Olav Christopher Jenssen

Celebrated Norwegian painter Olav Christopher Jenssen explores spatial depth without probing any further than the surface of the image to a deeper dimension. Although his interventions on the canvas lay simply on the surface, his distinctive abstract expressionist techniques allow for layered strokes to create a deceptively profound spaciality. While his work is reminiscent of Abstract Expressionism, he also explores geometric compositions which focus on formality, defined edges, and bold patterns. Jenssen has chronicled his own work as “interior landscapes,” which employ intrepid color fields in order to illustrate the natural landscape of his mind. Jenssen’s oeuvre consists of large scale paintings, small watercolors, drawings, and room-consuming installations comprised of aluminum, clay, and plaster. These works champion tactful linework, vigourous shapes, and confident color pairings.


Jenssen has displayed work internationally at solo exhibitions such as the MARTA Herford in Germany, KIASMA in Finland, Haus Am Waldsee in Berlin, Kunstmuseum Bonn in Berlin, Malmo Konsthall in Sweden, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo, and Galleri Riis in Stockholm. He is featured in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Malmö Museum, and the Kunstmuseum Bonn.

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