Painting and lithography by Lars Korff Lofthus

In the paintings of Lars Korff Lofthus (b. 1978), different worlds meet: Hardanger interiors with corner cabinets and traditional beds, powerful male bodies, and vast landscapes—all rendered through a personal and distinctive gaze. Earlier, he painted the landscapes of Western Norway—not the national-romantic version, but the contemporary West Norwegian environment as many experience it today: cut through by tunnels and marked by snow poles and modern infrastructure. Over time, Lofthus has turned his focus inward, toward the cultural heritage of Hardanger and his own queer existence.

The various motifs—traditional West Norwegian interiors, landscapes, and men—often appear side by side. It is in this juxtaposition that tension arises. The paintings open up new readings of the domestic and the masculine, inviting viewers to consider desire and belonging from a different, queer perspective.

Formally, Lofthus moves between decorative ornamentation and folk art. The interiors are painted with broad, transparent brushstrokes in colors that are both faithful to the historical spaces and at the same time surprisingly modern—often intense, sometimes almost screaming. Despite the simple, seemingly quick brushwork, the works are rich in detail and ornamentation. With precise brushstrokes, he shapes his subjects and renders light and perspective in a way that can feel almost unexpectedly effortless.

Lofthus allows the domestic, the historical, and the queer to coexist. The paintings explore how identity is formed in the meeting between desire and tradition, between ornament and body, or between belonging and exclusion.

Lofthus was educated at the Bergen Academy of Art and Design (Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen), the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and the Nordic Art School in Kokkola, Finland. He has an extensive exhibition practice and is also engaged in writing, mediation, and curating. His works have been acquired by, among others, the National Museum, KODE, the Oslo County, the Equinor Art Collection, and the University of Agder. He divides his time and work between Bergen—where he previously served as Associate Professor at the Academy of Art—and his studio in Hardanger.

The exhibition opens on Saturday, May 9, and runs until Sunday, August 30, 2026.