Andrea Gjestvang is a photographer based between Oslo and Berlin, where she takes on assignments and pursues long term personal documentary projects.

With an intimate photographic approach she explores contemporary social issues in the Northern hemisphere. In 2012 she finished the project “One Day in History”, with portraits of the young survivors of the 22ndof July 2011 terror attack at Utøya island, Norway. The project gained international recognition, exhibitions and awards, including the prestigious L'Iris d'Or/Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year 2013.

After graduating from OsloMet, Gjestvang has worked on assignment and published work in international publications such as National Geographic, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Stern, Newsweek Japan, M Le Monde and Mare magazine, amongst others. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums such as Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, Munchen Stadtmuseum and The National Photographic Museum of Colombia. 

Over the years, Gjestvang has gained solid experience working as a picture editor and  teacher in photography,  and she has curated exhibitions. 

Andrea Gjestvang is a member of Panos Pictures. 

Main solo exhibitions

2022 - Freelens Galerie, Hamburg - Atlantic Cowboy
2022 - Kunstbanken Hedmark Kunstsenter, Hamar, Norway - Atlantic Cowboy 
2021 - Fotografihuset, Oslo - One Day in History  
2020 - Salut au Monde! Porto, Portugal - Return
2016 - Galleri Nord Norge, Harstad, Norway - Tilbake/Return 
2015 - Galleri Hamar Kulturhus, Norway - Tilbake/Return 
2014 - Galleri Vasli Souza, Malmö - One Day in History & Everybody Knows This This is Nowhere
2013 -Vadsø Kunstforening, Norway - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
2013 - 6x6 Centre of Photography, Cyprus - One Day in History
2010 - Freelens Galerie, Hamburg - Disappearing Ice Age 
2010 - Galeria Open Mind, Milan, Italy - Disappearing Ice Age

Main group exhibitions

2023 - Les Boutographies, Montpellier, France - Atlantic Cowboy (upcoming)
2022 - 2023 - Edvard-Munch-Haus, Rostock Warnemünde - NOWEHRE - On persons and landscapes 
2020 - 2021 - Preus Museum, Horten, Norway - Portrait of our time
2019 - 2020 - Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Norway - Norsk Dokumentarfotografi 
2019 - Künstlerhaus Dortmund - Human Impact
2019 - Fotografiska, Stockholm - Nordic Life
2019 - National Photographic Museum of Colombia, Bogota - Memory and Resilience
2019 - Künstlerhaus Dortmund - The Human Condition
2018 - Kitan Center, Tel Aviv - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
2017 - aff Galerie, Berlin - Keep Your Eyes Peeled
2016 - Sørlandets Kunstmuseum SKMU, Norway - Underway 
2016 - Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece - (Mis/Dis)Placed
2014 - Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism, Germany
2014 - Les Rencontres de Photographie, Arles, France (screening)
2013 - Munchner Stadtmuseum - Stranger World
2013 - Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece - Fluid Identities
2012 - Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism, Hannover 
2011 - V Art Center, Shanghai
2011 - Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), Beijing 
2011 - Su Palatu, Sardinia - Menotrentuno_03: Young European Photography
2011 - New York Photo Festival - Hope: Between Dream and Reality 
2010 - Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism, Hannover
2006 - Høstutstillingen, Oslo, Norway
2006 - Vestlandsutstillingen, Norway

Awards and honours

2022 - Ingerid, Synnøve & Elias Fegersten's foundation, working grant
2020 - 2022 Statens Kunstnerstipend / Norwegian Art Council, 2 year work grant
2021, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002 - Picture of the Year Norway
2014 - Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung (HAZ) People's Choice Prize
2013 - Winner of L'iris d'Or - Photographer of the Year Sony, World Photography Awards
2013 - Winner of FotoVisura Grant for outstanding Personal Photography project
2013 - Winner of the Norwegian Picture of the Year Award
2013 - 1st prize NPPA Best of Photojournalism
2012 - 3rd prize UNICEF Photo of the Year Award
2012 - PDN’s 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch
2012 - Freelancer of the Year awarded by the Norwegian Union of Freelance Journalists
2011-2013 - Norwegian Journal of Photography (NJP) 
2010 - 17th World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass 

Collections

Preus Museum photography collection
OsloMet Art Collection
Region Skånes Art Collection
Hedmark Fylkeskommunes Art Collection
Private collections

Books

Atlantic Cowboy, GOST Books, 2023
En dag i historien (One Day in History), Pax, 2012

Book contribution

100 Norwegian Photographers, Hatje Cantz 2019
Nordic Life, Max Ström 2019
Nordic Now! Filter/Objektiv/PhotoRaw 2013
Norwegian Journal of Photography #1, Journal 2013
Norsk Dokumentarfotografi, Press 2009

Using Format