BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors

TM51 – Oslo, Norway

Three Galleries in One – Oslo’s Most Accessible Space

LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist
LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist

As the Nordic's popularity grows, so does Oslo's. The Norwegian capital has become a popular destination for visitors interested in art, design, architecture, and the culinary arts. Public installations signify the city's wealth and dedication to the arts. Oslo's art scene has evolved from what used to be a mostly regional affair, into an international platform for contemporary art. Agata Kwasniewska of Oslo's Gallery TM51 believes that “A combination of government funding and a wholesome creative approach has transformed this former blue collar Norwegian city into one of the most electrifying places to see new art. Much has happened in regards to cultural services over the past ten years, and the cultural industry has built a solid base for itself”. In 2001, The Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs pooled money to start OCA, an organization that aims to give international artists and curators an incentive to stay in Oslo longer than 24 hours, “making the capital more than just a quaint stopover on the international circuit”.

LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist
LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist
LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist
LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist

Founded in December of 2011, Gallery TM51 includes work from both Norwegian and international emerging and established artists. The gallery wants to evoke questions, challenge their audience, and give spectators the opportunity to reflect. “Gallery TM51 wants to provide and increase opportunities both for the artists to be seen and the audience to experience and discover. Our aim is presentation, promotion, and dissemination of the artist's work”. The gallery has a focus on supporting young artists and chooses them based “on the process of building their capacity to sustain their careers for the long-term”. Its three exhibition spaces, located across the city, have turned it into one of the city's most accessible spaces to experience art.

Installation view of Erik Tidemann’s "Rash Lobo". Courtesy the artist
Installation view of Erik Tidemann’s "Rash Lobo". Courtesy the artist

The gallery defines itself by its openness to the unknown and willingness to plunge headfirst into new projects. Just recently they began a cooperation with the Uncontaminated Oslo Fashion Art Festival. “Together, we seek to challenge the traditional way of viewing art, aiming to change the perception of the total experience, taking it further into the digital sphere, and attracting a wide range of spectators and media”.

Gallery TM51 will continue to support Norway's art scene and is dedicating itself to helping Norwegian artists gain international momentum, while simultaneously enriching its cityscape with strong exhibitions. The 2016/2017 schedules will see solo shows by Charlotte Thiis-Evensen, Erik Tidemann, Lello/Arnell, amongst others. The programming is set to take place both in and outside of the physical gallery space, as well as extending to its two satellite spaces in the city center.

LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist
LELLO//ARNELL, Parallel Self, 2012. Installation at TM51, Oslo. Courtesy the artist

Kwasniewska believes that “in our current networked culture, the gallery has become a transitional place rather than a destination. We’re thrilled to see what new ideas and conversations arise on creating this additional context within our gallery spaces”.

by Liv Fleischhacker

Liv Fleischhacker is a freelance writer based in Berlin. Her favorite topics include art, design and food.

All images courtesy TM51, Oslo

More Information on TM51

Galleries (40)

Futura Art Gallery — Pietrasanta, Italy

A gallery that unites established and emerging artists

Gianni Manhattan - Vienna, Austria

Young, International and Critically Astute

Misako & Rosen — Tokyo, Japan

Redefining the Conversation Around Aesthetics

Tiwani Contemporary – London, Great Britain

The London Gallery Promoting African Self-definition

Frutta Gallery — Rome, Italy

Understanding Tradition Without Hesitating to Break It

Contemporary Fine Arts – Berlin, Germany

From West to East and Back Again: a Berlin Institution That’s Made Its Mark

Bo Bjerggaard – Copenhagen, Denmark

Showcasing Figurative Painting With a Side of Communal Spirit

Pierre-Yves Caër Gallery – Paris, France

The Parisian gallery creating a home for Japanese artists in the European art market.

Blindspot Gallery — Hong Kong, China

Throwing a Spotlight on Local Artists

Vane – Newcastle upon Tyne, Great Britain

The Not-for-profit Space Offering Context And Critique In Newcastle

H’art Gallery — Bucharest, Romania

One of Bucharest’s Oldest Private-Run Galleries

LambdaLambda Lambda – Pristina, Kosovo

Mastering the Language in the Kosovan Capital

Deák Erika Galéria – Budapest, Hungary

Beyond Budapest’s Baths

The Breeder Gallery – Athens, Greece

Breeding New Forms in Athens

Tim Van Laere Gallery – Antwerp, Belgium

An autonomous gallery representing both upcoming and well-established artists

Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler – Berlin, Germany

One of the most cutting-edge galleries in Berlin

Galerie Fons Welters – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A Doorway to Amsterdam’s Contemporary Art

Bosse & Baum – London, United Kingdom

Ambitious perspectives in Peckham

mfc-michèle didier – Paris, France

A Space that Reflects the Artistic Discipline

V1 Gallery – Copenhagen, Denmark

Challenging the Boundaries of Art

Upstream Gallery – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Tackling the Shift Between the Analog and Digital in a Post Internet World

Galerie Forsblom – Helsinki, Finland

Bringing international contemporary art to the Finnish capital

The Journal Gallery – New York, USA

Saving New York from Becoming a Sale-Focused Gallery Wasteland

Peres Projects – Berlin, Germany

Bridging the Gap Between Los Angeles and Berlin

Galeria OMR – Mexico City

Mexico City’s advocate for modern artistic tendencies and international contemporary art

LOYAL – Stockholm, Sweden

A Gallery that Pushes the Dialogue Around Young and International Art in Sweden’s Capital

Chimera-Project — Budapest, Hungary

Post-contemporary interest in aesthetics while eagerly re-constructing and defining traditions

La New Gallery — Madrid, Spain

Celebrating contemporary art in all its multi-faceted forms

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery – Sydney, Australia

Her uncanny ability to recognize unique Pacific Rim talent

Take Ninagawa Gallery – Tokyo, Japan

Promoting emerging Japanese artists within a cross-generational, international framework

RaebervonStenglin – Zurich, Switzerland

It is much more about concepts, long conversations and long-term commitment

Galerie Emanuel Layr – Vienna, Austria

Finding the right chord among the various artists

Platform China – Beijing/Hongkong, China

This shows how much prejudgment there still is

Fluxia – Milan, Italy

Strive to discover new approaches in contemporary art

Gaudel de Stampa – Paris, France

“Discreet” seems to be the perfect adjective

NON – Istanbul, Turkey

The dawn of an era of collaboration

Vermelho – São Paulo, Brazil

There were no galleries open to a new generation of artists working in a nontraditional way

Eleven Rivington – New York, USA

Newfound talent and rediscovers international artists for a new audience

Ibid. – London, Great Britain

Rather than listing names