Maibritt Ulvedal Bjelke: Welcome

Maibritt Ulvedal Bjelke's artistic journey began with paper. While studying at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris during the early nineties, Bjelke became part of a group of French artists who sought to challenge the traditional boundaries of art by using external materials. Paper has remained her primary medium, offering her endless possibilities for exploration in both two-dimensional and sculptural forms. Her process involves layering vast amounts of paint on paper webs which she meticulously cuts into strips and arranges into intricate grids, creating powerful works that invite deep reflection. 

Bjelke’s work has been exhibited extensively worldwide with notable solo exhibitions at Weinberger Gallery in Copenhagen, Proarta in Zurich, Galerie Pugliese Levi in Berlin, Galerie Maria Lund in Paris — and a major solo show at the Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre; Chromartic Matters (2019) highlights her continued relevence in contemporary art. 

Her impressive education includes a Diplôme d’Arts Plastiques/MFA from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris and a unique residency at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation in the USA. Bjelke’s work is held in numerous prestigious collections including the Rothko Museum in Latvia, the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation in Connecticut and the Municipality of Vitry-sur-Seine in Paris. She has received several awards such as the Prix de Vitry in 1999 and the Prix de Bernanos in 1993. 

Her work continues to push boundaries offering a profound commentary on the transformative power of paper and paint with a process that reflects her deep connection to both material and method.