Norway's new national museum of art, architecture and design will finally open its doors on June 11, 2022, after a long development phase. With over 54,300 square meters of space, the Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo is the largest museum in the entire north. Designed by German architects Kleihues + Schuwerk and built by Norwegian building authority Statsbygg, the museum's goal is to house works of art spanning centuries. It is made of pure and robust materials such as oak, bronze and marble that age beautifully and stylishly. The entire facade is clad in Norwegian slate. The Nasjonalmuseet is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to current building standards.

The new National Museum in Oslo is the largest museum in the North. © Ina Wesenberg/Nasjonalmuseet

The equipment of the Nasjonalmuseet

More than 5,000 works from antiquity to the present will be on display on two floors and in over 90 rooms. The building also includes a spectacular space for temporary exhibitions - the Light Hall on the roof - as well as a large roof terrace, cafés, a store and the largest art library in Scandinavia. Located on Oslo's harbor near the promenade, visitors enjoy spectacular views of the city.

Culture with a view: The new Norwegian National Museum on Oslo's harbor offers spectacular views. © Nasjonalmuseet

Space for architecture and design

The National Museum - Architecture, a partner museum to the Nasjonalmuseet on Bankplassen in central Oslo, will house an exhibition program on Norwegian architecture and design. Then, in September, the International Library for Fashion Research (ILFR) will open in the "Mellomstasjonen" Venue at the National Museum. The ILFR is the world's most comprehensive collection of specialized fashion research and contemporary fashion publications and is led by editor and curator Elise By Olsen.

Starting in June, the new museum's light-filled rooms will be filled with works from art history, architecture and design. © Nasjonalmuseet

The program for the opening

The opening program includes a major new project by Laure Prouvost, a solo presentation by Grayson Perry, and surveys of contemporary architecture and modern Scandinavian design. An 87-room presentation of works from the museum's collection, ranging from medieval tapestries to contemporary fashion and from Renaissance paintings to contemporary art installations, will also be accessible at the opening. In addition, the museum will open with "I call it art", a comprehensive exhibition featuring 147 artists and artist groups currently working in Norway. The museum will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Norway with a program of podcasts, performances, lectures, club nights and exhibitions in collaboration with the National Library and the National Norwegian Archive of Queer History.

Baldishol, a medieval carpet from the 12th century, will also be on display at the museum. © Frode Larsen/Nasjonalmuseet

Part of the permanent exhibition will be works by Edvard Munch, including "The Scream," 19th-century landscape paintings, royal dresses worn by the two Norwegian queens, and works by the famous Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn. Other notable artists who will be on permanent display include Harald Sohlberg, Harriet Backer, Theodor Kittelsen, Gustav Vigeland, Hannah Ryggen, Lucas Cranach, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Ida Ekblad.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch is one of the most important works of expressionism. © Børre Høstland/Nasjonalmuseet

Future exhibitions for 2023 and 2024 have already been announced and include presentations by Louise Bourgeois, Mark Rothko, Frida Kahlo and a multidisciplinary research project on wool by the Italian design duo Formafantasma. You'll find a complete overview of all upcoming exhibitions at Nasjonalmuseet here. .

A visit to the new museum is a must on an Oslo trip. © Ina Wesenberg

Nasjonalmuseet

Pb. 7014 St. Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway
Tel.: +47 21 98 20 00
Web: nasjonalmuseet.no
Opening: June 11, 2022

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