Unni Kriens is a self-taught Norwegian artist currently living and working in Estepona Spain. She has had a keen interest in arts, and painting in particular, since childhood and initially took a lot of inspiration from great Norwegian painters such as Edward Munch and Harald Sohlberg. Originally working primarily with water colors, her style and techniques have since become more diverse, abstract
and experimenting, often using mixed media to achieve the desired effects and to enhance her artwork. Having traveled extensively in her previous career in the airline industry Unni has lived in both Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Her artwork is strongly influenced by her experiences and observations from all the places she has lived and visited and ranges widely in terms of techniques and style, from traditional over abstract to contemporary, always taking inspiration in her immediate surroundings. In 2014 Unni was invited to provide artwork for a number of high-end properties on the French Riviera and she remains a popular artist for specially commissioned artwork as well. Her latest exhibition was held at the British Club in Abu Dhabi, UAE in March 2016 and saw great interest in her artwork from the very diverse art society in the UAE.
“I am a narrative artist. I love artwork which captures and tells a story and explores the very diverse and wonderful world we live in. I want my artwork to awaken individual memories and remind viewers of positive and happy experiences they have had. As an artist I am fascinated by the energy which colors and shapes can create and how this energy affects our daily life. I often find myself asking how a color, shape or texture I see every day can be recreated or captured in my artwork. These questions have led me to use a lot of mixed media techniques in my work, often incorporating everyday items to create both very clear and very subtle connections with the viewer’s individual memories and experiences. Most of my latest works are inspired by my current surroundings here in the UAE and feature local and regional themes. I strongly believe that immersing ourselves in art, whether as a creator or viewer, allows us to let go of the day to day stresses in our lives and helps us relax and recharge our emotional batteries – something which we all need from time to time.”
Unni Kriens, 2016
