Håkon Bleken (b. 1929) has his education from the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts (1949-1953). He is one of Norway’s most prominent contemporary artists, being exhibited in major galleries and museums, and with extensive public art commissions. Bleken has greatly influenced the Norwegian and European contemporary art scene, and recently had an extensive exhibition shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Coruña (2016), as well as solo exhibitions at institutions like The Museum of Contemporary Art and Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. In 1999 he was appointed a Knight 1^st class, and in 2009 a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav. Håkon Bleken’s works are acquired by The Norwegian National Gallery, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Bergen Billedgalleri, Lillehammer Art Musuem, The City of Oslo Art Collection, and the Trondheim Art Museum, amongst others. When Bleken in 2005 was awarded the Anders Jahre’s Culture Award, he chose Sverre Bjertnes for Anders Jahre’s Award for Young Artists. The two artist’s mutual respect and admiration for each other’s works resulted in the duo exhibition AVTRYKK at QB Gallery in 2015.

Sverre Bjertnæs (b. 1976, Trondheim) has a degree from the Art Academy in Oslo (1999) and the Duch Art Institute in the Netherlands (2004). Bjertnæs has been apprentice to some of Norway's most famous figurative artists, such as Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik (1989-93) and Odd Nerdrum (1993-94). His early work is characterized by an attraction towards dark tones and still-life, portraits and model studies. During his time at the academy, Bjertnæs explored a more photorealistic painting method with more subdued colours with Villiam Hammershøi as an obvious source of inspiration. His recent work reflects an exploration of the creative process's dialogue-based starting point, based on greater collaboration with other artists, directors, actors and writers. Through the use of literary and art historical references, Bjertnæs creates a distinctive artistic expression, which has made him one of Norway's most sought-after artists.

"Viser sårbarhet i det å eldes", Mona Pahle Bjerke, NRK, 2020