Arna Rennan is a painter who is in direct contact with nature with her easel outdoors, on location. She has painted in this manner for over thirty years. This began when she returned to her home town of Duluth Minnesota after many years in the arts community in Oslo Norway. It is her way of reuniting and becoming a part of her environment. She currently resides in Lom where she enjoys the challenge of painting the subject matter that has called her for many years in her minds eye.
Arna is a dual citizen, studied painting with Alf Joergen Aas at what was previously called the National Academy of Art in Oslo. She has exhibited both in Norway and the U.S.
Artist’s Statement:
“Nature is my dance partner. I allow it to take the lead. I find the rhythm and the underlying structure. Adrenalin kicks in. Self-consciousness leaves me. There is no room for other thoughts to enter or distract. All my senses come into play.
I have an accumulation of experiences to bring to the canvas, yet each new one has challenges I’ve not met before. I can persist and probe – ask the surroundings many questions. It is a dialog, a meditation and the exercise of open mindedness. It is an immense joy. That is why I place myself with my easel in the midst of my surroundings and not caged in a studio or the limitations of my mind.”
Upcoming Exhibitions: Seven Summers; Images from Boeverdalen
This series features the images, places, and stories from her experiences while working seven summers at the Roisheim Hotel. She enjoyed the changing light effects on Flaakinn mountain, neighboring farms, stories about local cultural figures and much more. This series also gives some insight into why half the population of this area immigrated to the U.S.
- Nordic Center in Duluth, Minnesota Oct. 10th through November 9th 2023
- Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa November 18th 2023 through May 17th 2024
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Arna Rennan
Liavegen 1847
2686 Lom, Norway
47 966 70 549
Education: National Academy of Art, Oslo Norway 1973 – 1981 Studied painting with Alf Jorgen Aas, printmaking with Zdenka Rusova and Guttorm Guttormsgaard. Mentored by Bela Petheo 1986
Upcoming exhibitions:
2023 October 10 – November 10, Nordic Center in Duluth
2023 –24 November 18th through May 17th 2024 Vesterheim Museum in Decorah Iowa “Seven Summers” paintings from Boeverdalen
Solo Exhibitions:
2018 Fosston Public Library
2017 New York Mills art center
2016 Zeitgeist in Duluth, MN Plein Air Paintings
2008 North Shore Bank of Commerce
2006 Lizzards’: “Portrait of a City” paintings of Duluth
1999 Sivertsons’ Gallery “Water, Plain and Simple”
1997 Sivertsons’ Gallery “I Pine” series of White Pine paintings
1994 Duluth Art Institute “North Shore, North woods and Apostle Islands”
1991 Duluth Art Institute “On Site”
1983 UKS, Oslo Norway
Collective Exhibitions:
2017 Norway House in Minneapolis: 4 North
2016 Duluth Art Institute 4 North
2016 Duluth Art Institute Paint du Nord
2016 New York Mills Immigration/Integration
2015 Zeitgeist Lake Superior Exhibit and Book release; Agates and Amethysts
2015 Paint du Nord exhibition at the Duluth Art Institute
2014 Northshore Bank of Commerce Collection Exhibit
2013 Vesterheim Museum in Decorah Iowa: 4 From the North
2012 Nordic Center in Duluth, MN
2011 Norway Hall 4 From the North during Royal visit
1998 Groveland Gallery in Mpls. MN, Norwegian American artists
1992 Arrowhead Bienniale at Duluth Art Institute
1988 Arrowhead Bienniale at Duluth Art Institute
1985 Hostutstillingen Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo, Norway
1985 UKS Vaarutstillingen in Bergen, Norway
1981 Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo Norway
Commissioned Public Art:
2010 Paintings at Essentia Health, 1st Clinic and Lakeside Clinic
2008 Mural “Immigration” at Norway Hall, 21A Lake Ave. in Duluth, MN
2008 Banners outside of building “Nordic Pictographs” Norway Hall, 21A Lake Ave. Duluth, MN
2000 North Shore Bank of Commerce purchase of painting for Hermantown Bank
1998 Minnesota State Arts Board PerCent for Public Arts: Brainerd Community College
1996 Minnesota State Arts Board PerCent for Public Arts: Hastings Veterans Home
1997 Fryberger Buchanon Smith and Fredricks Commission of portrait of Herschel Fryberger
1994 Merill Lynch Commissioned portrait of Bardon Higgins
1992 Minnesota Power, purchase of paintings for corporate office
1990 NRK I Nord Troendelag
1983 Norsk Kulturraad
1985 City of Oslo, Lilleborg Senior Center commissioned a series of monumental prints
1980 Steinkjer Norway, Government Building, purchase of charcoal drawings of historic buildings
Grants:
2010 Arrowhead Regional Arts Council; Travel to Lofoten Islands to paint
1994 Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Artists Opportunity Grant; materials for exhibit
1985 Norwegian Travel and Study Grant to New York
1984 A. C. Houen’s Foundation Travel to London
1982 Norwegian Travel and Study Grant to view modern art collections in Ruhr Industrial Area
1980 Inherrads Legat; Residency and exhibit in Steinkjer, Norway
1978 Norwegian gov. grant for materials
1976 Thomas Fearnley Foundation: 4 months independent study and studio work in Paris
Residencies:
2006 Voyageurs National Park donation of painting to park services
1996 Apostle Islands National Park (documented by Venture North WDSE TV
1976 Four months in Paris and two weeks in Southern France
Arna's Art 