblance of presence”, Galerie Wenger, Zurich
2013, “Art Copenhagen”, Denmark, (Radial Art Contemporain)
2013, “The Medium’s Session”, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TE, USA
2013, ”Gold – Exhibition of the Collection”, Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, Latvia
2013 “Art Paris“, France (Galerie Renate Bender)
2013, -12, “Lille Art Fair“, France (Radial Art Contemporain)
2013, ”A house full of friends”, NOoSPHERE Arts, New York, USA
2012, “Open studios”, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TE, USA
2012, ”After ST Art”, Radial Art Contemprain, Strasbourg, France
2012, “Zeitgeist Open Studio“, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2012, Galleri Gann, Sandnes, Norway
2012, “Mark Rothko Residency 2012”, Daugavpils Museum for Regional Studies and Art, Latvia
2012, “Non-Figurativ“, Edsvik Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
2012, ”To be looked at…,Close to…”, Larry Becker Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2012, ”L’été chez Radial” Radial Art Contemprain, Strasbourg, France
2011, Appartement d'un collectionneur II”, Galerie Gimpet et Müller, Paris, France
2011, “White – Hot”, Margaret Thatcher Projects, New York, USA
2011, -10, ”Art Santa Fe”, New Mexico, USA, (Galerie Renate Bender)
2011, “Cheekwood nights”, Cheekwood museum of art, Nashville, TE, USA
2011 “Northstars, White”, Gallery .NO, New York, USA
2011, “Punkt–Linie–Fläche", C.Wichtendahl Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2011, “An Exchange with Sol LeWitt", Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA), USA
2011, ”Therely Bare“, AVA Gallery, Chattanooga, TE, USA
2010, ”Winter”, Galerie Schlegl, Zürich, Schweiz
2010, “Monochromes II“, Galerie Renate Bender, Munich, Germany
2010, ”Summer Special”, Galerie Schlegl, Zürich, Schweiz
2010, “Viennafair ”, Vienna, Austria, (Galerie Renate Bender)
2010, 2009, 2008, Galerie Provence, Vadum, Denmark
2010, “2. Internationaler André-Evardpreis“, Kunsthalle Messmer, Riegel, Germany
2009, “Kunst 09 Zurich”, Switzerland, (Galerie Renate Bender)
2009, “What's out there? “, Galerie Renate Bender, Munich, Germany
2009, “Von der Poesie des Geometrischen“, Neue Sächsische Galerie, Chemnitz, Germany
2009, “Group show “, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm, Sweden
2008, -07 -06 -05 -04 –03 “Geometric Abstraction ”, Konstruktiv Tendens, Stockholm,
2008 ”Gallery Selections” Galleri Tapper-Popenmajer, Teckomatorp, Sweden
2008, “To Be Looked at… “, Larry Becker Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2008, “International Art Exhibition Nord Art 2008“, Büdelsdorf, Germany
2008, “Ausdruck, Position, Spuren“, Kunstverein Wiligrad, Lübstorf, Germany
2008, “Dialogues“, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2008, “Surfaces – an exhibition about monochromatic paintings”, (Curator) Galleri F15, Jeløy, Norway
2008, “Singular“, Luxe Gallery, New York, USA
2007, “Fourth Annual International Juried Exhibition“, The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, New Jersey, USA (Curator Ben Goldman)
2007, “Konstruktive Tendenzen“, Museum Forum Konkrete Kunst, Erfurt, Germany
2007, -06, -05, Galleri Semmingsen, Oslo, Norway
2006, Galerie von Waldenburg, Waldenburg, Germany
2005, "Paint it Black", The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA
2005, ARTEFACT Pardo Gallery, Zürich, Schweiz
2004, "Luminous Recurrence", The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA,
2004, -03, -02, -01, -00, 1999, "Norwegian Paintings", Oslo Townhall Gallery, Norway
2002, “Concrete, Non-figurative paintings in Norway 1920-2000”, Lillehammer Art Museum, Bergen Art Museum and Trondheim Art Museum, Norway
2001, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo, Norway
2000, "G. Keyt Int. Artist Camp 2000", The National Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Selected Collections and Public Commissions

2017, H.M. Queen Sonja’s Anniversary Collection, Norway
2016, The National Center for Contemporary Arts, Minsk, Belarus
2016, -15, -10, Värnamo Municipality Arts Committee, Sweden
2016, Järfälla Municipality Arts Committee, Sweden
2015, University of Oslo’s Art Collection, Norway
2015, TELENOR Art Collection, Norway
2012, Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils, Latvia
2012, Sammlung Maximilian und Agathe Weishaupt, Munich, Germany
2011, Gothenburg Municipality Arts Committee, Sweden
2009, Sammlung Hupertz, Hamburg, Germany
2008, Museum Haugesunds Billedgalleri, Haugesund, Norway
2007, Museum Forum Konkrete Kunst, Erfurt, Germany
2006, The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
2004, The National Road-department, Norway
2003, The Swedish Art-Council
2002, The Norwegian Culture-Council
2000, STATOIL, Norway
2000, The National Foundation for Public Commissioned Arts, Norway
1996, County Council of Östergötland, Sweden

Scholarship and Grants

2016, -12, -10, -06, 1999, The Foundation of Ingrid Lindbäck Langaard
2014, The Artists Association’s Blom Grant
2012, -11, 07, -05 OCA International Support
Norwegian Government guaranteed income for artists since 2007
2007, -02, 1997, The Department of Cultural Affairs Exhibition-grant
2006, -01, -00, 1999, -97, Artists’ Consideration Foundation
2002-05, The Norwegian working-grant for 3 years
1996, The Foundation of Thv. Eriksen
1995, Erasmus Scholarship for Studies at Ecole Superieur D´Art, Bourges, France

Trusts and Boards

Member of the jury for the exhibition ”100 in Latvian Art” at Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center, Latvia, 2018
Member of the Board, Circolo Scandinavo, Rome, Italy, 2017-
Jury Member for ”Rothko Residencies” at Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center, Latvia, 2014-
Member of the Board, “The Artists Own Store” (KEM), 2003-09
Deputy of the Board, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, 2008-09
Deputy of the Board, The Association of Norwegian Visual Artists, 2003-05
Chairman of the Board, The Association of Norwegian Painters, 2000-2004
Member of the International jury of “Echo”,
(Experimental Cultural Concept for Heterogeneous Organizers), Höfgen, Germany, 2003
Member of the Board, The Association of Norwegian Painters, 1998-2000
Member of the Supervising Committee, Artists House, Oslo, 1999-2001
Member of the Painting Departments Committee for Professor appointment at The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo, 1996
Student Deputy of the Board, The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo, 1994

Selected Bibliography

“Fifty shades of red“, catalogue published by Galerie Renate Bender, Germany, 2016
“Faszination Farbe, monochrom minimal konkret internationale Positionen“, catalogue published
by Galerie Renate Bender, Germany, 2014
“Behind the Horizon”, catalogue, edited by Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, Latvia, 2014
“International Plein Air Mark Rothko”, catalogue Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, Latvia, 2013
“Zwischen Konstruktion und Reduktion 2”, catalogue from Sammlung Hupertz, 2012
“Lars Strandh” catalogue edited by Galerie Renatae Bender, 2012
”It’s all about the sea”, catalogue edited by Galerie Provence, 2012
“Lars Strandh: New Works on Linen”, Nashville Scene, 10.12.2009
“Lars Strandh, New works on linen”, catalogue 2009
”Galeri Provence”, catalogue 2009
”Galleri Semmingsen 10-år”, catalogue 2009
“Lars Strandh”, catalogue 2008
“Nord Art 2008“, catalogue, 2008
“Ausdruck, Position, Spuren“, catalogue ISBN 978-91-633-2766-7
”Open Studios”, Artefact Pardo Gallery, (book) ISBN 0615130216, 2007
”Konstruktiv Tendens, 25 år“, catalogue, 2006 ISBN 978-91-631-9867-0
“Farger og speilinger”, Dagbladet, 30.04.2006
“Paint it black now on exhibit”, Asbury Park press, 12.05.2005
“A show where light is very heavy”, New York Times 19.12.2004
“Lars Strandh“, catalogue 2003
”Konkret. Nonfigurativ kunst i Norge 1920-2000”, catalogue

Other Art Related Activities

Co-curator for the exhibition ”SNO 131 - A Cross-section of Current Scandinavian Non Objective Art”,
Sydney Non Objective Art Projects, Sydney, Australia, 2017
Curator for the exhibition ” Non-objective Reality - Different Strategies”, Kunstbanken Hedmark, Hamar, Norway, 2016
Curator for the exhibition ”Precens - Silence - Time - Reflection”, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker, Norway, 2015
”Rothko Residencies 2012”, Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center, Latvia, 2012
Curator for the exhibition ”Konstruktive Tendenser”, Galleri LNM, Oslo, Norway, 2010
Curator for the exhibition ”Flater - en utstilling om monokromt maleri”, Galleri F15, Jeløya, Norway, 2008
Nominated for the Carnegie Art Award, 2008 and 2006
Lectures at Oslo Fotokunstskole, Telemark Kunstsenter, Høgskolen i Oslo,
Harare Polytechnic Scool of Art, Zimbabwe among others 1996 - 2006
Exhibition Manager at Riksutstillinger (The National Touring Exhibitions), 1999-2000
Art Tour Guide at The Annual Autumn Exhibition 1994-99
Assisten for Joseph Kosuth for the exhibition ”Joseph Kosuth and American Conceptualism”, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway, 1995