First published in march 2021
From 8th of march we have been celebrating International Women’s Week. Today marks the last day of the week, but it is important to recognize not only the talent but the representation women in the arts industry hold.
Here’s a list of the top up and coming Nordic artists we believe you should check out!
1. Laufey
Laufey is an Icelandic singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist known for blending classic jazz, classical influences, and modern pop. Raised between Reykjavík and Washington D.C., she draws inspiration from artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday while writing songs that speak to a younger generation. With her warm voice and nostalgic sound, Laufey has helped bring jazz-inspired music back into the spotlight, captivating audiences around the world.
2. Birgitte Vad
Originating from Denmark, Vad is known for her paintings of the female body. Her art reflects her many years of experience and educational background in the fashion industry. She has used her paintings to advocate for “something important” through the use of a strong palette of colours. In fact, the intricate use relationship of colours are what help define and express the people around her. This is because she draws directly on her past personal experiences and those people closest to her.
3. Damselfrau
Another interesting artist is Magnhild Kennedy who goes by the name Damselfrau. Her work is mostly in jewelry and wearable art such as masks. She was born in Norway and currently lives in London. Since she was little, Kennedy grew up surrounded by art, her mother working with textile art and her father a sculptor. Given this however, she admits she learned how to create the masterpieces she is known for worldwide by simply looking at clothes, watching YouTube tutorials, and just trial and error.
Kennedy received her stage name Damselfrau which translates in English to Damsel, that is an unmarried woman, and Frau, a German word for women. For her, this means “married to oneself” and is relevant to the work she performs, that is, creating masks to place on top of yourself.
What is truly fascinating about Kennedy’s work is how nothing is planned beforehand. She uses a variety of materials to sew together each unique mask by herself. The primary focus of all her art pieces is on the materials she uses and the history that each piece brings with it. Some examples of materials commonly used are pearls, old tea towels, gold confetti, and more.
4. Outi Pieski
A Sámi artist from Finland, Pieski’s art explores a variety of media forms including paintings, collages, and textiles. Some of her most known and acclaimed work are her tassel installations that showcase the traditional Sámi shawls. This is to help represent and shed light on the landscapes of the Sámi land. Even a majority of her paintings incorporate the traditional tassels.
Pieski has been able to showcase her work in a variety of different art exhibitions around Europe, some including Espoo Museum of Modern art, Art Collection of Norway, and Finnish National Gallery.
5. Nína Filipusdóttir
Nina is an Icelandic actress and producer that for the last 20 years has been active in the theater as well as in tv series and films.
She is one of the first members of a theater group Vesturport (2001). Created by newly graduated theatre students that were eager to experiment with theatre. The group included actors, set designers, musicians, a cameraman and a carpenter. Everyone in it for love of theatre or simply love of being in a collective.
Her career expanded gradually to the international stage and now she is well known for her roles in The Valhalla Murders, Trapped, and King’s Road.
6. Sophie Klerk
Sophie Klerk is a Danish collage artist that seeks to showcase her Nordic background. Her art is composed of photographs taken by herself and others, layered paper, varying materials, and paint. Klerk puts a focus on a mixture of colours and different textures that help to create and convey her stories.
Since 2007, Klerk has lived and sold a lot of her work in New Zealand. However, because her art represents the Nordics, much of her work is showcased in a variety of exhibitions around Europe.
7. Mie Olise
Mie Olise Kjærgaard is a Danish artist who currently lives and works in Copenhagen. Mie Olise’s work focuses on paintings of women seen through a woman’s eye. Her art represents a dystopian setting through the construction of a “man-made” society. She uses her art to change functions and appearance of the typical ideals woman and society hold.
Currently, her work is showcased in different museums and art shows. In 2014 she hosted a one woman exhibition at the Museo de Arte Acarigua-Araure in Venezuela. Her work has traveled with her all around the world from Denmark to New York.
8. Mammút
Mammút is an Icelandic rock band based in Reykjavík. Formed in 2003 as an all-female trio. The group expanded in early 2004 to a 5-piece band by recruiting a guitarist and drummer. That same year Mammút won Músiktilraunir, the Icelandic annual battle of the bands.
Mammút’s debut album was released in Iceland in 2006, the follow-up album, Karkari, was released in 2008 and included “Svefnsýkt” which became the band’s first major hit with immense radio play and charting in Iceland.
On its tenth anniversary, the band released its third album, Komdu til mín svarta systir. The album garnered critical acclaim and earned Mammút eight nominations at the 2013 Icelandic Music Awards, three of which they won.
Their 2017 studio album, Kinder Versions, was released following a successful fundraising campaign on Icelandic crowdfunding website Karolina Fund.
Their latest studio album, Ride the fire, was released late 2020. It’s full of nature-inspired lyrics and critics call the album impactful and deep.
You will find Mammút on Spotify, Instagram, and their Website
9. Elisabeth Thorsen
Elisabeth Thorsen is a Norwegian shoemaker and artist. She does not only make functional footwear but rather pieces of art. She finds inspiration in fairytales, nature, art and movies from the 70s.
Instead of using material commonly used for shoemaking, Thorsen crafts her shoes experimenting with recycled material such as furniture, pencils, carpets, drapes, ice, sugar and sports tape to name a few.
Thorsen also does live and video performances. You can find her on Instagram and her
10. Máret Ánne Sara
Growing up in Norway, the Sámi author and artist Máret uses her voice to advocate for the political and social issues that Sámi people are challenged with. Her art spans from a reindeer-social perspective, meaning many of her pieces are made from sustainable materials from reindeer bones, hides and intestines. In addition to her art, she has also published two novels, Ilmmid gaskkas and Doaresbealde doali. Her first novel was even nominated for the Nordic Council’s Children’s and Young Literature prize.
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Written by Benji Raskin