Sebastian Rusten
(He/him)
Address: Økern Torgvei 1, 0580 Oslo
Floor: 4.
The studio is open Saturday 27 April from 12-17
Working with traditional techniques alongside intuitive experimentation I try to discover the inherently sensuous nature of materials I gather. I forage for berries, roots, sap, and all kinds of plant matter, both in the forest and in the city, including Christmas trees which are left on the streets of Oslo for recycling after christmas each year. The materials I collect are processed in different ways, for example drying, pulverizing and traditional craft like basketmaking with roots; and are assembled into temporary installations.
Installation, foraging, natural materials, basketmaking
Heaps 3, Sebastian Rusten, installation (Needles from spruce, wood from christmas trees(Norwegian spruce), juniper, bryoria lichen, spruce roots from Alaska, cedar bark (gift from Dyann), sap from spruce, spores from tinder fungus, blueberries, red elder berries, raspberries, currants, chokeberry, juniperberries, reindeer lichen, moose antlers, and birch roots (gift from Signe Irene Berg)), 300 x 220 cm, 2023, Kunstnernes Hus (Høstutstillingen), detail, photo by: Sebastian Rusten
Heaps 2, Sebastian Rusten, temporary installation (Needles from spruce, bryoria lichen, spruce roots from Alaska, cedar bark (gift from Dyann), birch roots, blueberry bush, powder from: spruce sap, spores from tinder fungus, blueberries, moose droppings, sphagnum moss, moose antlers, black liquid is a byproduct from spruce needles), 190x270, 2023, Galleri Seilduken KHiO. Photo by: Sebastian Rusten
Heaps 3, Sebastian Rusten, installation (Needles from spruce, wood from christmas trees(Norwegian spruce), juniper, bryoria lichen, spruce roots from Alaska, cedar bark (gift from Dyann), sap from spruce, spores from tinder fungus, blueberries, red elder berries, raspberries, currants, chokeberry, juniperberries, reindeer lichen, moose antlers, and birch roots (gift from Signe Irene Berg)), 300 x 220 cm, 2023, Kunstnernes Hus (Høstutstillingen) photo by: Sebastian Rusten
Heaps, Sebastian Rusten, installation (Needles from spruce, bryoria lichen, spruce roots, sap from spruce, spores from tinder fungus, 300 x 250 cm, 2023, Resepsjonsgalleriet KHiO, installation photo, photo by: Sebastian Rusten
In my studio
I will be processing christmas trees for an exhibition. I’ll be widdling, sorting spruce needles, or doing basketry. I have shelves full of foraged materials that visitors can look at, touch, and smell.
Planned projects and exhibitions
Solo exhibition at Oplandia Senter for Samtidskunst, Lillehammer, Norway, June 2024
Solo exhibition at Galleri Format, Oslo, Norway, 2025
Solo exhibition at Sandefjord Kunstforening, Sandefjord, Norway, 2025
CV
EDUCATION
2021-2023 MFA in Medium- and Material based Art, textile, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2012-2015 BFA in Medium- and Material based Art, printmaking and drawing, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2010-2012 Einar Granum School of Fine Art
GRANTS
2023 Project funding from the Art Centers in Norway(KiN) for exhibition in Lillehammer in 2024
2023 Project funding from Arts Council Norway for the 136th National Art Exhibition/ The Autumn Exhibition
2023 Project funding from Arts Council Norway for group exhibition «Sender Våre Hylstre Tilbake til Elementene»
2023 Grant from Fund for Art and Design students
2023 Art Student grant from Relief Fund for Visual Artists
2022 Art Student grant from Relief Fund for Visual Artists
2021 Project funding from Arts Council Norway to travel to Alaska to learn traditional spruce root weaving through Sealaska Heritage Institute
2020 One year working grant from the Relief Fund for Visual Artists
2018-2019 Arts Council of Norway Artists Assistant Scheme – One year as assistant to Are Mokkelbost
2017 One year working grant from the Relief Fund for Visual Artists
2016 Grant for Newly Established artist from Lillehammer County Municipality
2016 Variety Grant for newly educated artists from Arts Council Norway
2015 Grant from Fund for Art and Design students
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
2025 Solo exhibition at Galleri Format, Oslo, Norway
2025 Solo exhibition at Sandefjord Kunstforening, Sandefjord, Norway
2024 Solo exhibition at Oplandia Center for Contemporary Art, Lillehammer, Norway
PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS
2023 136th National Art Exhibition/ The Autumn Exhibition, Oslo, Norway
2023 Group exhibition «Sender Våre Hylstre Tilbake til Elementene» at Hovedøya Kunstsal with Anne Karin Jortveit, Anne Stabell, Ingrid Berge, Brit Fuglevaag and Liillian Saksi, Oslo, Norway
2023 Graduation Exhibition, Oslo National Art Academy, Oslo, Norge
2020 Summer Exhibition at Leveld Kunstnartun, Leveld, Norway
2017 Showing of video “1:1” at launch party for zine “Becoming the Forest II,” Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norge
2016 Group Exhibition, Oppland Kunstsenter, Lillehammer, Norway
2016 Performance/concert – “1:1”, Harpefoss Hotell, Sør-Fron, Norway
2016 Solo Exhibition – “1:1”, Harpefoss Hotell, Sør-Fron, Norway
2016 Anniversary Exhibition, Oppland Kunstsenter, Lillehammer, Norway
2015 Group Exhibition, Tegnerforbundetm Oslo, Norway
2015 ”1:1”, Graduation Exhibition, Oslo National Art Academy, Oslo, Norway
2014 Solo Exhibition ”Site:Site”, Galleri Seilduken at Oslo National Art Academy,Oslo, Norway
2013 Group Exhibition “++”, Black Box Theater, Oslo, Norway
Member of Artist Organizations
UKS (Young Artists Society)
NBK (Norwegian Visual Artists)
NK (The Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts)
RESIDENCIES
2024 Nordic Artists’ Center Dale
2020 Leveld Kunstnartun
ILLUSTRATION/ALBUM COVERS
2018 Dark Times – Tell Me What I Need LP (Sheep Chase Records 011)
2017 Contribution in zine “Becoming the Forest II” created by Una Hamilton Helle
2017 Occvlta – Night Without End (Electric Assault Records 32)
2015 Contribution in zine “Becoming the Forest” created by Una Hamilton Helle
2014 Dark Times – Demo Reissue (Sheep Chase Records 02)
2012 Okkultokrati T-shirt Telemarken
2011 Okkultokrati/Årabrot – Split LP (Fysisk Format 041)
2011 Dark Times – EP (Sheep Chase Records 01)
2010 Okkultokrati – No Light For Mass (Fysisk Format 020/Ormeyngel 05/Lilla Himmel 02/
Odio Sonoro 027)
2010 Okkultokrati – Ingen Veit Alt EP (Fysisk Format 034/Ormeyngel 10/Lilla Himmel 03/
Odio Sonoro 035)
2010 Haust/Next Life –Split EP (Fysisk Format 018)
2009 Okkultokrati T-shirt UFO/Pyramide
2009 Okkultokrati – Knarkskog EP (Ormeyngel 02/Lilla Himmel 01)
MUSIC (As baritone guitar player in Dark Times)
2022 No Hope – The Early EP’s (Sheep Chase Records 027)
2018 Tell Me What I Need LP (Sheep Chase Records 011)
2017 Dirt single 7” (Sheep Chase Records 008)
2014 Give LP (Sheep Chase Records 003) (Nominated for a Norwegian grammy)
2012 Girl Hate EP 7” (Fysisk Format 046)
2011 Dark Times 7” (Sheep Chase Records 001)
2011 Dark Times EP cassette (Ormeyngel 008)