6 gorgeous examples of Norway’s famous street art

Before you limit your art-seeking endeavors to a handful of Norway’s wonderful museums, remember to look outside as well. Some of Norway’s most notable art takes inspiration from the allemannsretten (freedom to roam) law in Norway, which is the legal ability to explore any uncultivated land in the country. This has led to street artists finding some very unusual or seemingly random buildings and structures to use as canvases for their artwork.

This street art movement has become so popular that it has been the subject of major national and international coverage, including the series of books published by Martin Berdahl Aamundsen. If you have an interest in seeing a world-class alternative to traditional art, then make sure to go see these six examples of exemplary street art during your next visit to Norway.

This iconic piece of street art brings art into the third dimension thanks to this hybrid sculpture by Portuguese artist Bordalo II that involves the use of various pieces of trash and paint. Located on the exterior wall of an abandoned building, this image of a deer has been admired by thousands of people living in or visiting Stavanger and was even featured in the 15th annuals Nuart festival.

This haunting mural painted on the side of a building in Oslo is the perfect example of an artist being one with his art. The image was painted by Norwegian artists Steffen Kverneland and Monica Tollnes in the Oslo district of Tøyen and puts a caricature image of famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch in front of the background from his iconic The Scream painting.

This massive example of realism street art astonishes everyone who sees it as they walk through the streets of Oslo. The Finnish artist Jussi TwoSeven put his talent of black and white artwork to use to create this majestic depiction of a realistic grey wolf face that covers the entire side of a multi-story building.

The Norwegian artist Martin Whatson has been impressing audiences with his mixture of vibrant colors with black and white subject matter for many years. However, one of his most revered pieces is something unofficially known as the “Athletic Figure” and is an image of a ballerina that can be found on the side of a residential housing building in Oslo. The colorful graffiti dress worn by the black and white ballerina is a gorgeous example of color contrast and is a must-see for any art lover.

Unlike the other entries on this list, this is a collection of several street art pieces that were created as part of the same Ghetto Spedalsk project. This was an artistic endeavor created by Norwegian artists Pøbel and Dolk in order to try and bring beauty back to the high number of abandoned buildings in the northern region of Lofoten. These street art pieces help bring an element of color and beauty to otherwise decrepit buildings.

Bergen also has a lot to offer in terms of street art, evidenced by this impressive piece by Norwegian artist AFK entitled “Laugh.” The satire of a Jewish and a Muslim man laughing together while reading a copy of Charlie Hebdo. His art usually revolves around current events and this piece was created as a satirical response take on the Hebdo affair occurring in 2015.

These six instances of street art are only a small taste of what Norway has to offer. Make sure to book your trip to Norway today in order to see these beautiful examples of street art and so much more in Oslo, Lofoten, and everywhere in between. If you are interested in art in general, check out our great Museums & Attractions in Norway.