Upcoming exhibition

Tony Cragg

29. April – 15. October 2023

Kistefos is delighted to present the first major survey exhibition in Norway of works by the pre-eminent British sculptor Sir Tony Cragg. The exhibition in the Twist will comprise over 25 sculptures including key works from the Christen Sveaas’ Art Foundation and Collection.

Cubic 11 102x105x120 bronze 2011 Michael Richter 1

Tony Cragg, Cubic, 2011. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Michael Richter.

Cragg’s sculptures explore the interplay between materials, forms, negative and positive spaces whilst pushing to find new relationships between humans and the material world. The presentation spans the artists prolific 5-decade career; from early found object ‘assemblage’ works inspired by the Arte Povera movement and ‘readymades’, to the technically sophisticated sculptures created in recent years. The artist works in bronze, steel, aluminium, wood, plastic, glass and wax – pushing and challenging the possibilities of these materials. Lauded as one of the world’s most accomplished sculptors, Cragg’s practice is fueled by a lifelong fascination of geology, landscape and relations to natural history.

From the small scale to the monumental, Cragg’s prolific practice is the outcome of a constantly questioning and experimental symbiotic process of thought and making, which always starts with drawing. With the support of his studio, Cragg makes his sculptures by hand, each evolution of thought taking form and inspiring the next.

Sir Tony Cragg represented Great Britian at the Venice Biennale in 1988, and won The Turner Prize the same year. His work is already well represented at Kistsfos with 4 permanent works in the sculpture park. With a aesthetic that appeal to a broad audience, Cragg’s monumental works are a favourite amongst visitors. In addition to the works at Kistefos, works from this internationally acclaimed artist can also be found at Henie Onstad Art Centre, Skulpturlandskap Nordland, Ekeberg Sculpture Park and Astrup Fearnley Museum.

The exhibition marks the first exhibition of sculptures in The Twist and will offer a striking juxtaposition to the buildings impressive architecture.

TONY CRAGG - MATERIAL IN MIND marks the opening of season 2023 at Kistefos and the exhibition runs from April 29th until October 15th.

Tommy a 150x120x95 wood 2013 Michael Richter

Tony Cragg, Tommy, 2013. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Michael Richter.

Hedge 12 127x120x100 Steel 2015 Michael Richter

Tony Cragg, Hedge, 2015. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Michael Richter.

Distant Cousin o 259x202 163 stainless steel 2008 Michael Richter

Tony Cragg, Distant Cousin, 2008. Courtesy of Christen Sveaas' Art Foundation and the artist. Photo: Michael Richter.

Tony Cragg - BIO

Tony Cragg was born in Liverpool, UK in 1949 and has lived and worked in Wuppertal, Germany since 1977. He has a BA from Wimbledon School of Art, London, UK (1973) and an MA from the Royal College of Art, London, UK (1977). Among many major solo shows he has exhibited at the Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria (2022); La Venaria Reale, Venaria, Italy (2022); HEART Museum, Herning, Denmark (2022); Museo del Vetro, Venice, Italy (2021); Houghton Hall, Norfolk, UK (2021); Museum Belvédere, Heerenveen, Netherlands (2021); Museu Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil (2020); Split Kula Cultural Institution, Croatia (2019); City of Arts and Sciences, Spain (2018); Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran (2018); Istanbul Modern, Turkey (2017); Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK (2017); the National Museum of Havana, Cuba (2017); MUDAM Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2017); Ludwig Museum, Koblenz, Germany (2017); Wroclaw Contemporary Art Museum, Wroclaw, Poland (2017); The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia (2016; Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal, Germany (2016); Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece (2015); Gothenburg International Sculpture Exhibition, Gothenburg, Sweden (2015); Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, Azerbaijan (2014); Musée d’art modern de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France (2014); National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan (2013); CAFA Museum in Beijing, China (2012); Musée du Louvre, Paris, France (2011); the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, UK (2011); Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, TX, USA (2011); Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, Wuppertal, Germany (2010); Tate Gallery, Liverpool, UK (2000); Museo Nacional Centro de Arte, Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (1995), Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (1991) and Tate Gallery, London, UK (1988). He represented Britain at the 43rd Venice Biennale in 1988 and in the same year was awarded the Turner Prize at the Tate Gallery, London, UK. He has been a Professor at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts, Paris, France (1999-2009) and Professor at Kunstakademie, Dusseldorf, Germany (2009–present). He was elected a Royal Academician in 1994; received the Praemium Imperiale for Sculpture, Tokyo, Japan (2007); was Awarded the 1st Class Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2012) and was made a Knight's Bachelor in 2016.

Mack a 117x130x75 bronze 2007 Charles Duprat

Tony Cragg, Mack, 2007. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Charles Duprat.

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