Back in 2005, Kari Anne Marstein was asked to display her work at a bakery called Godt Brød in Grünerløkka. This was a huge step: while sharing her work in galleries and exhibitions is an integral part of being an artist, Kari Anne naturally shies away from attention. Yet fast forward fifteen years and Kari Anne’s work can now be found in galleries all over Norway, including Tromsø, Raufoss, and Trysil. Her most recent exhibition in Stavern features a massive three-metre painting entitled “Victory”, a piece of which she is particularly proud.
Originally from Eidsvoll, Kari Anne now lives in Lillestrøm with her husband and their two children. She has been working full-time as an artist since 2011—and in 2015 she built a studio in her garden where she not only creates her own paintings, but also teaches various art courses to the public. Most of her work is displayed at Purenkel Galleri in Grünerløkka in Oslo.
Before becoming a painter, Kari Anne worked in the IT industry. The same day that she graduated from her studies, however, she also bought her first canvas, brushes, and paints. Given the logical world of computing, she found that art offered a much-needed sense of balance in her life.
“Each piece of art comes from my imagination and inspiration—and it usually develops without a sense of a final vision,” she tells Localfolk. “My artistic process is very intuitive—and that’s why I can’t accept commissions or special orders. Trying to create someone else’s vision feels limiting and I’m just not sure I could deliver what the customer had in mind!”
While most of her paintings depict human faces, Kari Anne never paints portraits. “I want viewers to recognise who they want in my work, and to craft their own stories and interpretations.”
When asked to share where she finds her inspiration, Kari Anne mentions other artists such as Kai Fjell, John Baker and Edvard Munch, as well as interior design and home decor magazines.
Kari Anne is always looking for ways to grow as an artist and develop her technique. Together with her mother, a retired schoolteacher, she travels across the world to participate in courses that will enhance her artistic abilities. On a recent trip to Spain, they attended a class in classical portraits which gave Kari Anne new ideas for her own style.
“I’m continually learning,” she says. “I want to learn new methods constantly to keep my paintings both surprising and thought-provoking.”
