Marit Tingleff

Celebrated Norwegian Contemporary Ceramic Artist

Marit Tingleff is one of Norway’s most important contemporary ceramic artists, known for her distinctive style that blends organic lines, ornamental features, and a deep connection to nature. After studying at the National College of Art and Design in Bergen, Tingleff became the Professor and Head of Ceramics at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts from 2013 to 2016, solidifying her position as a key figure in the ceramic art world.

Large Scale Nature-Inspired Ceramic Art: Expressive and Spontaneous Designs

Tingleff’s ceramic art is deeply influenced by the landscape of her daily life, with references to nature, landscapes, and seascapes. Her work is characterized by undulating organic lines and a painterly approach that captures a sense of spontaneity. The interplay between light and dark, pattern and negative space, and her innovative mark-making techniques give each piece a dynamic, evolving quality.

Hand-Built Ceramics: Elevating Everyday Objects

Tingleff’s frequently works on a large, monumental scale, transforming ordinary domestic items—like platters and chargers—into dramatic, sculptural pieces. To create her work, Tingleff employs a hand-building technique that involves decorating the clay body with slips and applying a transparent glaze. This time-honored process allows her to explore the full potential of ceramic color and texture, elevating ordinary, everyday objects into pieces of artistic expression. Through her meticulous approach, she brings a richness of colour to the work, making her pieces stand out with both visual impact and technical mastery.

Public Collections and Private Collections

Tingleff has exhibited her work internationally and is represented in major museum collections, including:

• The National Museum/The Museum of Decorative Art, Oslo, Norway
• Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London, United Kingdom
• Kode Art Museum, Bergen, Norway
• National Museum Sèvre, Paris, France

In addition, she has completed several public commissions, including works for Norwegian Government Buildings in Oslo and across Norway, further cementing her place in the world of contemporary ceramic art.

Marit Tingleff lives and works in Norway