Instincts # I Painting

The abstract colourist works and lives in Horten, Norway - with a studio based at a disused naval base, surrounded by the natural world and historic buildings that provide tranquillity for her work. The impetus of her paintings is emotionally-charged. Bostad’s feelings and expressions in her work are highlighted by their lasting impression on the viewer. The source of her abstract paintings is memories and people, whose essence she intuitively attempts to preserve on the canvas. Richly coloured and textured, incorporating layer upon layer of acrylic paint, the canvases are imbued with a fresh, youthful approach, one of positivity, reinforced by an invigorating colour palette. Bostad originally was an Art Director, with 10 years of experience working on visual projects in film, illustration and concept building in Oslo. Alongside her commercial work, she has practised painting, as a way to release and unwind. In 2010 Bostad left her career in Art Direction to pursue her painting full-time. She has exhibited her work in Oslo, Dubai, London, New York and LA - and has received substantial acclaim from curators as well as galleries throughout Europe and US, for her vibrant, strong and contemporary abstract paintings. In April 2017 Rebecca Wilson, Chief Curator and VP, Art Advisory at Saatchi Art picked Bostad as one of the "4 Must-See Artists" at TOAF London, out of 130 emerging artists. A highlight early in Bostad’s career was to show alongside Gary Komarin in Madelyn Jordon Fine Art Gallery New York, in September 2017. Madelyn Jordon curated the show emphasizing the three artist´s ability to evoke emotional responses through colour and contrasts. Summer of 2018 Bostad was part of the Saatchi Arts Summer show En Verano in LA. She was also an artist in resident at ESKFF/MANA Contemporary in New York, in the Summer of 2018. In November 2019 she had her biggest solo exhibition to date at the acclaimed KHÅK Kunsthall in Norway and later the same year she exhibited at Art Basel Scope Miami. In the middle of Lockdown 2020, Bostad participated in her third show at Madelyn Jordan Fine Art in New York City, as part of the "Abstractly Speaking". In July 2020 Bostad was honoured to be among the 30 shortlisted artists chosen for the Ashurst Emerging Artist’s Prize in London, and in October 2020 she exhibited at Start Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery. Bostad ended 2020 with a huge solo show called Hope Island at Gulden Kunstverk in Norway.