Hanne Friis (b. 1972, Oslo) is educated in painting and sculpture at the Art Academy in Trondheim. She is primarily known for her sensuous, abstract sculptures in various textile materials. A significant part of her fabrics are stained by plants through slow dyeing processes which give the surfaces a painterly expression. The sculptures are carefully crafted by hand with a distinctive stitching technique; with a small needle Friis transforms the material by folding and pressing the fabric into organic formations and complex structures that generate a sense of change and growth. The ambiguity in the relationship between form and materiality is a recurring theme.
Friis’ works are represented in numerous public and private collections, both nationally and internationally. Among the most notable acquisitions are the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg (2024) and Kunstsilo in Kristiansand (2024). Her works have also been included in the collections of Haugar Kunstmuseum in Tønsberg and Haugalandmuseet in Haugesund (both in 2021), Sørlandets Kunstmuseum in Kristiansand (2020), the Norwegian Parliament (2019), and the National Museum in Oslo (2018 and 2016). Additionally, she is represented in the Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum in Trondheim (2017 and 2009), Oslo Municipality’s Art Collection (2016), and KODE Art Museum in Bergen (2012 and 2014). Other significant acquisitions include LO’s gift to Hamar Kulturhus (2014), the Art Museum of Northern Norway in Tromsø (1998 and 2003), and the Norwegian Arts Council (1996).
Friis’ works are also part of permanent collections at Haugar Kunstmuseum, Sørlandets Kunstmuseum, KODE Art Museum, the National Museum, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Haugalandmuseet, the Northern Norway Art Museum, and the Norwegian Government, among several other institutions.
