Kunstsilo Nordic art museum in Kristiansand

Kunstsilo Nordic art museum opens in Kristiansand, Southern Norway in 2023.

On the quay of Kristiansand harbor, our new museum arises. From historic downtown digs, to an expansive building, lovingly exposed to the Nordic elements. Kunstsilo shall become a national landmark, representing the uniqueness of Sørlandet (Southern Norway) both nationally and beyond.

The museum will act as a catalyst for Nordic Modernist art, through a carefully curated mix of authoritative programming, statement exhibitions, deep educational involvement and constant social interaction. A free space that embraces differences and is inclusive of opinions regardless of nationalities, gender or social standing.

Our modernist approach founded on the rich collection(s) infused with Nordic design thinking, allows for a novel perspective on artistic expression. Topical (inter)national exhibitions shall be welcoming, constantly in movement and effortlessly inviting. The museum shall be a place of encounters, art and curiosity. Yet, it remains deeply rooted in the proud local heritage that can be found, only here, in humble Kristiansand, Norway.

A selection of past, present and coming international showings:
Pipilotti Rist, Ugo Rondinone, Alfredo Jaar, Tomas Saraceno, Jeppe Hein, Yayoi Kusama, William Kentridge, Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Mark Boulos, Brian Eno, David Sylvian/Atsushi Fukui, Rineke Dijkstra, Fiona Tan, Sharon Lockhart, Pilvi Takala, Isaac Julien, Mariele Neudecker, Cornelia Parker, Iiu Susiraja, Joao Penalva, Antti Laitinen and others

The museum has a most diverse collection, that can roughly be divided into two sections, both complimenting and challenging one another.

THE TANGEN COLLECTION
Nicolai Tangen’s collection of 20th century art is the largest and most comprehensive private collection of Nordic Modern art. It comprises over 3,000 works that have been carefully collected over the years. Today, it includes ceramics, photography, paintings, installations and conceptual works by the likes of:

Gunnar S. Gundersen, Marianne Heske, Reidar Aulie, Johs Rian, Åse Texmon Rygh, Rolf Nesch, Jakob Weidemann, Anna-Eva Bergman, Elina Brotherus, Ludvig Eikaas, Ryszard Warsinski, Arne Haukeland and Per Kleiva.

SØRLANDETS KUNSTMUSEUM
Sørlandets Kunstmuseum is a foundation, created in 1995 by Kristiansand municipality, Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder counties and Christianssands Billedgalleri. The museum’s collection carries over 1600 works of arts and craft, collected and preserved with care over the years.

Its main focus initially has been local artists that have (re)presented the Nordic art narrative in their own singular manner. Acquired works by:

Kjell Nupen, Amaldus Nielsen, Grete Nash, Edvard Munch, Johan Martin Nielsen, Leonard Rickhard, May Bente Aronsen, Lise Schønberg, John Skognes and others.