BIO
Elisabeth Handelsby (b.1982) grew up on an island outside of Kragerø, in the south of Norway. The closeness to nature and the ocean which she grew up with is something that is still reflected in her work.
She has a bachelor's degree in teaching of art and design, with the main focus on painting, and is currently studying a masters degree in fine art at Falmouth School of Art.
Though painting continues to be a foundation of her practice, she has in recent works started exploring moving images and audio.
Handelsby has, since 2004, participated in several group exhibitions, and had her first solo exhibition at Gallery 69 in 2014, as a part of the Femme Brutal festival.
She currently lives and works in Oslo.
Statement
I work in painting, drawing and moving images, exploring the human relationship with nature.
The starting point of the work is generally walks in nature where I explore, sketch, take reference photos or film. What triggers my fascination is often the contrasts, between something organic and something human made, the hint of a human presence, either in the way natural elements are organized, revealing a human hand, or remains telling a story of someone spending time there.
I am interested in the relationship between nature and culture. How we relate to landscapes and the more than human world. The duality and contradictions of this relationship, where we use nature both as a sanctuary and at the same time exploit it. And how this relationship relates to social and political issues.
I find myself increasingly inspired by thinking and writing around the anthropocene, ecology and ecofeminism, and find that this evolution is rooted in a belief that what we call nature has a value on its own, that goes beyond what we can gain from it. That we are a part of nature, even if we like to see ourselves as outside of it.
Education
2024-currently
Master’s degree- MA Fine Art (online) -Falmouth University
2009-2012
Bachelor program - Teacher training in Art and Design -Oslo University College
2004-2006
Illustration - The Norwegian School of Creative Studies
Exhibitions
2025
“Ghosts becoming monsters becoming everyone I know”, Solo Exhibition, Galleri Minneparken, Oslo
Solo exhibition, Hamnaholmen, Værlandet
2024
“Art Queens member exhibition” , Paradigm Gallery, Philadephia, USA
2023
Solo exhibition, Skåtøy Kafe, Kragerø, Norway
“Seen”, group exhibition, Oslo, Norway
“"20x20 Vision”, group exhibition, Citizen Art London, London, UK
2022
Online show, “Biosphere” Arts to Hearts Project
Solo show, Galleriverkstedet H12, Oslo, Norway
Online show, “All about women”, Marin Society of Artists
“Be free”, group exhibition, Oslo, Norway
2021
Group show, Kragerø kunstforening, Kragerø, Norway
2019
Solo show, Galleri S9, Oslo, Norway
Summer exhibition, Skåtøy Kirke, Skåtøy, Norway
Jomfrulandsutstillingen, Kragerø, Norway
Deichman Library Bjerke, Oslo, Norway
Gråbein bar, Oslo Norway
2018.
Summer show, Galleri Tittut, Skarnes, Norway
2017
Galleria art festival, Mosjøen, Norway
2016
Galleria art festival, Mosjøen,Norway
Jomfrulandsutstillingen, Kragerø, Norway
2014
Solo show, Gallery 69, Oslo, Norway
2013
The summer exhibition, Galleri Ramfjord, Oslo, Norway
“Portrait”- Juried show at Kirkegata 12, Kragerø, Norway
2008
Summer show, MF Kragerø, Kragerø, Norway
2006
Group exhibition ,Café Oliven, Son, Norway
2004
Group exhibition, Galleri Drift, Oslo, Norway