| Elling Reitan has been drawing and painting since he was a little boy. He completed his formal education at the Nerdrum Academy where he studied the History of Literature and Philosophy. Sports are also one of his passions, having once been a candidate for the Norwegian national cross-country ski team. Nature, his hometown of Trondheim, and sports have always been close to his heart (as well as being a Rosenborg supporter). It is these attributes that merge to form the cornerstone of the man and his art. Other traits worth mentioning are humbleness, modesty, media-shyness and hard working.
Reitan has found his own style of artistic expression by combining abstractionism with naturalism, with elements taken from surrealism. His use of colour is bold and stark, such that the audience can feel the power of the art. Subject matter is often inspired from philosophy and literature, and sometimes from pure dreams and fantasy.
Elling Reitan is today one of the most in-demand artists in Norway. The Nobel Prize Committee, in 2000, chose him as Nobels Artist anno 2000. In 2005 he was chosen Peer Gynts Artist at Vinstra in Gudbrandsdalen. Later that year he was chosen to be Leiv Eriksons Artist in Minnesota (USA); two very nice accolades.
Another mark of honour is the fact that he is the only artist from Northern Europe whom is allowed access at New York Fine Art Printing, where he has the opportunity to create Mixed Media graphics every other year.
Reitan has exhibitions in several galleries in New York, including the prestigious Gallery Westwood in Manhattan. His introduction in Tokyo has been very well received as well. |
