#28 - Welcoming Kjetil Karlsen to Nordic Visions Art!

Ingjerd Iren Leiros
May 15
3 min read

We are proud and excited to welcome great photographer and artist Kjetil Karlsen to Nordic Visions Art.

Born and based in Beisfjord in Nordland, Northern Norway, Karlsen creates atmospheric photographic works that explore the connection between nature, emotion, vulnerability and the shared human experience. Through both analogue and digital photography, his work moves between the poetic and the raw, capturing fleeting emotional states and transforming them into timeless visual narratives.

A Visual Language

What immediately stands out in Karlsen’s work is his unmistakable visual language. Working with both 120-mm and 35-mm analogue film alongside digital photography, he uses dozens of cameras depending on what he wishes to convey emotionally and artistically. His process is intuitive yet intentional, always rooted in natural light and a strong commitment to authenticity.

Rather than relying on digital manipulation or artificial lighting, Karlsen works with what he calls “physical filters” — delicate layers placed directly in front of the lens to shape atmosphere and emotion organically. These filters can be fabrics, feathers, glass, transparent plastic, dry grass, plants, and other natural elements found in the environment surrounding him.

Combined with long exposure techniques, movement, and double or triple exposures, his images often feel dreamlike, intimate and hauntingly human. Every photograph carries a tactile quality, almost as if emotion itself has been woven into the image.

Inspired by the Rhythms of Nature

Karlsen’s artistic universe is deeply influenced by life in northern Norway — a landscape where nature itself feels alive with emotion. The changing seasons, the endless light of summer, the consuming darkness of winter and the constant rhythm between stillness and transformation all shape the emotional core of his work.

As Kjetil describes it:

“Spring awakens as if by an inner roar, transforming a cold and white world in a sensuous and quiet crescendo. Summer turns into autumn, quieting everything, as if going to sleep, and now and then covers the earth with a white blanket that sterilizes everything. Then darkness again reigns for 24 hours every day. These environmental contrasts become metaphors for human emotions — love, grief, longing, vulnerability, silence, intimacy and healing” (The Pasticheur: Literature, Art, & Ideas).

His photographs speak to something universal, transcending language and geography, inviting viewers into deeply personal yet collective experiences.

Human Emotion at the Center

At the heart of Karlsen’s work lies an exploration of humanity itself. He draws inspiration from emotions, vulnerability, the people he encounters and the relationship between individuals and their surroundings. Literature, music, sensuality and art all influence his creative process and visual storytelling.

Though much of his work has been created primarily for himself and his own eyes, the emotional honesty within his images resonates deeply with audiences and collectors. His work does not attempt to simply document reality — it seeks to capture what it feels like to exist within it.

Exhibitions Across Norway and Europe

Over the years, Karlsen has received numerous invitations to exhibit his work both nationally and internationally. His exhibitions include:

Mystikk — Galleri Nord, Norway
Vandring — Museum Nord, Norway
I mellom.. — GalleriMy, Norway
Tire la chevillette, la bobinette cherra — Galerie Hors-Champ, Paris, France
Un Secret — Galerie Horst-Champs, Paris, France
Tiden det tar — Gallery TIME, Norway
Tiden det tar — GalleryMy, Norway

In addition to gallery exhibitions, Karlsen has also created cover art and music videos for artists internationally, expanding his visual storytelling into new artistic dimensions.

A Shared Vision

At Nordic Visions Art, we are honored to represent an artist whose work reflects the emotional depth, sensitivity, and authenticity that we deeply value.

We believe Kjetil Karlsen’s artistic voice will continue to resonate with collectors, galleries, and audiences internationally and we look forward to supporting his continued artistic journey.

His work reminds us that art can still make us feel deeply — and that within silence, vulnerability and nature, there is profound beauty waiting to be seen.