Frida Berntsen

CV/About

Frida Berntsen (Nijmegen, 1997) is a Dutch artist living and working in Arnhem.

Frida mainly works with textile, by which she is looking for connections in-and outside the art world. A recurring theme is that she is looking how craft and tradition can be of meaning today. Everyday encounters and happenings are highlighted and made special. Next to that, there is a continues play with the sensation of time. Certain moments are captured, but these are also transient and changing. An ink that bleaches in sunlight, an accidental stain causing irrepairable damage, an old rag that is repaired but slowly falling apart again. By transforming, making abstract and working with these transitory mediums, she finds a sense of freedom and hopes to evoke a sense of wonder.

Education: 

  • BEAR (Base for Experiment and Artistic Research), HBO Bachelor ArtEZ Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Arnhem, 2019 – 2022 
  • Fine Art (English Stream), HBO Bachelor AKI ArtEZ Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (Propedeuse), Enschede, 2017 – 2019 
  • Stedelijk Gymnasium Nijmegen, 2009 – 2016 

Exhibitions:

Current/Upcoming:

  • Talents, Masters of the Future (Talente, Meiser der Zukunft), Internationale Handwerksmesse (IHM), Munich (DE), group-exhibition/ competition, March 2023
  • Bijna Niets, RUIS, solo exhibition, Nijmegen, January-March 2022
  • Buiten Westen #3, Drawing Centre Diepenheim, group-exhibition, October 2022-January 2023

Past:

  • De Vitrine, Galerie/Productiehuis Plaatsmaken i.s.m. Paleis van Justitie, Arnhem, solo-exhibition in public space, July-September 2022  
  • Best of Graduates, Galerie Ron Mandos, group show, August-September 2022 
  • In Between Identities, Glo-Art Centre, Lanaken (BE), September-October 2022 
  • Textielkunst expo, Textiel Plus Festival, Rosmalen, October 2022 
  • Internal Flame, Eternal Fame, ArtEZ graduation show, Arnhem June-July 2022 
  • Schwimmen lernt Mann im See, Galerie / Productiehuis Plaatsmaken, Arnhem, group show, March-May 2022 
  • Culture in covid times, work in public space, Gemeente Arnhem/Plaatsmaken, March 2022
  • De Bouwput, Amsterdam, group show, November 2021 
  • Hot damn, thank you ma’am’, commissioned work for ArtEZ graduation show, juni 2021 
  • Open Atelierroute, Wijchen, group show, April 2017 
  • Lady Paula, Nijmegen, group show, June 2017  

Other relevant work experience: 

  • Fibershed Nederland, Regio-Regisseur (regional director) East of the Netherlands, 2022-present
  • This Art Fair, internship, Amsterdam, June – August 2021 
  • Beeldig Wijchen, Stichting Culturele Broedplaats Wijchen / Stichting Kans en Kleur, educational project on art, March-April 2017

Residency and courses: 

  • ArtEZ Starters Programma, October-November 2022
  • Textile Summer School 2022 ‘The future of weaving’, FabCafe Kyoto / MTRL KYOTO, Online Lecture series (UK/Japan), August- October 2022 
  • Cittadelarte, Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella (IT), September 2021

Grants and awards: 

  • Talents, Masters of the Future (nominated, winner to be announced), 2023
  • Orion Voucher, 2022
  • Heij Konijn Fonds, 2022

Press: