Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum: The stories of the North

By Thea Johansen

Northern Norway has long captured the imagination through its extraordinary landscapes. Towering mountains, deep fjords, the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun have become symbols recognised around the world. Yet a place is shaped by more than its scenery – it is also shaped by the people who have lived there, the cultures that have evolved over generations and the stories that continue to define its identity.

At Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, those stories are told through art. Home to more than 2,200 works spanning four centuries, the museum offers a journey through Northern Norway’s cultural heritage, while also inviting visitors to see the region from new perspectives.

Outi Pieski.
Photo: Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum

Rather than presenting a single narrative, it embraces the many voices, histories and identities that make up the North. “For us, there isn’t just one identity, there are many identities. And art helps us explore them,” says museum director Stina Högkvist.

With locations in Tromsø and Bodø, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum is one of the region’s leading cultural institutions. But preserving an important collection is only part of its mission. Högkvist sees the museum as a place where history is continually revisited through contemporary eyes – where overlooked stories are brought forward, different perspectives meet, and visitors are encouraged to reflect on what shapes both individual and collective identity.

For many international visitors, that means discovering Northern Norway beyond the familiar images of dramatic nature. “Through art, you meet the people, the stories and the questions that shape the region today.” Högkvist explains.

Britta Marakatt Labba, Historjá. Photo: Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum

History through new perspectives

The museum’s collection offers a window into centuries of life in the North. It tells stories of landscapes and livelihoods, but also of migration, resilience, indigenous cultures and the people whose contributions have not always found their place in traditional historical narratives. For the museum, preserving cultural heritage is not simply about looking backwards. It is about continually finding new ways to understand the past. That philosophy is evident before visitors even step inside the museum.

Stretching across the façade is Anders Sunna’s monumental portrait of Margrethe Kitti, the Sámi craftswoman who sewed the winter clothing worn during Roald Amundsen’s Gjøa expedition. Positioned directly opposite Amundsen’s statue in Tromsø, the artwork creates a quiet dialogue between two figures whose roles in history have not always been remembered equally. “I like that connection,” says Högkvist. “It reminds us that great historical achievements are rarely created by one person alone.”

Inside, visitors encounter artists including Peder Balke, whose dramatic paintings capture the atmosphere of the Arctic landscape, alongside internationally recognised Sámi artists such as Britta Marakatt-Labba and Outi Pieski. Together with works by Anna-Eva Bergman and many others, the collection reveals both the diversity of artistic expression in Northern Norway and the enduring relationship between art, identity and place.

These perspectives are also attracting a vaster audience. “We’re seeing increasing international interest in Sámi art, indigenous perspectives and Arctic experiences,” Högkvist explains. “Northern Norway has always had remarkable artists. Perhaps the difference today is that the rest of the world is finally beginning to discover them.”

Making space for new voices

For Högkvist, making the museum accessible is about more than encouraging people to visit. It is about creating a place where everyone feels that the stories being told also belong to them.

In Tromsø, the museum’s ground floor has been developed together with Sámi artist and architect Joar Nango around the travelling library Girjegumpi, creating a flexible public space for concerts, discussions, festivals and community events. In Bodø, collaborations with local organisations have brought everything from Pride celebrations to creative workshops and late-night cultural gatherings into the museum.

For Högkvist, the museum should be a place where everyone feels welcome, regardless of their knowledge of art. Visitors do not need to arrive with all the answers. Sometimes the most meaningful encounters come from simply being curious. “Yes, we are a museum – but not a mausoleum.”

That philosophy is reflected throughout the museum, from its exhibitions to its public programme, encouraging people to experience art as something living and accessible. Ultimately, Högkvist hopes visitors leave with more than an appreciation of individual artworks. “If we can spark curiosity, create new perspectives and help more people feel ownership of the art and the stories it tells, then we’ve succeeded.”

In a region often celebrated for its extraordinary landscapes, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum reminds visitors that its greatest heritage is found just as much in its people, cultures and shared memories. Through art, the museum continues to preserve those stories while ensuring they remain part of an ongoing conversation for future generations. For Högkvist, that is ultimately what the museum is all about. “The museum is not just a place for art. It is a place for people.”