MARTA NERHUS: WHEN METAL BECOMES THREAD AND STORY
|by Elena Redaelli |
Marta Nerhus, a Norwegian textile artist, seamlessly challenges the boundaries of material and expression from her studio at USF Verftet in Bergen. She is currently engaged in a new commission, having won a competitive selection process, to decorate a church in Klepp, Rogaland, which is set to be completed in October 2026. In recent years, she has curated the exhibition program at Galleri Banken in Ølve, where she held a solo exhibition in 2023.
If you wish to get an introduction to Marta Nerhus’ work and artistic vision, you can find a brief portrait of her in the American documentary Knit with Love, which explores the connection between knitting and migration. Director Dana Conroy embarks on a journey from Alabama to Norway to discover why knitting was so important to her great-great-grandmother. In August 2024, Marta Nerhus was invited to take part in the short movie. Alongside other creatives and designers working with yarn and knitting, the artist shares a touching perspective on her art and the themes she explores. The documentary is available at the following link: Knit with Love.
Soft Light and Nature: Sommarnatt ved fjorden
In 2020, Nerhus’s work Sommarnatt ved fjorden (2020) was selected to exhibit at the prestigious Høstutstillingen at Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo. Known for its rigorous selection process, this annual exhibition is a crucial platform for contemporary Norwegian art, offering insight into the national artistic scene.
Sommarnatt ved fjorden is a delicate yet powerful piece made of knitted coloured metal wire. By layering different shades reminiscent of transparent watercolour, the artist creates an interplay of light and shadow that adds depth and vibrancy to the work. Using a knitting machine to build the base structure, Nerhus then carefully shapes and stitches the parts together to achieve an airy, almost ethereal quality. “I understood the work was finished when I got a feeling of a cool and bright summer night by the fjord, by the green fields of grass“, she explains. This sensitivity to light and atmosphere is a distinctive feature of her artistic approach.
Art as a Reflection of Society
Nerhus’ practice goes beyond aesthetic research; most of her works address social and environmental themes. In Røynsle (2021-2022), created for the Friluftsgalleriet at Bø Museum in Vesterålen, she explored the legacy of Regine Normann (1867-1939), a pioneering Norwegian writer and advocate for women’s rights. Inspired by Normann’s courage and dedication to social justice, Nerhus depicted her within the landscapes of Bø, capturing both her strength and vulnerability.
Another significant aspect of Røynsle is its reference to the Nordland Trade. Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, merchants from Western Norway travelled north to buy herring and fish, fostering deep cultural exchange between the regions. Having grown up with stories from this era, the artist sought to evoke this historical connection through symbolic materials: knitted and shaped metal wire sewn onto sailcloth, creating a work measuring 1.50m x 2.50m. Combining textile techniques with maritime references highlights Nerhus’ ability to merge personal history with collective memory.
A Journey Through Material and Form
Since 1989, Marta Nerhus has been working with metal wire, developing a distinctive approach that balances fragility and strength. Initially she focused on sculptural objects wrapped in steel wire (Fill Up My Empty Cup, HKS 1997; Us, Bergen Art Association, 2000). In 2002, she transitioned to knitting metal sheets. This shift allowed her to explore new possibilities in form and texture, leading to large-scale installations and thematic exhibitions.
Between 2016 and 2017, her exhibition Heim at Bryggens Museum in Bergen addressed themes of displacement and migration, responding to the global refugee crisis. In 2019, Mot at Stord Kunsthall celebrated strong and courageous women, reaffirming her commitment to social reflection through art. More recently, she has experimented with coloured metal wire, layering different hues to evoke landscapes and natural elements, as seen in Sommarnatt ved fjorden.
Biography and Contact Information
Born in 1955 in Ølve, Marta Nerhus studied at the Bergen Academy of Arts and pursued further education in Helsinki. She has exhibited extensively across Norway throughout her career, with solo shows at Bryggens Museum, Litteraturhuset in Bergen, and RAM Gallery in Oslo. Between 2018 and 2019, she created sculptural pollen grain models for the Natural History Museum in Bergen, further demonstrating her artistic versatility.
Bergen Municipality, Stord Municipality, and the House of Literature in Bergen have acquired her works. With a career spanning over thirty years, she continues to innovate and inspire through her intricate textile sculptures.
