This video showing pictures of Kristi's life was created shortly after her death by her sister, Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen, with music by her brother, John Ylvisaker.

 

 

 

 

Kristi Ylvisaker (1942-2010) (på Norsk)

Sogndal, Norway 

 

Medlemskap

 

       Norske Billedkunstnere, NBK

       Biletkunstnarane i Sogn og Fjordane, BKSF 

 

 Utdanning

 

New York Studio School, NYC, USA

University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA, Master Gerade

Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, USA, Bachelor Gerade

        

        

Separatutstillingar (i utval)

 

2008        Galleri Walaker Solvorn

2006        Volda Kunstlag Volda

2006        Eid kunstlag Nordfjordeid

2005-0     ”Nude Truths” duo utst. USA turne

2004         Sunnfjord Kunstlag Frøde

2003         Skald Forlag           Leikanger

2003         Gol Kunstlag Gol

2003         Fryd jazzkafe Oslo

2002         Galleri Walaker Solvorn

2000         ”Under Breen” trio utst. Eikaas Galleri og for Kulturby Bergen Den Heibergske                                 Samlingar

2000        ”Familieportrett” USA turne

1999        ”Familieportrett” Norgesturne

1999         Cooperhuset Balestrand

1996         Galleri Havbu Florø

1996         Galleri Bitte n Bergen

1994         "Foremothers" Norgesturne

1995         "Foremothers" USA turne

1992          Eid Kunstlag Nordfjordeid

1990          Galleri Rondane Otta

1982-88      Galleri Rones Sogndal

1984          Galleri Øyri Lærdal

 

 

Kollektiv/gruppeutstillingar (i utval)

 

2005-07      Vårutstillinga Kunstmuseum, Førde

2003           Kystmuseum Florø

2002           Galleri Havbu Batalden

2001           Nordic Artists Seattle, WA

2001           Svor Museum Hornindal

1997           Galleri Walaker Solvorn

1997           Balestrand Art Village Balestrand

1995           "Pure Drawing" Port Townsend, WA USA

1993           "Art Aid" Oslo

1992            Eid Kunstlag Nordfjordeid

1990            Galleri Rones Sogndal

1989            Vevring-utstillinga           Vevring

1989            Galleri 59 Oslo

1987            Luster Kunstlag Gaupne

1986            Torshavn Færøyane

1983            Måløy Kunstlag Måløy

1982            Galleri Leikvin Nordfjordeid

1979            Intimgalleri           Bergen

1980til96      DUSF

1982-85       Vestlandsutst.

            

 

Offentleg Utsmykking

 

2008         Tingsalen Sogndal

2003         Leikanger Sjukeheim Leikanger

1992         Sogndal Vidaregåandeskule Sogndal

1991         Vik Vidaregåandeskule Vik

1988         Fylkessjukehuset Lærdal

               Sogndal Handelsskule Sogndal

1984         Kommunestyresalen Sogndal

 

 

Innkjøp/Oppdrag (i utval)


2006         Sunnfjord Kunstlag Førde

2005         Fylkessjukehuset Lærdal

2005         Statenshus Leikanger

2004         Indre Sogn Psykiatrisenter Sogndal

2003         Familiekontoret Sogndal

2003         Kaupangerskule Kaupanger

2000-03     Skald Forlag           Leikanger

2000         Sogn Folkemuseum Kaupanger

1999         Temamåleri for 2000 års feiring Sogndal

1996         S. og Fj. Vegvesen Hermansverk

1996         Norsk Hydro Årdal

1994         S. og Fj. Målpris

1994         S. og Fj. Byggeskikkpris

1993         S. og Fj. Fylkeshus         Hermansverk

1992         Vikingskipet ’Odins ravn’ Oslofjorden

1992         Temamåleri for Utvandrar-jubileum i Sogn

1991         Helgheim Folkehøgskule Sogndal

1991         Ylvisåker Skule Fardal

1991         Vinmonopolet Sogndal

1989         Sognemeiriet Sogndal

1989         Lerums Saftfabrikk Sogndal

1988         S.og Fj. Likestillingspris

1987         Psykiatriskpoliklinikk Sogndal

1987-91     Høgskule i S. og Fj. Sogndal

1987         Fylkessjukehuset Lærdal

1985         Helsestasjon Leikanger

1983-88     Sparebanken Vest Sogndal

1980         Sentralsjukehuset Førde


Stipend

 

2000        KulturbyBergen utstillingstøtte

1999        Utstillingstipend, Norsk Kulturfond

1996        S. og Fj. Reisestipend

1995        Sogndal Reisestipend

1986        S. og Fj. Kunstnarstipend

1968        Woodstock Kunstnarstipend

1967        USA Statsstipend

1966        Søvik, Mathre, Madsen Art Award

        

Innkjøpt

 

  Norsk Kulturråd

  Sogn og Fjordane Kunstmuseum

  Norsk Utvandrarmuseum i Hamar

 

 

 Frå 2002 eig og driv eiga galleri ”Instituttet” i Svedal, Sogndalsdalen


Bøker

2008       “Beyond the Dead End: Letters to my Father,” Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen, Zion

              Publishing

2008       “Nude Truths” m/Mary Nilsen, Zion Publishing

 2004       Bokillustrasjon, “In the Hollow of God’s Hand,”  Zion Publishing        

1999        Bokillustrasjon, ”For Everything a Season,” Zion Publishing

1999        ”Under Breen” med Finn Egil Eide og Astrid Myklebust Skald Forlag

1990        Bokillustrasjon, Mary Nilsen "A Time for Peace," Zion Publishing

 

 

Kristi Ylvisaker (1942-2010)  (In English)

Sogndal, Norway

   

 Education

 

New York Studio School, NYC 1969

University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Master’s Degree 1967

Concordia College, Moorhead, MN Bachelor’s Degree 1965

        

        

Selected Solo Exhibits

 

2008         Gallery Walaker Solvorn

2006         Volda Art League Volda

2006         Eid Art League Nordfjordeid 

2005         ”Nude Truths: An Odyssey in Poetry, Painting and Prose.”   USA tour to 19 sites

2004         Sunnfjord Art League Førde

2003         Skald Publishing Leikanger

2003         Gol Art League Gol

2003         Fryd jazz cafe Oslo

2002          Gallery Walaker Solvorn

2000         ”Beneath the Glacier” . Eikaas Gallery and the Cultural Bergen Heiberg Collection

2000         ”Family Portrait” USA tour to 3 sites

1999         ”Family Portrait” Norgesturne

1999          Cooper House Balestrand

1996          Gallery Havbu Florø

1996         Gallery Bitten Bergen

1994         "Foremothers" Norgesturne

1995         "Foremothers" USA tour to 4 sites

1992         Eid Art League Nordfjordeid

1990         Gallery Rondane Otta

1982-88     Gallery Rones Sogndal

1984         Gallery Øyri Lærdal

 

 

Selected Group Exibitions

 

2005-07     Spring Exhibition                              Art Museum, Forde

2003         Coastal Museum                               Florø

2002         Gallery Havbu                                  Batalden

2001         Nordic Artists                   Seattle, WA

2001         Svor Museum                                   Hornindal

1997         Gallery Walaker                                Solvorn

1997         Balestrand Art Village                        Balestrand

1995         "Pure Drawing"                                 Port Townsend, WA

1993         "Art Aid"                                          Oslo

1992         Eid Art League                                  Nordfjordeid

1990         Gallery Rones                                  Sogndal

1989         Vevring-exhibition                            Vevring

1989         Gallery 59                                       Oslo

1987         Luster Art League                             Gaupne

1986         Torshavn                                        Færøy Islands

1983         Måløy Art League                             Måløy

1982         Gallery Leikvin                                Nordfjordeid

1979         Intim Gallery                                   Bergen

 1980-96    District Annual

1982-85     Western Norway Annual.

            

 

Official Commissions

 

2008         Notary Public Offices, Sogndal

2003         Leikanger Nursing Home, Leikanger

1992         Sogndal High School, Sogndal

1991         Vik High School, Vik

1988         Hospital, Lærdal

               Sogndal Business School, Sogndal

1984         Town Hall,  Sogndal

 

Purchases 

 

2006         Sunnfjord Art League                           Førde

2005         Hospital                                             Lærdal

2005         State Capitol                                      Leikanger

2004         Psychiatric Center                               Sogndal

2003         Family Counseling Center                     Sogndal

2003         Kaupanger School                               Kaupanger

2000-03     Skald Publishing                                 Leikanger

2000         Sogn Folk Museum                              Kaupanger

1999         Millenium Theme Painting                    Sogndal

1996         District Highway Department                Hermansverk

1996         Norway Hydro                                   Årdal

1994         Prize for Language Useage

1994         Prize for Architectural Design

1993         District Capitol                                  Hermansverk

1992         Viking ship                                       Oslofjorden

1992         Theme painting for sesquicentennial celebration

1991         Helgheim Folk School                         Sogndal

1991         Ylvisåker School                                Fardal

1991         Spirits Store                                     Sogndal

1989         Sogn Creamery                                 Sogndal

1989         Lerums Factory                                 Sogndal

1988         Prize for Women’s Equality

1987         Psychiatric Clinic                               Sogndal

1987-91     Sogndal College                                Sogndal

1987         Hospital                                           Lærdal

1985         Health Center                                   Leikanger

1983-88     Western Savings Bank                       Sogndal

1980         Central Hospital                                Førde


Grants

 

2000        Cultural Bergen exibition grant

1999        Norwegian Cultural Fund exibition grant

1996        S. og Fj. travel grant

1995        Sogndal travel grant

1986        S. og Fj. art grant

1968        Woodstock art grant

1967        USA art grant

1966        Søvik, Mathre, Madsen Art Award

        

 Institutional Purchases

 

        Norwegian Arts Advisory Commission

        Sogn og Fjordane Art Museum

        Emigration Museum in Hamar

 

In 2002, Ylvisaker created her own gallery, ”The Institute,” on her farm north of Sogndal, Sogndalsdalen.

 

 

Books

 

2008       “Nude Truths: An Odyssey in Poetry, Painting, and Prose,” Zion Publishing

2008       Illustrator, “The Long View,” (unpublished)

2004       Cover and illustrator, “In the Hollow of God’s Hand,” Zion Publishing

1999       Cover and illustrator, ”For Everything a Season,” Zion Publishing

1999      ”Beneath the Glacier,” with Finn Egil Eide and Astrid Myklebust, Skald Publishing

1990       Illustrator, Mary Nilsen "A Time for Peace,” Zion Publishing

  

 

Organizations

 

        Norwegian Fine Artists, NBK

        Artists in Sogn og Fjordane, BKSF

 


 

 

Overview of Site

 

Current Works:

“Kristi’s brilliant work, so pure and emotional, projects the scope, the scale, the per-spective of grand space. When I look at her paintings I feel as if I am breathing the air, with no end to the canvas.” Bev Weismann, Iowa City, IA, USA

      All these oils on canvas have been painted since 2005 and exhibited in Norway at a number of galleries. The majority are now in private collections throughout southern Norway.

Early Works:

The first seven paintings are examples of work Kristi Ylvisaker did while in college. The bust and the self-portraits were created while a graduate student. The next group were painted while she lived and studied at Woodstock in 1968  and in New York City 1969-1970. The final two paintings were done during her early years in Norway.

Paintings:

“Everyone Wants Kristi on Their Walls,” the headline proclaimed. And what people want on their walls are the colorful paintings that have become Kristi Ylvisaker’s signature work. These were painted between 1985 and 2004.

Drawings:

Kristi Ylvisaker has illustrated with drawings three published books: A Time for Peace, For Everything A Season: 75 Blessings for Daily Life, and Beyond the Dead End: A Memoir. In addition, drawings of farm animals have appeared in many of her exhibits. 

Foremothers:

“The daily round on the farm has given me knowledge of the labor and life my great grandmother must have lived,” Kristi wrote about this exhibition created for the 150th anniversary of the major emigration of Norwegians from their homeland.

Family Portraits:

“Family Portraits,” created in 1999 in collaboration with Joan Stuart Ross, Seattle, WA, artist, as a follow-up to “Foremothers,” was exhibited across Norway before being shipped to the United States where it toured in 2000. This page features a number of Kristi Ylvisaker’s contributions to the exhibit.

Through the Tunnel:

Kristi Ylvisaker watched as workmen carved a tunnel through the mountain just across the lake from their farm. The tunnel became for her a metaphor for the painful physical process one goes through giving birth and metaphorically the process of creative or psychological birth. Here are seven of the nine paintings comprising the series.

Nude Truths: An Odyssey in Poetry, Painting, and Prose:

Created in collaboration with her sister, writer Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen, and based on the poetry of Denise Levertov, "Nude Truths," through 24 large paintings, leads the viewer on a cycle from innocence, into the dark places of life, and out into awe.

Cave Paintings:

A recurring theme in Kristi Ylvisaker’s drawings, since she began using her farm animals as models, is inspired by the cave paintings of Lascaux and Chauvet in France. An exhibit of these drawings traveled to the United States in 1995. She has turned the cellar under her home into an ancient cave and also has cave murals in her gallery.  In addition, she did a commissioned cave spa in Des Moines, IA.

Cards:

In 2000 the L.C. Lions Sogndal Løvetann commissioned Kristi Ylvisaker to paint one of the area historical churches. They created greeting cards from the painting, which they sold to aid charity. They also auctioned off the painting. For three more years they had paintings made of the other area historical churches, and after that suggested themes for the paintings.