Natasja Askelund (b. 1969) is an artist who works and lives in Stavanger. She has her education from Vestlandets Kunstakademi (Bergen) and Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (Den Haag). Her main concern is painting, although she also works interdisciplinary and recently started doing woodcut prints. It’s Askelund’s need for expression and storytelling that drives her artistic practice. At the core of her projects is a heartfelt belief in the drama of human nature. She depicts interpersonal and raw imagery, often drawn from her own life experiences. Her message, however, is universal: life’s purpose is doing your best, even if it fails. Everyone has loved and lost, but in the grand scheme, these big personal events seem small. Askelund finds comfort and strength in holding her family in her arms, knowing every mother has done the same, fearing it will disappear one day.

Askelund’s recent exhibits include Galleri Opdahl (Stavanger), LNM (Oslo), Galleri Christinegaard (Bergen), Sandnes Kunstforening and Visningsrommet USF (Bergen). She is represented in the collections of Haugalandmuseet, Stavanger Art Museum and The National Museum and has done several decorations. She has received the 10 year grant for established artists from Arts and Culture Norway.