About the Artist
Marit Benthe Norheim (b. 1960 in Norway) currently lives and works in Denmark. She holds a postgraduate degree from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Sculpture School in London. She has also worked as a guest lecturer at Aalborg University in Denmark, at Cal Arts in Los Angeles (USA), and at several art academies in the UK, including Central Saint Martins and the Royal Academy in London.
Mobility, flexibility, social participation, direct engagement, and collaboration play a crucial role in her artistic concepts. Norheim has exhibited in many countries and completed numerous public commissions. Her works are included in the collections of the National Museum of Art in Norway and the New Carlsberg Foundation in Denmark.
As an artist, she has been invited to contribute to several European Capitals of Culture:
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Stavanger 2008 – created Campingwomen, five old caravans transformed into archetypal female portraits, which have since traveled across countries.
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Aarhus 2017 – realized her most renowned project, Life-boats, three monumental sculptural ships in the form of women, which are still afloat today.
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Kaunas 2022 – presented Rolling Angels, sixteen mobile angels; for Kaunas she also created a special site-specific angel that has remained there permanently.
Residency in Trenčín
During her more than one-month residency in Trenčín, Norheim will explore and absorb the environment, customs, traditions, and people of the region. Her aim is to interact with the local culture in order to prepare the concept for a new work – Floating vessel for Splanekor 2026 – an artwork connected to the river and water.
Marit Benthe Norheim’s residency will bring an international dimension to Trenčín and create a unique connection between Nordic and local contexts. The result will be a multi-layered artwork that can evolve from a temporary artistic object into a permanent community space.
