Merete Joelsen Aune (b. 1984, Oslo), lives and works in Oslo, Norway. Her practice spans multiple mediums, including drawing, text, photography, installations, and artist's books. Often rooted in archival methods, Aune's work meticulously explores aspects of living and non-living nature. Treating natural phenomena as both objects of study and metaphors for human experience, she draws inspiration from fields such as astronomy and geology, intertwining scientific ideas with personal reflections on time and transformation. In recent work, through representations of stars in various stages of their life cycles and stones she has personally collected, Aune merges intimate experiences of time with the slow-moving processes of the universe.
Aune earned an MFA (2014) and a BFA (2012) from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and holds a BA in Art History (2007) from the University of Bergen. Her recent solo exhibitions include Nebulae Surveys at Trafo Kunsthall, Asker (2023) and Island Universes at Sandefjord Kunstforening (2022). Recent group exhibitions feature Høstutstillingen at Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo (2023); Østlandsutstillingen at Vestfold Kunstsenter in Tønsberg (2021) and Novemberutstillingen at Drammen Museum in Drammen (2020). Her work has been featured in FUKT Magazine for Contemporary Drawing (2024). In 2025, Aune will complete her first public art installation for Nordsida School in Harstad, following her participation in a closed competition in 2024.
2012 -2014 Master of Visual Arts, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2009 -2012 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2007 -2008 One-year programme in Art and Design, Oslo University College, NO
2004 -2007 Bachelor in Art History, University of Bergen, NO
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Nebula Surveys, curated by Hedevig Anker, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker, NO
2022 Island Universes, Sandefjord Kunstforening, NO
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Høstutstillingen, Statens 136. kunstutstilling, Kunstnernes hus, Oslo
2021 Østlandsutstillingen, Vestfold kunstsenter, NO & Trafo Kunsthall/Galleri Dikemark, NO
2020 Novemberutstillingen, Drammen Museum, Drammen, NO
2019 Novemberutstillingen, Drammen Museum, Drammen, NO
GIFC & Velvet Ropes, Galleri Golsa, Oslo, NO
Østlandsutstillingen, Kunstforeningen Verdens ende, NO
2018 Novemberutstillingen, Drammen Museum, Drammen, NO
The Drawing School (SHKS) 200 years anniversary, Alumni Exhibition, Oslo, NO
GIFC, Galleri Golsa, Oslo, NO
AVTRYKK, Hå gamle prestegard, Jæren, NO
2017 Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair, Moscow, RU
Concerning the Spiritual in Art, The Norwegian Institute at Athens, Athen, GR
Print Matters, Gallery Norske Grafikere, Oslo, NO
Mazes, Nebulae, Sedimentations, House of Foundation, Moss, NO
with Monica Flakk & Kjersti Lande
2016 En kollektiv psykogeografisk guide til Oslo, The Drawing Biennial 2016, Oslo, NO
The Drawing Biennial 2016, SKISSEN, Tegnerforbundet, Oslo, NO
Art in Case, Helsinki-Malmi lentoasema, Helsinki, FI
Zodiac, LYNX, Oslo, NO
Platons huskestue, Tegnerforbundet, Oslo, NO
2014 The Intimate Sufferings of a Musician, Window Box, Pushwagner Gallery, Oslo, NO (solo)
Knock Knock, Norsk Billedhuggerforening, Oslo, NO
MA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2013 En kollektiv kraftanstrengelse for tapte saker, PODIUM, Oslo, NO
It’s a Girl, Akershus Kunstsenter, Lillestrøm, NO
2012 BA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
ARTISTS' BOOKS
2022 Sometimes I Am Light Years Away, Artists' Book
2017 I Have Seen How the Universe Swallows, Artists’ Book
2014 Du må ikke forveksle reservehjulet med fuglen, Artists’ Book
2012 I Am a Bird Now, Artists’ Book
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2025 Public art installation at Nordsida skole, Harstad (upcoming/wip)
2024 Participant in a closed competition for a public art installation at Nordsida skole, Harstad
2019 Participant in a closed competition for a public art installation at Vestli skole, Oslo
PUBLICATIONS / PRESS
2024 FUKT # 22 "The Nature Issue"
2021 (melkeveien),Text for publication made by artist Kjersti Lande
Catalogue, Østlandsutstillingen 2021
Artist interview, Tegnerforbundet/ The Norwegian Drawing Association
2019 Catalogue, Østlandsutstillingen 1979-2019
2018 Untitled poetic text published in OSLO PILOT (2015–17)—a project investigating the role of art in and for the public space—laying the groundwork for Oslo Biennial First Edition, 2018, Mousse Publishing
2017 Poem published in The Inklings # 1, Volume 1
Cold Current, Contemporary Artists from Norway, Benetton Collection
2016 Catalogue, SKISSEN, The Drawing Biennial 2016
2015 Poem published in Bøygen # 1, 27. årgang
Poem published in ETTER # 3 f
2014 Catalogue, MA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
2011 Catalogue, BA Degree Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NO
ARTIST TALKS + LECTURES + ART ASSISTANT WORK ETC
2016 Artist talk and drawing workshop, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
Guest lecturer, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2015 Cover art and design for Norwegian singer/songwriter SVANES
2013 Art assistant to Norwegian artist Tiril Schrøder
Art assistant to Norwegian artist Vanna Bowles
GRANTS
2023 Diversestipend /Artist grant, Kulturrådet / Arts Council Norway
2022 Prosjektstøtte/ Artist grant, Kulturrådet/ Arts Council Norway
2019 Artist grant, Ingrid Lindbäck Langaard stiftelse
2018 Reisestipend/Travel grant, Tegnerforbundet/ The Norwegian Drawing Art Association
2016 Artist grant, Oslo Kommune/ The City of Oslo
2012 Artist grant, Statens stipend for kunstnere
MEMBERSHIPS IN ARTIST ASSOCIATIONS
NBK- Norske Billedkunstnere | The Association of Norwegian Visual Artists
TF- Tegnerforbundet | The Norwegian Drawing Association
UKS- Unge Kunstneres Samfund | Young Artists’ Society
BO- Billedkunstnerne i Oslo | The Association of Visual Artists Oslo
BONO- Billedkunst Opphavsrett i Norge | Norwegian Visual Artists Copyright Society