Thora Dolven Balke (b.1982, Oslo) was educated at Fata Morgana Photographic School, Denmark; Bergen and Oslo Art Academy in Norway and Mountain School of Art in Los Angeles. Her work has been a part of exhibitions such as The Collectors, Danish and Nordic Pavilions, 53rd Venice Biennale (2009); Lights On—Norwegian Contemporary Art, Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo (2008) and the Biennale of Jafre, Catalonia, Spain (2009). Recent exhibitions include Mind moves with matter, body blends into space, Kunsthall Trondheim (2019); INNLAND, Centre de Art Contemporaine, Tours (2017); The Young Lions, Preus Fotomuseum, Oslo (2017) and solo exhibitions False Spring, Lydgalleriet, Bergen (2020); FLOW, Cavalo, Rio de Janeiro and MELK, Oslo (2019) and All that breathes conspires, UKS and Ultimafestival, Oslo (2017). Dolven Balke was one of two curators of the biennale Lofoten International Art Festival – LIAF – in 2011 and co-funded and programmed the artist-run space REKORD in Oslo from 2006 to 2010. In 2016 she was a participant in the Capacete programme in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and since lives and works between there and Oslo, Norway.
A line through Thora Dolven Balke’s work could be how humans act in precarious situations, and how those actions are inscribed on their surroundings. She works in the studio next to a more documentary approach with sound, film and photography - with materials made to support or augment the body directly via technology or metaphorically as sculptural counterparts, or aids to the photographs, films and sound works. The cameras and recording-devices she uses act as prosthetics, dictating both her distance to the subject and the resulting artifacts. This idea of the prosthetic, or the aid, is something that recurs throughout Dolven Balke’s works. She uses materials that are made to support, comfort, examine or increase the abilities of the body. Dolven Balke is interested in the language we use to describe experiences that seem impossible, although they are perhaps the most real of all; experiences related to your own fragility, to time, to community, to self-preservation.
b. Oslo, Norway, 1982
Lives and works between Oslo and Rio de Janeiro
Selected Solo and Duo Exhibitions
2026
A Stubborn Stain, MELK, Oslo, Norway
Bunnløs, NOUA, Bodø, Norway
2025
Modo Host, duo exhibition with Lila de Magalhães, Entrée, Bergen, Norway
2024
Human Scale, MELK, Oslo, Norway
Modo Host, duo exhibition with Lila de Magalhães, CAMA, São Paulo, Brazil
2021
Rough Seas, MELK, Oslo, Norway
2020
False Spring, Lydgalleriet, Bergen, Norway
2019
Flow, Cavalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Flow, MELK, Oslo, Norway
2017
All that respires, conspires, Young Artists Society UKS and Ultima festival, Oslo, Norway
2015
I is, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, Norway
Von hinten durch die Brust ins Auge, Kristiansand Kunsthall, Kristiansand, Norway
2014
ALVOR, duo exhibition with Ann Cathrin November Høibo, Michael Thibault Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Attachments, MELK, Oslo, Norway
2012
Eureka, Galleri Christian Torp, Oslo, Norway
2006
How to swallow a meteorite, Galleri Fimbul, Oslo, Norway
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Moon In Your Mouth, curated by Max Hannus, UKS, Oslo, Norway
Palimpsesto Sentido, Kubikgallery, Porto, Portugal
2022
Festspela i Heidal curated by Anders Holen and Sandra Kolstad, Heidal, Norway
2021
Preliminares, CAMA, São Paulo, Brazil
2020
Central Finnish Exhibition, curated by Rickard Borgström, Jyväskylä Art museum, Finland
Alt fast smeltar, curated by Kjetil Berge, Midnightsunscream festival, Lofoten, Norway
Pluss 1, Golsa, Oslo, Norway
Dybdeflater, curated by Bjarne Bare, Formuesforvaltning, Oslo, Norway
2019
Gathering, Hypha, curated by Kamilla Langeland, Oslo, Norway
mind moves with matter, body blends into space, Kunsthall Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
2018
A Lesson Loosely Learned, Cavalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2017
The Young Lions, Preus Photographic Museum, Oslo, Norway
Lucia, QB gallery and Blomqvist auction house, Oslo, Norway
INNLAND, Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré, Tours, France
2016
Zine & self-published book fair, Camera Club of New York, NYC, USA
You’re Dead, 6 soundworks for Daata Editions, launched at NADA NYC and online
Nulla Dies Sine Linea, Satellite Berlin, Germany
Uncovering History; Women in electronic music #1-4, Entreé Radio, Bergen, Norway
2015
Distant Shadow, Jimei X Arles International Photo Festival, Xiamen, China
LoveOften, Curated by Kjetil Berge, Lofoten, Norway
Kapital.FM, curated by Ilja Karilampi, Cambridge Heath Rd, c/o Wilkinson Gallery, London, UK
They, Them, curated by Tirill Hasselknippe, Gallerie Drei, Cologne, Germany
Tilfældet Oslo, Ringsted galleriet, Ringsted, Denmark
2014
Collection as Allocated Objects, Tidens Krav, Oslo, Norway
Darkness and Light, Scandinavian House, New York, USA
Little Nassau, New York, USA
Chez Pedro, Pioneerworks, New York, USA
2013
Variety Lights, Devening Projects, Chicago, USA
NearFar, Vestlandsutstillingen, travelling exhibition, Norway
2012
The Running Room, Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York, USA
Agnes Amstaff presents The Last To Say, Gavu Cheb Museum, Czech Republic
Yield, Porsgrunn Kunstforening, Norway
Calma, 18th Street Art Centre, curated by Kristian Skylstad, Los Angeles, USA
2011
Matters, Galleri Christian Torp, Oslo, Norway
Word Perfect 2.0, Noplace, Oslo, Norway
Situation as Object, Gallery D.O.R, Brussels, Belgium
2010
Fear Nothing, Akershus Art Centre, Norway
Reflected in a drop of Oil, curated by Linus Elmes, Galleri Niklas Belenius, Stockholm, Sweden
One Night Only, with Emma Kihl, curated by Linus Elmes, Oslo, Norway
2009
Major Depression, group show at One Night Only, Oslo, Norway
The Collectors, curated by Elmgreen and Dragset, 53rd Venice Biennale, The Nordic Pavilion
AntArctica, Haugar Art Museum, Norway
2008
Darkness Descends, M*A*S*H, New York, USA
Alone in the Dark, curated by Kristian Skylstad, Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo, Norway
Re* Doubting Telling Objects, Verftet USF, Bergen, Norway
Voudou, Galleri 54, Gothenburg, Sweden and 0047, Oslo, Norway
Lights On, Astrup Fearnley MoMA, Oslo, Norway
2007
I Wanna be Loved by You, Hamar Performance festival, Kunstbanken
Old Bold Neuropa 2, Galleri Area 53, Vienna, Austria
Blackout, Galleri Fimbul, Oslo, Norway
2006
Hit that piece of Ivory there, New Music – Ny Musikk, Oslo, Norway
Mørke Nu festival, Bodø, Norway
When I leave the world behind, Skulpturepark 2006, Stefan Andersson Gallery, Sweden
2005
Fimbulvinter, Galleri Fimbul, Oslo, Norway
Is That All there Is?, performance at Kjetil Berges piece at the 8 th Havana biennale, Cuba
Holiday Inn, Galuzin Gallery, Oslo, Norway
Selected Curatorial Projects
2017
tongue and ear, co-curated with Felipe Pena, Kristiansand Kunsthall, Norway
All that respires, conspires, Young Artists Society UKS and Ultima festival, Oslo, Norway
INNLAND, Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré, Tours, France
2016
Respira Conspira, with Camilla Rocha Campos, Capacete, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2015
Distant Shadow, Jimei X Arles International Photo Festival, Xiamen, China
2010
Undo, group show, Vestfossen Art Laboratorium, Norway
2009 – 2011
Curator/producer of public artwork in Ilseng Prison, w artists Anders Nordby and Aril Tveito, for
Public Art Norway KORO
2009
Curator/producer of public artwork in Åna Prison, for Public Art Norway KORO
2009 – 2011
Something in the way, Lofoten International Art Festival (LIAF) co-curated with Linn Pedersen, Lofoten, Norway
2009
Rekord at Ultima sound Festival, Oslo, Norway
2008
Curator/producer of public artwork in Bodø Prison, dept. Fauske (with artist Halvard Kjærvik)
Love & Order, Plattform 08 and LIAF, Melbu and Svolvær, Norway
Pineapple, or Knife? Iceberg, or volcano?, Rekord at Lights On, Astrup Fearnley MoMA
2007
The Ivory Tower, Happy Days sound festivals Off-festival. With Happy Days and Ny Musikk at
Rekord, Oslo, Norway
2006 – 2009
Founder and director / programming at REKORD, artist-run space, Oslo, Norway
2006
God is a Gallery. One of three curators for the inaugural exhibition of Galuzin Gallery, Oslo, Norway
04 P.O.V. : Young artists screening video works once a month, Gallery FiSk, Bergen, Norway
Lectures, Teaching, Board and Jury Work
2015 – 2017
Chair of the board, Maaretta Jaukkuri Foundation
2016
Jury member, Photographers Union FFF, Norway
2008 – 2016
Guest teacher Fata Morgana Photographic School of Art, Copenhagen, one week annually
2015
Panel on New Scandinavian Photography, Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
Teaching, Nordland Art and Film school, Norway
Lecture and teaching, Nordland Art and Film school, Norway
2014
Artist talk, Scandinavian House, New York, USA
Artist talk, ISCP, New York, USA
2013
Performative lecture, ZKM symposium for Extended Radio Drama, Karlsruhe, Germany
Producer for recording of Qvigstads Sami Sagas and tales, for AK Dolven at Bodø Culturehouse
Sound design, radio documentary, Deutschland Radio
2011
Jurymember for spring exhibition, Charlottenborg Kunsthall, Denmark
Jurymember for master enrolment, Art Academy, Oslo, Norway
2009 – 2010
Board member UKS Young Artists Society, Norway
2008 – 2010
Audiobook producer for Damm / Cappellen Publishing House, Norway
2007 – 2010
Vocalist and percussion in the band Phaedra (with Ingvild Langgård)
Grants and Residencies
2016
Capacete residency (March–December) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2014 – 2018
Government working grant, 5 years
2013 – 2014
International Studio and Curatorial Programme ISCP, New York, USA
2012
Government working grant for younger artists, 1 year
2010 – 2011
Government working grant for younger artists, 2 years
2008
Lorch Skive and Wife endowment
Selected Bibliography
2016
Essay for Ann Cathrin November Høibo, artist book, STANDARD Oslo publishing
2015
New Scandinavian Photography, Black Dog Publishing
Nordic Contemporaries, TransGlobe Publishing and Thames&Hudson
2014
2005., artist book, self-published
Objektiv #10, conversation with Tacita Dean
2012
No Dancing, collaborational publication MSA class of 2012, Los Angeles
2011
Cura #9, interview with Marianna Zamecznik / Linn Pedersen
2010
Reflected in a drop of oil, catalogue, Gallery Niklas Belenius, Stockholm
Essay for Linn Pedersen – Stub, Lord Jim Publishing
2009
Essay for Else Leirvik, Feather Arch, Nomas Foundation, Italy
2007
Utflukt # 4 – Vinterkort, presentation of works
Education
2012
Mountain School of Art, Los Angeles, USA
2005 – 2006
Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo, Norway
2004 – 2005
Exchange to Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo, Norway
2003 – 2004
National School of the Arts, Bergen, Dep. Art Academ
2002 – 2003
National School of the Arts, Bergen, Dep. of specialised Art: Photography
2001 – 2002
Fata Morgana Photographic School of Fine Art, Copenhagen, DenmarkOslo, Norway, 1982