Page 52 - DIVA_4_2007_No.31

Hàvard Homstvedt

the most promising Norwegian

contemporary artist

Remember that name! prestigious Basel Art Island School of Design There seems to be a bit of the
Hàvard Homstvedt! He Fair, and his work is (RISD) before I went to Yale mystique left in the public
is, according to some shown by one of the University, School of Art, conception of the artist figure
prestigious London art most prestigious art New Haven, CT. there. I like that. Certain
magazines, one of the galleries in Norway -- artists have become part of
most promising contem- Galleri Riis in Oslo. Q: Why did you start to the cast of characters that
Despite the success,
porary paint? appear regularly in the media
Norwegian
artists. We had the international fame and in Norway. They have an
Nobody in my family are
Hávard
opportunity of meeting recognition, almost storied air to them. In
him in his studio, hidden Homstvedt is a modest artists -- my father is an the US, the art world is much
away in the middle of young man who has engineer and my mother a bigger but tends to be rather
New Yorks China-town. kept both feet on the social worker -- so one can- insular, and there's really very
ground. not say that I come from a few artists that cross over to
Before coming to the typically artistic family. become household names. In
United States, he stud- Q: Who are you? Although, my siblings are the end, it's not just the media
ied art and design in both designers. I've always image, it still is about the
Norway. His work has I grew up in Trondheim, but liked manual work, and work, and it really is just a lot
been shown at the moved to Oslo when I was enjoyed arts and craft class- of work. Hopefully, good
Kantor/Feuer Gallery in 18. 1 finished my baccalau- es in school. I started to do work..
Los Angeles, at IBID reates there before starting at watercolors on my own
Projects in London, and Asker Kunst og Design quite young. My interest for Q: You say that this is
Southfirst in New York, College, Asker. In 1999 I this kept on growing, and like work? Do mean that
among others. This year, went to Rome (European then schooling came along. you can just turn off the
he was one of the very Honours Programme), and creative button? Or
few Norwegian artists to then in 2000 1 graduated Q: What is it like to be would you rather say
be presented at the with a BFA from Rhode an artist in Norway? that when you are in the

50 4 2007 Diva

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