Anne-Karin Furunes

(Norwegian, born 1961)

Anne-Karin Furunes is a contemporary Norwegian artist best known for her hyperrealistic portraits, frequently of women, created through a rigorous process of perforating the surface of canvas. As a result of this technique, she is able to create the illusion of spatial depth through revealing the space hidden behind her surfaces, resulting in haunting, confrontational images. Born on May 26, 1961 in Ørland, Norway, Furunes studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen from 1983 to1984, and at the National Academy in Oslo from 1986 to 1991, among other institutions. Describing her practice as an attempt to subvert the patriarchal history of painting, Furunes’ work has received significant international attention. She is the recipient of such awards and exhibitions as at The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo in 2005 reception, 2nd prize at the 2005 Beijing Biennale in China, and Art Brussels in 2011. Furunes is currently a professor at the Trondheim Academy of Fine Art in Trondheim, Norway.