Global Art in Nordic Light – Discover Tjuvholmen
Apr 21, 2025On the tip of a peninsula stretching into the Oslofjord lies Tjuvholmen, one of the city’s most striking modern areas. Known for its clean-lined architecture, contemporary galleries, and the Astrup Fearnley Museum, this neighbourhood is also home to a public art experience unlike anything else in the city—the Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, which displays works from the Selvaag Art Collection.
Front entrance to the Astrup Fearnley Museum, Tjuvholmen, Oslo, Norway. Architect: Renzo Piano. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
The sculpture park is an integral part of the Astrup Fearnley Museum site, designed by the prominent Italian architect Renzo Piano. He considered every detail—from shaping the landscape with artificial grassy knolls, small canals, and bridges, to designing benches and walking paths.
Although the artworks belong to the private Selvaag Art Collection, Piano took an active role in both curating and placing the sculptures. He studied how each piece would interact with changing light, weather, and the surrounding landscape before determining its placement. Some sculptures were even developed in close dialogue with the artists to suit the park’s coastal context.
Untitled, 1997, Anish Kapoor and White Snow Cake, 2011, Paul McCarthy, Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artists / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
The park features pieces by some of the leading figures in contemporary art, including Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kelly, Franz West, and more. Yet it is open and free to all—a rare example of how contemporary art can exist outdoors, fully integrated into daily urban life and inviting visitors to engage with it in an intimate and informal way.
Whether you live in Oslo or are just visiting—have you ever wondered what these works are trying to tell us? Let me take you on a short walk through this Nordic oasis to discover them.
Eyes, 1997, Louise Bourgeois, Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
We begin at the back entrance of the museum, where two large granite spheres polished to a mirror-like finish greet you. This is Eyes by Louise Bourgeois—a quiet yet commanding sculpture that plays with our perception. Are these really eyes, or something else entirely? Piano placed them on an artificial grass knoll to emphasise their central position and visual weight.
Untitled, 1997, Anish Kapoor, Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
Just opposite, you’ll find a pale, funnel-shaped form—an iconic work by Anish Kapoor, carved from alabaster. What’s striking is how the material responds to its surroundings: it glows in the sun, and nearly vanishes n shadow on overcast days. Try viewing it in different light when you visit—you’ll see what I mean.
Untitled / Totem, 1998, Ellsworth Kelly, Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
To the side, a slender bronze column rises. At first glance, you might wonder whether it’s art at all. Totem by Ellsworth Kelly is extremely minimalistic—simple, vertical, elegant. It captures the essence of Nordic design and blends beautifully into the natural surroundings.
Spalt, 2003, Franz West. Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
One of the park’s most recognised works is Spalt by Franz West, located just above the museum’s beach. The sculpture’s three pastel-coloured forms—a lifebuoy, rope, and anchor—appear fragile, almost like papier-mâché. But they’re actually made of welded aluminium and built to withstand all weather. It’s a work that brings humour and playfulness without undermining the setting’s quiet seriousness.
Edge, 2000, Antony Gormley. Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
Now let’s head over to the main museum entrance. Here, two more iconic pieces blend naturally into the architecture. Look up the stairs to the left, and you’ll see a solitary human figure standing horizontally on the edge of a wall. This is Edge II by Antony Gormley. Still and silent, the figure appears to be watching, falling, or perhaps preparing to jump. It speaks to the vulnerability of the human form in open space.
Edge, 2000, Antony Gormley. Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
At the foot of the stairs stands Moonrise by Ugo Rondinone—a brown enamelled face, part of a series of twelve sculptures representing the months of the year. This one, November, is expressive and ambiguous, as if caught mid-thought or somewhere between laughter and sadness.
Moonrise, November, 2006, Ugo Rondinone. Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
This small park at the tip of the Tjuvholmen peninsula offers a concentrated cultural experience. With the Oslofjord at your side, salt in the air, and ever-changing Nordic light, the sculptures seem to take on a life of their own. The Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park is a must for any visitor interested in contemporary art, architecture, and the unique aesthetic sensibility of the North.
Spalt, 2003, Franz West. Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, Selvaag Art Collection, Oslo, Norway © Artist / BONO. Photo credit: © The Art Trotter
Want to know more about the artists and art works in Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park? Get a digital guided tour of the park in Norwegian here, for English - send us an e-email at [email protected]
Are you planning to explore Nordic art and culture with a little extra, we’re here to make your experience unforgettable! From tailored itineraries combining art, architecture, gastronomy, and hidden gems, to guided tours with outstanding storytellers—we offer curated cultural experiences in Oslo and beyond. Contact us at [email protected] or through the form here to start planning your visit.
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