UTOPIA IN THE ANTHROPOCENE ################## ARTWORKS BY
MARGRETHE KOLSTAD BREKKE
MARGRETHE KOLSTAD BREKKE
CURRICULUM VITAE
Margrethe Kolstad Brekke
Birkelandsgate 16c, 3660 Rjukan
+47 46637502, margrethe.brekke@gmail.com
10.11.1979 //org nr 986927123
MAIN PROJECTS
Main Project 2019–2025: Rjukan Solarpunk Academy (RSA)
Rjukan Solarpunk Academy (RSA) is an artist collective founded in 2019 in collaboration with “Solspeil” artist Martin Andersen and various cross-disciplinary partners. The focus is on activating the sci-fi term “Solarpunk” through a local community perspective rooted in Rjukan town and Tinn Municipality.
2025: Solarpunk Nexus, Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum and partners – Tinn Municipality;
Kunstnerleden, Full Moon Gathering, Losæter, Oslo
2024: pARTy, JAM PUBLIC, Kristiansand; Solarpunk Campus: Liv og Røre, Tinn Museum
2023: Solarpunk Campus Festival – Pilot, Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum and partners; Tilværelsens Farger, Tinn Museum
2022: Årets mørkeste natt, Rjukan Secondary School; Gi Meg Solen, Sølvåren/Skien library, Skien
2021: Solarpunk/Omnibus, Norwegian Petroleum Museum, Stavanger; Bærekraftsverksted, Storeteigen Bygdetun / Kabuso
2020: List i Ljosi, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2019–2025: Organisation of artist residencies, culture café, and various events at Rjukan Varelager
Main Project 2015–2018: LUFTBALETT
Cross-disciplinary collaboration with hang-glider pilot and high-altitude wind-power innovator Jon Gjerde and others.
2017–2018: Radio Luftballett, HVL, KORO Vågestykke, Bergen
2017: Opprop for Omstilling, Foundation 3,14, Bergen
2016: LUFTBALLETT, HVL KORO Vågestykke
2016: LUFTBALLETT, Ekstremsportveko, Voss
SOLO EXHIBITIONSLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 — THE NEXT GREAT ACCELERATION, Flag-No-Flag, Reggio Emilia, Italy
2021 — THE NEXT GREAT ACCELERATION – PATTERN BLOCK, Galleri Høg Standard, Oslo
2019 — HOW TO IMPLEMENT UTOPIA, Lottozero/Muzeion, Bolzano, Italy
2019 — POTENTIAL EXCEEDS THE DEMAND, Hordaland Art Centre, Bergen
2016 — BEAUTIFUL FARAWAY, Arkhangelsk Public Library, Russia
2015 — UTOPIA500, Barentsbird Festival, Arkhangelsk, Russia
2015 — POTENTIAL IS VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED, NOPLACE, Oslo
2013 — A General Introduction to Hopes and Dreams, Galleri Fisk, Bergen
2012 — Silent Spring 1962–2012, Galleri Bokboden, Bergen
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026: Arctic Arts Institute, Klimahuset/Tøyen Museum, Oslo
2024: DNB Grant Exhibition, Oslo Association of the Arts
2023: MYCELION 2, Harpefoss Hotell, Sør-Fron
2022: MOTSTAND/BEVEGELSE, Galleri HI10, Skien
2022: Living Arts Lab, Chiostro Di Voltorro, Varese, Italy
2019: Elementene, Oppland Art Centre, Lillehammer
2018: Hyperobject, Joy Forum, Bergen // Cold Current, Adiacenze, Bologna, Italy // NTK Anniversary Exhibition, Stavanger Art Museum
2017: NTK Anniversary Exhibition, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo // Elementene, Telemark Art Centre, Skien
2016: Arctic Arts Forum, Arkhangelsk, Russia
2015: Patchwork Polyphony, Vadsø Association of the Arts // The Cradle, Goethe on Main, Johannesburg // June Exhibition, Kunstnernes Hus & Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo // Vestlandsutstillingen,various locations, Norway // Open House, Arctic Art Institute, Murmansk
2014: Master’s Exhibition, Bergen Kunsthall, Norway
2013: Relate North, Nordic House, Reykjavik // Vociferous Void, British Ceramic Biennale, UK // Hardbakka Ruins Project, Bergen // KHIB MA1 Show, Bergen // Topographies of the Obsolete, Airspace Gallery, UK
2012: Til minne om Lofothesten, with Randi Brecke, Café Opera, Bergen // BA Show, Bergen Gamle Kretsfengsel // Soft Concrete, Salhus Trikotasjemuseum
2011: Hørteannualen, Bø i Telemark // Shared Sensibilities, Osterøy Museum // Soft Concrete, Salhus Knitting Museum, Bergen // Down at the Farm/Pure Art, Dluzew, Poland // Catwalk, Rom 8, Bergen
2010: Ab Ovo, Bergen // Eksperiment SUS, Oppland
2006: HH Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award Show, Dubai
2004: Isotop, Bergen
2002: Manizc, Galleri Zilla, Moss
2001: Strange Days Festival, Telemark // Rygge Art Association, Rygge
PUBLIC ARTS/COMMISIONS
2025 — Visual Framework, Wonderful World Festival, Stavanger
2023 — Visual Framework, Ibsen Award, Skien
2018 — Hangglider, Heimdal Upper Secondary School, KORO/Trondheim
2018–2019 — Levende Frøbank, Vadmyra/Storetveit Kindergarten, KORO/Bergen
2015–2018 — KORO Vågestykke
2017 — Ephemerality – Permanent Collection, Bergen
2013 — Economusée Project, Hillesvåg Ulvarefabrikk, Lindås
2009 — Economusée Project, Oselvermuseet, Os
I
R&D COLLABORATIONSERDISCIPLINARY R&D PROJECTS
2024–2026 — SSP1–5: Think Tank and Book Project with Kristin Guldbrandsen Frøysa, Director of Energy, University of Bergen
2022–2023 — Textile Cultural Exchange & Material Development with Telespinn (Norway) and Lottozero (Italy)
2014–2016 — UtopiaDiorama, VR film project with NorthSeaProductions, Bergen
2014–2016 — Pioneers at the Peterson Site, documentary film project within Topographies of the Obsolete, with TV photographer Ingvill Sunnby
OTHER COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
VARIOUS COLLABORATIONS
2018 — Omstillingslaboratorium, Climate Festival / Foundation 3,14, Bergen
2015 — THE SKY IS THE LIMIT kite workshop, Arctic Art Institute, Murmansk // Teriberka Festival, Russia // The Commons, Hardbakka Ruins Project, Bergen
2015 — Utopian Alphabet Workshop, Arctic Arts Institute, Lenina Icebreaker Museum, Murmansk
2014–2015 — RadioHopesandDreams (with Elin Øyen Vister), various contexts including Visionmachine, Meteorfestivalen
2013 — Kalfarlien 18, Bergen Assembly Fringe, Bergen
2013 — Hardbakka Ruins Project with Lars Tørresen & Hidemi Nishida
2012–2013 — Stitch Project, Rom 8, Bergen, plus workshops in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Riddu-Riddu Festival, Troms
2012 — Bergen Reactive Movement with Kiyoshi Yamamoto
2011 — Costume Design, Havfest, Oseana Cultural Centre
2011 — Textile book manuscript with Øyvind Ådland, Galleri Volt
2010 — Textile book manuscript with Veronika Erstad, Ordkalotten, Tromsø
2000 — Manizc Production: Horrorgallery, site-specific fringe for Momentum Biennale, Moss
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
2025 — Tankeplass, Hamar Theatre // UKS Climate Workshop (online) // Kulturdialogen, Telemark County // Wonderful World Festival, Stavanger // Bastard Art Book Fair, Lillehammer Literature Festival // DNB Savings Bank Foundation Grant Exhibition, Oslo Association of the Arts, Oslo // Open Forum, KHIO, Oslo
2024 — Ethereum Solarpunk Conference, Prague
2023 — Empowered Futures PhD School // Voices for Peace, Deichman Library, Oslo, Norway
2022 — Telemark County Council, on behalf of Visual Artists in Telemark, various presentations, Norway // Presentation of Rjukan Solarpunk Academy, VBK, Bølgen Cultural Centre, Larvik, Norway
2021 — Palazzo Magnani, Reggio Emilia, Italy // Art School “G. Chierici”, Reggio Emilia, Italy // Arctic Frontiers, Stavanger, Norway // Norwegian Petroleum Museum, Stavanger // University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Telemark & Vestfold
2020 — List-I-Ljosi, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2019 — Artist Talk, Museion, Bolzano, Italy // Artist Talk, Hordaland Art Centre, Bergen // Bergen Energy Lab
2018 — City Is Us, Monchegorsk, Russia
2017 — Agenda, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway // NTK Anniversary Exhibition, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, Norway // Klimafestival §112, Bergen, Norway
2016 — Arctic Arts Forum, Arkhangelsk, Russia // Beautiful Faraway, Arkhangelsk, Russia
2015 — Topographies of the Obsolete Think Tank, Stoke-on-Trent, UK // Theory Program at Galleri Kraft, Bergen, Norway // Open House, Arctic Art Institute, Murmansk, Russia // Utopian Alphabet Workshop, Arctic Arts Institute, Lenina Icebreaker Museum, Murmansk, Russia // Klimafestivalen §112, Bergen, Norway
GRANTS & AWARDS
POSITIONS & BOARD MEMBERSHIPSITIONS & BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
2020–2026 — Chair, Rjukan Solarpunk Academy
2022–2024 — Board Member, Empowered Futures PhD School
2022–2023 — Central Board Member, Norwegian Visual Artists Association (NBK)
2022–2024 — Chair, Visual Artists in Telemark (BIT)
2021–2023 — Board Member, Bussbrukernes Forening
2020–2022 — Chair, Tinn Art Association
2021–2022 — Deputy Representative, UKS (Young Artists’ Society)
2021–2022 — Deputy Representative, NBK Central Board
2016–2019 — Nomination Committee, Visual Artists Hordaland
2016–2019 — Board Member, Norwegian Climate Network (Klimafestivalen §112)
ARTS EDUCATION WORKS/TEACHING
2025 — Workshops: “Ungdommens Kulturmønstring”, Skien; DNB Grant Exhibition, Oslo
2023 — ``Ordførerne`` Workshop, Sølvåren, Skien
2022–2024 — Guest Lecturer, Kragerø School of Art
2021–2023 — “Making the Impossible Possible”, RSA Art School for Local Children, Tinn
2020–2021 — Guest Lecturer, Ålesund School of Art
2019 — RSA via Tinn School of Culture, Rjukan
EDUCATION
2012–2014 — MFA, Fine Art, Bergen Academy of Art and Design
2012–2016 — Topographies of the Obsolete, Artistic Research Project, UiB/KMD, supported by the Research Council of Norway
2009–2012 — BA, Textiles / Specialised Art, Bergen Academy of Art and Design
2011 — European Textile Trainee Programme, Tilburg (NL) & Como (IT)
2002–2003 — Idefagskolen, Tønsberg
1999–2000 — Mølla School of Art, Moss
1998–1999 — Einar Granum School of Art, Oslo
foto: Ingvill Sunnby
