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 with figurative paintings in acrylic and mixed media. My painting process starts with a photographic reference, but is very intuitive and brings the painting through several color phases. It is a constant back and forth of building up and breaking down, where all of the layers painted on top of each other are important to create life for the finished result.
Contrasts in both motif and color are important to me, and I often try to make the images balance between the beautiful and the unsettling, delicate and brutal at one time.The motifs circle around topics such as the human situation and our relationship with the world around us. Our relationship with nature has become a common thread in recent years. I look at my work as small glimpses of stories, where the viewer can form their own whole.
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