The four nominated artists are selected by a regional professional committee and are given the opportunity to present their work in an exhibition at Kunstsilo. A national jury of art professionals then selects the recipient of the NOK 150,000 Art Award based on the works shown in the exhibition.
The exhibition highlights the diversity of contemporary artistic practices, showcasing a broad range of themes, media and working methods.
The Sparebanken Norge Art Award is fully funded by Sparebanken Norge and presented in collaboration with Kunstsilo. The award was established to promote and increase the visibility of contemporary art in Agder, while recognising and supporting emerging artists from the region.
Nominees for the Sparebanken Norge Artis Award 2026
The four nominees for this year’s Sparebanken Norge Art Award have now been announced.
“The nominated artists represent a broad range of themes, artistic approaches and working methods. Some have been active in the art field for many years, while others are relatively recent graduates. The nomination committee has been impressed by the artists’ previous work and looks forward to seeing the new works that will be presented at Kunstsilo later this year,” says Cecilie Nissen, member of the nomination committee.
Adin Mušić is an interdisciplinary artist working across a range of media, including video, installation and sculpture. Through his work, he explores how new technologies shape everyday life in relation to identity, belonging and the digitalisation of society.
Mušić (b. 1995, Kristiansand) lives and works in Oslo. He holds a degree from the Academy of Fine Art in Oslo.
Thyra Dragseth works across disciplines, using video, photography, text and installation. Her practice often draws on family history and archival material, exploring themes such as inheritance, addiction, care, power and emotional transmission. By positioning herself within the work as either participant or observer, she critically examines questions of truth, memory and perception, as well as the ethical implications of working with intimate material.
Dragseth (b. 1993, Copenhagen) lives and works between Oslo and Lisbon. She holds a degree from the Academy of Fine Art in Oslo.
Vilde Eskedal is a material-based artist whose practice incorporates waste materials, natural elements, construction materials and clay mixtures, transforming them into sculptures and installations. A recurring theme in her work is the ambivalence between attraction and repulsion found in both organic and human-made materials.
Eskedal (b. 1992, Tromsø) lives and works in Kristiansand. She holds degrees from the University of Agder and York St John University.
Eskedal is currently on a research leave from her position as Learning and Interpretation Developer at Kunstsilo, from autumn 2025 through 2028.
Hallvard Nuland primarily works with installations based on materials sourced from everyday surroundings. By assembling these elements into new constellations – whether as images, collages or sculptures – he explores the inherent complexity of materials and imbues them with new layers of meaning and context.
Nuland (b. 1995, Kristiansand) lives and works in Oslo and Zurich. He holds degrees from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Switzerland.
Nomination Committee for the Sparebanken Norge Art Prize 2026
- Cecilie Nissen (Director, Kristiansand Kunsthall) - Lasse Årikstad (Visual Artist) - Åse Kamilla Spjelkavik Aslaksen (Curator and Administrator, Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall) - Ask Salomon Silva Selnes (Curator, Kunstsilo)
Previous Recipients
2024: Olaf Tønnesland Hodne (b. 1990) 2022: Per Kristian Nygård (b. 1979) 2020: Johanne Hestvold (b. 1988) 2018: Sigve Knutson (b. 1991) 2016: Marte Gunnufsen (b. 1980) 2014: Lasse Årikstad (b. 1983) 2012: Marit Roland (b. 1981) 2011: Preben Holst (b. 1974) 2010: Tori Wrånes (b. 1978) 2009: Jo R. Abusland (b. 1976)
About the Sparebanken Norge Art Award
The Sparebanken Norge Art Award (formerly the Sparebanken Sør Art Award) was established in 2009 to promote and increase the visibility of contemporary art in Agder, while recognising emerging artists from the region. Every other year, four artists are nominated by a regional professional committee and invited to present their work in an exhibition. Since 2024, the exhibition has been hosted at Kunstsilo.
“Sparebanken Norge works every day to help make Agder an attractive region that fosters growth and diversity. A vibrant arts and cultural scene is one of the cornerstones of a thriving society, and it is therefore important for us to support young artists who are committed to pursuing their artistic practice. We are proud to continue the Sparebanken Norge Art Award and our strong partnership with Kunstsilo,” says Pål Ekberg, Regional Director for Southern Norway at Sparebanken Norge.
People’s Choice Award In addition to the jury’s selection, visitors are invited to vote for their favourite artist. We encourage everyone to take their time, explore the exhibition, form their own opinions, and cast their vote.
The artist receiving the highest number of votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award, which carries a prize of NOK 50,000.